AurthorJam: Dr. Seuss

Each year the National Education Association hosts Read Across America week in which thousands of our nation’s schools celebrate children’s literature.  It is a week to encourage reading, create excitement for books and it culminates on Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, March 2 (or the closest school day).

Why Dr. Seuss? Out of the thousands of children’s author’s in history, why do we pick Dr. Seuss as our national icon for reading? He wasn’t the first children’s author and illustrator to create engaging stories.  So why do we single out this one author?

Because Theodor Seuss Geisel’s books changed the concept of modern children’s literature.  

Many of us have grown up with Seuss’ playful characters: The Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2.  Geisel carefully created each character to spread simple yet whimsically told morals.  Seuss’ books teach important and mature themes such as responsibility, standing up for what is right, protecting those who cannot protect themselves and environmental conservation to name a few. But imagine a world without colorfully written text and nonsense rhyming words.  Imagine, if instead of seeing a Wocket in your pocket you could only see Dick and Jane run.  This is the world that Theodor Geisel changed for ever.  The Dr. Seuss revolution opened the door to the engaging, imaginative and socially relevant stories we casually read to our children every night.

So celebrate reading with your family! Even if your children do not attend school, make March 2nd a tradition in your home. Here are some simple Jammin’ ideas for your new: 

Seuss   Day  Traditions

Spend a car ride, or breakfast time rhyming real and nonsense words.

Wink while you drink pink ink, aka Lemonade. (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish)

 Check out this recipe for  Green Eggs and Ham, or just add Spinach puree to your scrambled eggs.

 Plant a tree or some grass in a homemade green house after reading the Lorax.

 Make up a Tall Tale at the breakfast table like the boy in “To think that I saw it on Mulberry Street.”

 Pretend it’s Christmas in Whoville and exchange gifts (handmade books come to mind)

 Have a family Read-A-Thon.

Go to www.suessvill.com, the official Seuss site.

 Pick 10 words from the dolche sight word list and rhyme them with nonsense words.    

      Make a Seuss-inspired family book.

Create an Oh-The-Place’s-You’ll-Go PCS dream sheet! Have each family member list where they want to move Next. 
Don’t feel the need to limit your list to real bases.  Your 

     little one might want to move to Dinkerville (Hurray For Diffedoofer Day)