March is a windy month that begins with a playful celebration of some things that may be considered peculiar: green eggs and ham; a green Grinch; oobleck; a socially concerned elephant; Sneetches — with and without stars; a turtle named Yertle; a hatted cat; truffala trees; and even a 75 year old guy with 500 hats . And more — ever so much more.

Of course, it’s only peculiar if you didn’t realize that Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday is celebrated on March 2 annually with Read Across America .

At Edgewood Academy, an arts education Title I school in Ft. Myers, FL, Dr. Seuss’s birthday is celebrated in style. All grades and all staff, even families and the community, get in on the fun. Snacks include riffs on Seussian language, such as: one fish, two fish, three fish, goldfish! With Pink Yink Drink.

Read Across America Certificates

And that’s what’s so cool about Read Across America celebrations at Edgewood and beyond — everyone is involved. This school has figured out that children learn when they’re engaged, that families are engaged when they’re part of a reading community, that reading really is fun, and that learning doesn’t have to be a chore.

So Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss — and hats off to all those who make Read Across America Day special!

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
March 1, 2013

Related Topics

Activities, Children’s Books, Motivation, Reading Aloud, Struggling Readers
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