Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today is the 107th birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), the author of so many wonderful children’s books.

Usually I am in a celebrating mood on March 2, but not so much today. Every year during the week of March 2, the NEA promotes a national reading event called Read Across America(RAA) that coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday. For the past 8 years I have put on that event at my school. It’s such a fun week with people from the community coming in and reading their favorite Dr. Seuss books to groups of kids, classrooms participating in activities and contests, and just a general excitement about reading. Students and (most) teachers alike enjoy the week so much. Over this last month I’ve spent almost every waking moment that I wasn’t teaching preparing for it. RAA started Monday. And have I been enjoying it with my kids? Ummm, NO because I’ve been home sick for 2.5 of the 3 days thus far (and at school sick for 0.5 days of it). It’s so hard to miss a day or more of teaching, but missing this week makes me so sad I want to cry or maybe the crying is from the excruciating pain emitting from my throat. Not only did I put my heart and soul into putting on this event, in our current system of high-stakes testing we aren’t allowed to have a heck of lot of fun in school these days. This week was it!

My dear friend and fellow RAA planner Jill who I hate because she moved across the country knows I’ve been ill during RAA and email ed me this cute poem she found in her local paper. Thanks Jilly!

Happy birthday to you, Seuss!
You cat in a hat!
If I ran the zoo
I would bring it to you
along with two fish
and a dozen large Sneetches
to have ice cream and cake
on our fine sandy beaches
with your books about eyeses
and noses and feetses.
We would give you some presents!
Some wrappings! Some boxes!
We'd invite Horton, Thidwick
and Foxes in Soxes!
We would serve many treats
such as green eggs and ham
with Cindy Lou Who's
homemade strawberry jam.
The Lorax would swim
in the ocean with jellies,
while the Grinch would wear
flip-flops and gather pink shellies.
We know you are gone,
but your birthday's still very
much fun to observe
at the Norfolk Library.
Or anywhere, really, for a girl or a boy
with places to go, and life to enjoy.
-Michelle Washington

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!