Dr. Seuss turns 106! How will you celebrate?
March 2nd marks the birthday of one of America’s, and perhaps the world’s, most beloved and charming children’s authors who has captured our hearts with his quirky writing and clever tales for decades.
Whenever I read his books with my daughter, I am reminded that sometimes, you need no rhyme or reason to enjoy what you’re reading. (Well, maybe some rhyme does help. Especially since we’re talking about his books!) But here’s the thing – it doesn’t always have to make sense. Or feel right. Or adhere to some invisible writing standard. The bottom line is if you’re having fun reading to your kid, you’re definitely doing something right.
And the man who made this experience possible for so many of us is Dr. Seuss.
What are your children’s Dr. Seuss favorites?
My daughter’s favorite lines from his books are “Not one of them is like another. Don’t ask us why. Go ask your mother” and “Why do I like to hop, hop, hop? I do not know. Go ask your Pop” from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. No matter how many times we read the book, I can be 95.379% sure that when we come to that verse, she will burst into giggles! At least for now. I’m sure, every family and child who has ever read his books has a favorite Dr. Seuss book, verse or story. I’d love to know what yours are!
Read Across America – what the good Doctor would have prescribed!
Could there be a more appropriate day to celebrate Read Across America day than on Dr. Seuss’s birthday? Which is exactly what the National Education Alliance (NEA) has been doing since 1998. Regardless of whether you read to your kids everyday or sporadically or haven’t started yet, this is a day to motivate kids and parents across America to start reading. Together. To each other. With one another. Or independently. A day to honor and encourage reading.
Your role in reading across America
Check out NEA’s Read Across America page for details of activities around the country and how you can get involved. From just committing to read to your child at least for a few minutes to volunteering at the local library or supporting events at a book store – it turns out there’s a lot you can do in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday.
And while you’re at it, check out some of the free events happening in and around your town to wish Dr. Seuss a Happy Birthday!
Birthday parties your kids don’t want to miss. No cake, but lots of goodies!
Where: Target stores in your city
When: Saturday, February 27, 9 to 11 a.m.
What: *Special reading of Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, *Free Dr. Seuss-inspired games and activities *Exclusive Dr. Seuss giveaways
Where:Lakeshore Learning store in your city
When: Saturday, February 27, 11 am to 3 pm
What: * Storytime every hour * Kids’ crafts * Games * Face painting
Remember, it’s all free.
And when you’re back from these parties, don’t forget to invite your children’s friends, their siblings and parents for your very own
Dr. Seuss reading party at home!
*Let everyone bring along a favorite book or books and take turns reading aloud.
*Choose from the many, many printable Dr Seuss activities, coloring sheets, puzzles and games available online to keep everyone happily engaged for a while.
* Make up some of your own Dr Seuss games -pinning the hat on the cat, Dr. Seuss says instead of Simon says come to mind at this instant. I’m sure with a little more thought, you’ll come up with waaay better ideas. (Please share them with me!)
* Conduct a Dr Seuss books fun quiz…write down lines from his books on small pieces of paper, fold them up and throw them into a jar. Take turns picking out a line and guessing which book the line is from. Even older kids will find this intriguing.
The perfect time to spread the love….of reading!
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering your time towards reading or literacy programs, can you think of a better time to start?! Why not get in touch with Reach Out and Read, Everybody Wins! or your local library and fill in a volunteer application on Read Across America day?
Through his legacy of charming children’sbooks, the clever Doctor has made it impossible to forget him or his birthday even when he’s not around. I can’t help but wonder if he knew the places he’d go!
What are some of your favorite Dr. Seuss book moments?
I have read Dr Seuss books to my daughter since she was a year old. Our favourite books have been many. We like ‘The cat in the hat’ and its sequel for the pure mayhem and irreverence. We like ‘Fox in socks’ and ‘Oh say, can you say’ for its tongue twisters. We have spent a lot of time savouring the sheer pleasure of those words. I have put ‘Green eggs and ham’ to good use to make her eat something that she feels she will not like. We like ‘oh, the things you can think’, ‘McElligot’s pool’ and ‘Oh, the places you’ll go’, for the sheer imagination. ‘The lorax’, for what it teaches about protecting the environment. I could go on and on. Dr. Seuss is rocks. Our special favourite is actually a book by P. D. Eastman, also a part of the ‘Cat in the Hat’ series. It is a book called ‘Are you my mother?’ We have read it so many times since before she understood english. I would tell her the story in Marathi and the pictures did the rest. We have lost track of the number of children we have gifted this book.
Wow, Sandhya!You sure know your Dr. Seuss books! It’s interesting how you pick out something special from each book…I found myself nodding along as I read your comment. You must have won many little hearts by giving ‘Are you my mother?’! So, are you or anybody you know planning a Dr. Seuss birthday event? What about children’s bookstores in your city? Do share!