Font Size:

CELEBRATING THE MAN WHO HELPED SO MAY OF US LEARN TO READ

It's March 1st and it seems like the year is flying by too fast.

“How did it get so late so soon?  It's night before its afternoon.  December is here before its June.  My goodness how the time has flewn.  How did it get so late so soon?”   - Dr. Seuss

That's a quote from Theodore Seuss Geisel..better known as Dr. Seuss.  It was written for kids, but it works pretty well for the grown-ups too. 

On March 2nd, kids across the country will celebrate his birthday.  Here at 11 News we've got anchors and reporters heading to several schools to read a Seuss book or two to a classroom or two.  I'm going to a 2nd grade class at Mountain View Elementary.  I think it's my 4th year of reading there.

The kids like the classics, the most popular ones.  I'll probably read "The Cat In The Hat" or "Green Eggs And Ham"  Those are the two best selling of his more than 40 titles.  Combined all of his books have sold more than half a billion copies world wide.  There may be one or two, or twelve, in your home right now.

Last year the kids had me read a couple of the popular ones, then they asked for "Oh Say Can You Say?"  Have you ever read that one?  I hadn't until that moment.  It's got to be tongue-twistiest of all the tongue twistery the good Doctor wrote.  The kids knew that when they picked it...and made me read it...sight unseen...I think I did ok.

The first time I ever read a whole book, on my own, was in 1st grade.  I still remember the teacher having each kid come to her desk to read out loud to her.  I still remember how all of us felt when we finished a whole book!  Mine was "10 Apples Up On Top"  Dr. Seuss must have written the first books that millions and millions of us read on our own.  Imagine what it would be like to create something that could have that big an impact on that many people.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss

It's been 38 years since I read that first Dr. Seuss book, after tomorrow it may be another year until I read any more..but it's always fun.   Comment with one of your favorites.

We'll talk again soon.

Don Ward