Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Read Across America Day & Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Cat in the Hat, by B, 3/2/10

Not only was today the 106th birthday of the phenomenally creative and talented Mr. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), it was also Read Across America Day!

My son's class celebrated all day with visits from special guests they dubbed 'Reading Royalty', who had the pleasure of reading their favorite picture book(s) to the kids.

As royalty, of course, we got to wear a paper crown while sitting in the Reading Royalty Chair. We weren't the only ones sporting snappy headgear ... the kids were all wearing paper Cat in the Hat hats they had decorated first thing this morning!

I was the very last Royal Reader of the day, so I decided to read some of my favorite fast-paced, silly, crazy picture books ... including the original "SkippyjonJones" by Judy Schachner and "Do Unto Otters" by Laurie Keller. And, what a joy to be asked to read a third (I had brought plenty to choose from! :-)) ... we chose "Bear Feels Sick" by Karma Wilson.

As we drove home, I asked my son if I had done alright as one of the Reading Royalty. "Oh, yes," he said encouragingly, "you did really great. You had good fluency." :-)

He makes me smile. As does Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day!

21 comments:

MG Higgins said...

What a joy to have good fluency! :) Sounds like a great time was had by all. (That Cat in the Hat drawing is adorable.)

lisa and laura said...

How cute! I love this post!

Anonymous said...

Lovely post and I love the drawing! :o)

Kelly Polark said...

Cute drawing!
My kids celebrated Dr. Seuss today at school, too. After school my 7 yr old gathered all of our Dr. Seuss books and read them, my preschooler looked through them and we ended the night snuggled in my bed with me reading Dr. Seuss aloud to them.
Thank you , Dr. Seuss!

PJ Hoover said...

What a fun day to celebrate!

PJ Hoover said...

And I love the drawing!

Danyelle L. said...

Kids are awesome! I bet you made a great royal reader. What a fun celebration!

Unspoken said...

To be royal and have good fluency! ;)

Shrinky said...

Ah, good fluency is all (smile)! A dear blog friend of mine lives near the Dr. Seuss museum in Mass, and I am the proud owner of (oh dear, is it Elmer the elephant? I am hopeless with names..) a t-shirt from there. Had I known the auspicious occassion, I would have worn it yesterday.

Beth Dunn said...

Love the Doctor!
xoxo
SC

Cathy C. Hall said...

Good fluency? Kids are absolutely brilliant these days! (Or maybe that's just yours :-)

And P.S. I loved reading to my kids' classes. LOVED IT. Heck, I'll still read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Though my college kids aren't as keen on it now.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

That is too funny - good fluency! Well, you know your son is getting some good 6 traits lessons! :-)

Beth Kephart said...

LOVE this. Cat in the Hat features in the book I just finished writing, and that illustration is priceless!

CC said...

you had good fluency!! hahahahaha! Cuz I totally know what he's talking about!!!!!

Susan Fields said...

What a fun way to celebrate! I used to love reading picture books, and especially Dr. Seuss, out loud to my kids - I probably enjoyed the reading more than they enjoyed the listening.

Land of shimp said...

I love the concept behind this also, and am impressed with the drawing.

Hurray for Dr. Seuss, he was such a gift to the world.

Reading Royalty...that's marvelously inventive. The mention of the paper crowns made me think of The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. You've sent my mind wandering to fun places. Sort of the point of the celebration, really :-)

Clementine said...

Love the drawing! The Cat in the Hat never ages no matter how many years go by.

Sarah Laurence said...

Did your son do that drawing? It is adorable and well drawn! I’m a big fan of Dr. Seuss. He was featured on NPR’s Writer’s Almanac for his birthday. Seuss is his mother’s maiden name. He was banned from editing and writing his college’s humor journal after an infraction involving gin, but continued publishing his work under that pen name.

Hilary said...

LOL how cute! We should all have good fluency. :)

Kelly H-Y said...

I am loving all your comments! And, yes ... the Cat in the Hat was drawn by my son! They did them in school on Dr. Seuss's birthday ... with impressive results from all the kids!

Anonymous said...

Gosh I wish I had know that it was Dr Seuss' Birthday!! I would have celebrated if I had known. Wonderful Picture!! Love it! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with the kids!