Today is Dr. Seuss’ birthday! Even though he passed away on September 24, 1991 Theodore Seuss Geisel is still known to this day as one of the most beloved authors of childrens books ever! He wrote and illustrated 44 books, which have been translated into 20 different languages making him the best selling children’s author of all time.
He has captivated over four generations of children and parents alike by helping millions of children learn to read. To the average American raised since the 1940′s, the name Dr. Seuss conjures an image of rhymes and tongue twisters and such fun characters as the Cat in the Hat, the Fox in Sox, Horton hears a Who and the Grinch.
Today is also Read Across America Day in memory of Dr. Seuss and all the wonderful things he did as an author to get children to love reading. Every year the National Education Association sponsors Read Across America and this is its 12th year! All across the country thousands of schools, daycares, libraries and community centers are participating by reading to a child.
Last year I took my kids to our local library and they had so much fun. There were people dressed in Cat in the Hat costumes and the Grinch. Everyone got a Cat in the Hat red and white striped “stovepipe” style hat to wear as they came in the library. Balloons were everywhere and Dr. Seuss books as far as the eye could see. They can’t wait to go to the library tonight for Read Across America with Dr. Seuss!
If you can’t make it to the library, then bring Dr. Seuss to you. You don’t have to go out to participate in Read Across America. Simply read a book to your child – it’s that easy! Let your children know that learning to read can be fun.
From the words of Dr. Seuss,
”You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild to pick up a book and read to a child!”
