The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CELEBRATING SEUSS
Dr. Seuss Day includes books, costumes and stories for youngsters at Oberlin Library.
Children and adults alike dusted off their red and white-striped hats to celebrate Seuss Day on March 4 at the Oberlin Public Library.
The library, 65 South Main Street, played host to the event organized by America Reads and staffed by volunteers from Oberlin College.
According to America Reads Coordinator Maureen Simen, this is the 19th year the organization has celebrated the birth of Dr. Seuss, real name Theodor Geisel, who would have turned 114 on March 2.
“From the very beginning of America Reads, the two have gone together from the very beginning,” she said. “This coincides with Right to Read Week or Read Across America but also with Theodor Geisel’s birthday.”
The event featured crafts, games, performances and Seuss stories being read by Oberlin College President Carmen Ambar.
Children were invited to sit on a colorful rug covered in different animals
"Literacy is often thought of when you begin to read, and literacy starts at birth." — Jennifer Harris, executive director of Oberlin Early Chikldhood Centers
and hear Ambar read “The Sneetches” and “What Was I Scared Of?”
Ambar said she read the
same stories to her triplets when they were young.
Simen said despite an appearance children are only interested in technology, Geisel is still relevant.
“I talk to families here and I talk to the college students who say, ‘I remember, my favorite Dr. Seuss book
was this’ and they can quote lines from it,” she said. “I come to this library on a regular basis and I see children checking out stacks of books.”
Jenn Keathley, coordinator of OberlinKids, and Jennifer Harris, executive director of Oberlin Early
Chikldhood Center, were also on hand registering families for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
The program sends a book to children every month from birth to the age of five, and recently celebrated giving its 100 millionth book.
Keathly said the program does not send out Dr. Seuss books, because they’ve contracted with a different publisher, but that shouldn’t dissuade people.
“I think the excitement of reading, and all the fun that reading can bring and all the silly things that go
along with it and make the connections of memories for children as they grow up,” she said.
Harris added she is happy to see young families.
“Literacy is often thought of when you begin to read, and literacy starts at birth,” she said.