Each year, the National Endowment for the arts marks March 2, the birthday of the late Theodor Geisel, or Dr. Seuss, with Read Across America Day. The program, which promotes activities in schools, libraries and other organizations, is designed to give kids a love of reading. It's also a good excuse to visit Seussville, where you can read about the Massachusetts-born author, recall his playful genius with a Quotemaker machine and play games such as One Fish, Two Fish Concentration. His books are timeless. I enjoyed them -- my favorite was "And To think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" -- and so did my children.
Meanwhile, don't forget to recite the Reader's Oath, which has a Seuss-like ring:
I promise to read/Each day and each night.
I know it's the key/To growing up right.
I'll read to myself,/I'll read to a crowd.
It makes no difference/If silent or loud.
I'll read at my desk,/At home and at school,
On my bean bag or bed,/By the fire or pool.
Each book that I read/Puts smarts in my head,
'Cause brains grow more thoughts/The more they are fed.
So I take this oath/To make reading my way
Of feeding my brain/What it needs every day.