Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

 



Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming up this Monday, March 2.  How will you celebrate?  Many schools celebrate by participating in Read Across America. If you are planning a to participate, this NEA site has some great resources including booklists and the Read Across America poem which begins:

Read Across America
  -Anita Merina

You're never too old, too wacky, too wild,
To pick up a book and read with a child.
You're never too busy, too cool, or too hot,
To pick up a book and share what you've got.

In schools and communities,
Let's gather around,
Let's pick up a book,
Let's pass it around.

You can read the rest of the poem here.

Did you know that Seuss was Theodor Geisel's middle name, and he appeared on the show To Tell the Truth in 1958?   I didn't know either of those facts until I watched the documentary Dr. Seuss' -Rhymes and Reasons.  I enjoyed learning more about his journey to become one of our most loved authors.  (Some content might not be appropriate for children, so please preview it first.)

Last weekend, I bought a few more titles to add to my Dr. Seuss collection. I plan to bring those to school next week to share with my students.  Due to testing, my school is postponing our Read Across America until March 9th. We're celebrating by having classes decorate their door to represent a favorite Dr. Seuss book/character, a period with the entire school will drop everything and read, and we're encouraging students and staff to come dressed as their favorite book character. 

We all have a favorite Dr. Seuss book.  Mine is HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. I used to read it to my sons (and I still read it to my students) every Christmas. Now my son reads it to his children.  I love the message that no matter who we are or what we've done, we can change.  Recently, my granddaughter and I read GREEN EGGS AND HAM.  What fun to hear her giggle, "I do not like green eggs and ham!" Then of course, we made green eggs and ham for breakfast, and she liked them!  Oh, the power of Dr. Seuss!

Finally, I couldn't end this post without sharing a few of my favorite Seuss-isms!  Come join in the celebration! Share your favorite Dr. Seuss book and Seuss-isms in the comments! 
 
The lovely Heidi is rounding up today's Poetry Friday at  My Juicy Little Universe.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
 -Oh , the Places You'll Go!

     The more that you read,

                  the more things you will know.

       The more that you learn,

         the more places you'll go.

                       -I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

 

 

                                            A person's a person, no matter how small.

                                                        -Horton Hears a Who!                                   

 And what happened then...?

 Well...in Whoville they say
 That the Grinch's small heart

 Grew three sizes that day!

     -How the Grinch Stole Christmas!






 

 

We love you, Dr. Seuss!

 

      The lovely Heidi is rounding up today's Poetry Friday at  My Juicy Little Universe.