Dr. Seuss's Birthday

Today I popped in at my son's school to bring him his tennis shoes that he forgot this morning. When I walked in the door I expected to see the open door to his classroom and all of the kids inside working away. Instead I walked through the front door and found the hallway lined with children all with books in their hands.

You could hear a pin drop.

I went to the office to check in with the secretary before I went to the classroom. "What is going on?" I asked.

She replied, "Everyone's reading in the hallway."

"I see that. Why?" I asked.

"Because it is Dr. Seuss's birthday. Everyone is reading in the hall for about a half an hour to celebrate."
"Oh, okay" I said, still not understanding what reading in the hall had to do with Dr. Seuss but however they want to celebrate is fine with me especially when it involves quietly reading.

So today, March 2nd,  is Dr. Seuss's birthday and kids all across the country are reading to celebrate.

I remember when I started reading Dr. Seuss books to my son. He was 3 months old and I read Mr. Brown Can Moo. He is now almost eight years old and one of his favorite Dr. Seuss books that he asks me to read to him three times in a row is The Lorax. I hadn't read the story since I first heard it when I was about my son's age. When recycling was the newest coolest thing.

When I first read him the story I remembered every bit of it. I loved the story then and after 20 years I still did. At the end of the story I got all choked up. The story is about taking care of our earth and the words of the Lorax still ring as true today as they did when I was in grade school.

"UNLESS some one like you

cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better.

It's not."

The Lorax By Dr. Seuss

One thing that you should know about me is that I am not a hardcore environmental activist. I have no delusions of saving the environment. I recycle juice pouches more for the fun of it than I do to make a difference.
But...

I do care a whole awful lot. I do my best to recycle and save energy and I teach my kids the value in taking care of and appreciating our earth. And even though I recycle juice pouches for selfish reasons, I still get a secret feeling of satisfaction knowing that I am doing something to help.
Today I am going to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday by reading both my sons The Lorax. I think that if you haven't read it yourself then you should. Remember that you don't have to give your life to recycling and become a fanatic. All you have to do is care. If you do that then everything else will fall into place. Caring is the first step and it is all that you have to do. You may not save the environment but you won't make it any worse and that is all any of us can hope to do.

For more about Dr. Seuss and his books visit the official web site at www.seussville.com

For more about Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education Association, visit readacrossamerica.org