Dr. Seuss Remembered On What Would Have Been 109th Birthday

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Dr. Seuss’s birthday is celebrated today, March 1, on the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day.

Although Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was actually born on March 2, when the National Education Association launched the celebration of childhood reading 16 years ago they made the holiday for the first of the month. Thus, on the day before what would have been Dr. Seuss’s 109th birthday, children around the country threw parties where books were both the gifts and entertainment.

In New Jersey, students gathered together to make red and white striped hats made famous by Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, reported NJ.com. Meanwhile, librarians and teachers used the day to encourage their pupils to make a lifetime habit of reading – the noble motive behind the classroom festivities.

In Salem, Ore., the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation gave out almost 200,000 free books, or roughly five books for each student in the school system, according to the Statesman Journal. At Sea Park Elementary School in Florida, students breakfasted on green eggs and ham before guest speakers arrived to share their personal favorite children’s stories, reported Florida Today.

Check out a video flash mob from last year’s Read Across America below: