Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!: Reading and Rhyming across Generations

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." – Dr. Seuss

Whose birthday you ask? Why you Silly Goose!
It belongs to none other than Dr. Seuss!

His Cat in the Hat helped us learn to read
Red and white stripes are fashionable indeed 

Who knew Green Eggs and Ham could ever sound so delicious
Dr. Seuss makes reading and rhyming brain nutritious!

Beloved children’s author, Theodore Seuss Gisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) was born on March 2, 1904. In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, schools, libraries, literacy enthusiasts, families, Cats in Hats and even Grinches around the world will be celebrating the master of rhyme's birthday and shining a light on Read Across America. 

Read Across America was launched in 1998 by the National Education Association and is celebrated annually on Dr. Seuss’ birthday to generate enthusiasm for reading and focus attention on the importance of motivating children to read. 

Dr. Seuss books here, Dr. Seuss books there, Dr. Seuss books everywhere! Bellaire Library Youth Services Librarian, Terra Thompson, shares just a few of the many Seuss books available at the library.

Mary Cohrs, head librarian at the Bellaire Library, shared, “Reading opens the doors to achievement and Read Across America Day is a building block towards making the joys of reading a part of every child’s life. Reading experts agree that reading aloud to children may be one of the most important activities adults can do to prepare children for success in school.” She said that studies show that even reading with kids for as little as 10-20 minutes each day can provide tremendous benefits in helping children develop a better understanding and appreciation of language. 

Families of all ages are invited to come to The Bellaire Library’s Seuss Family Reading Celebration at 6:30 p.m. on March 2 to enjoy an evening of stories, refreshments and activities that encourage reading. 

Veritas Christian Academy preschoolers and kindergarteners look forward to celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday week with a parade around the school in front of parents and the “big” kids! Pictured are (from left) Dominic Sewell, Nathan Carvalho and Finley Gallegos.

Schools all across Houston will be Hopping on Pops and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fishing to celebrate throughout the week. Mary Kearney, a kindergarten teacher at Veritas Christian Academy, shared some of their fun annual Dr. Seuss traditions. “The three PreK classes and the kindergarten class each choose a Dr. Seuss book to represent in the Dr. Seuss parade on Friday of our Dr. Seuss Week. Each class will represent their book in some way for the parade. They might dress ‘wacky’ for the book Wacky Wednesday or wear crazy socks for Fox in Socks. Then we parade around the school to show the older classes and parents!”

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is excited for their Dr. Seuss read-aloud event at Memorial Drive Elementary School. More than 40 members of the Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild, a group of women committed to carrying forth Barbara Bush’s legacy in literacy, will don Dr. Seuss hats and costumes and read to dozens of students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

Ladies for Literacy Guild members (pictured, from left) Marilyn Ludlow and Lisa Jakel having fun reading to Memorial Drive Elementary students in honor of celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday and Read Across America.

Alexa Bode, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Marketing & Communications Manager said, “Following the read-alouds, each class will head to the cafeteria for a Reading Rally, where the Lamar High School Jazz Band will be performing and the mobile library on wheels Curiosity Cruiser mascots, Owlbotron and Northtale, will teach the kids a cheer. Students will also get to tour the Curiosity Cruiser.” (See more about the Curiosity Cruiser here.) 

Grab a book and put on a Cat in the Hat red bow! 
Keep up the good reading and Oh the places you’ll go! 
With a love of reading you can go all around and anywhere
You even might eat some Green Eggs and Ham to get there!
Happy, Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! 

Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Events

These Thing Ones and Thing Twos celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday at the Bellaire Library. 

Bellaire Library Seuss Family Reading Celebration
Mon., March 2, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
5111 Jessamine
Get excited for Read Across America with stories, games and an evening of family reading celebration. 

West U Library Kids Crafternoon: Read Across America Day
Weds., March 4, 3-3:45 p.m.
6108 Auden St.
An epic Seuss-worthy party with crafts, STEM challenges and snacks. For school-aged children ages 5 and up.

Toys R Us Galleria Cat in the Hat Appearance
Sat., March 7, 11 a.m./1 p.m./3 p.m.
Toys “R” Us in The Galleria
5085 Westheimer (by Nordstorm)    
In the store theater, there will be reading-aloud fun, activities and The Cat in the Hat will meet kids face to face.    

Main Street Theater Presents The Cat in the Hat
March 10, 11, 15; see website for details 
MATCH
3400 Main St.  
The Cat in the Hat with Thing One and Thing Two (bringing mayhem and fun!), take Sally, her brother, and the fish on a madcap adventure. Show is 40 minutes long with no intermission.

Bellaire City Library kids lined up for some Seuss-y fun at the library’s annual celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the national Read Across America program, which encourages reading.

More reading fun:

• See Seussville Literary Games and Activities here.
• Find Read Across America Tips for Out Loud Readers here.

Editor’s note: For more reading inspiration, see Cindy Burnett’s weekly Page Turners blog.