National Dr. Seuss Day Kicks Off Read Across America

On March 2 America celebrates National Dr. Seuss Day. Theodor Seuss Geisel became known as Dr. Seuss for his many children’s books he wrote throughout his lifetime. It’s not uncommon for adults to remember hearing his stories as kids about a mischievous cat wearing a hat or a character named Sam not liking green eggs and ham.  Each year in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, the National Education Association kicks off the annual Read Across America event. The NEA hosts events nationwide during the week for children to share their love of reading. Events include guest readers in classrooms, character visits and sing-a-longs.

There are also a few places across the United States that have exhibits and activities that will allow a whole new generation of kids to learn about this famous author.

Kadidjiny Park
Perth Western Australia: The Kadidjiny Park in Melville, Washington brings Dr. Seuss to life. It features red, white and blue exercise stations. There are huge blue mounds for kids to roll down on. Winding paths allow for a great place to ride bicycles. Kadidjiny Park also has a playground with a massive slide and several swings. There are a few covered areas that allow visitors to take a break from the sun or give them cover if it starts to rain. This park is the perfect place to bring along some Dr. Seuss books and spend an hour reading to your kids and enjoy a picnic lunch. Kadidjiny Park is open from dusk until dawn daily.

Seuss Landing
Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida is home to Seuss Landing. The area features many bright colors and a lot of activities for adults and kids to participate in. Visitors can get a unique view of the entire area by riding on The High In The Sky trolley that rides on a track over top of Seuss Landing. To cool off visitors can ride on the One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ride. It’s similar to the Dumbo ride available in Walt Disney World except that riders have to try to move the fish they are riding in around to avoid being squirt with water. In addition to the many other rides available there’s also an interactive playground called If I Ran the Zoo. It’s the perfect place to take little ones to run around and get out some of their energy. Islands of Adventure is open every day at 9:00 a.m.

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Gardens
The city where Dr. Seuss was born is home to a memorial for him. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Gardens, located in Massachusetts, features bronze sculptures that are based on some of the beloved characters found in Dr. Seuss’ books. One of the interesting things about these sculptures is that they were made by Dr. Seuss’ step-daughter, Lark Grey Dimond-Cates. The sculptures are grouped in 3 sections which include: The Storyteller, Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat and Horton Court. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the spring and summer months and from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. in the fall and winter.

So on National Dr. Seuss Day why don’t you make a batch of green eggs and ham or wear a silly hat? Many cities are having events to commemorate Dr. Seuss. There are also several traveling exhibits that go to different museums throughout the country for short periods of time to show off editorial cartoons and various artwork that depict Dr. Seuss’ books.