Celina Library celebrates Dr. Seuss, Celina Record, February 2018

A party for the books: Library celebrates literary great Dr. Seuss Lisa Ferguson, Star Local Media contributor Feb 28, 2018 Celina Public Library will host its fifth annual birthday celebration in honor of legendary children’s author Dr. Seuss at 11 a.m. Saturday at the library, 142 N Ohio St. The party, which has for years served as the library’s largest annual children’s event, will feature a storytelling session, games, character appearances, a craft and light refreshments themed after several of Seuss’ best-known books. It is open to youngsters age infant through grade five and their grownups. Admission is free. Seuss, whose full name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, would have turned 114 years old today. According to biographical information featured on the National Education Association’s website, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author devised the idea for his first children’s book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” in 1936. The book reportedly was rejected more than two dozen times before finally being published. The library event also coincides with the kick off today of NEA’s annual Read Across America program, which promotes reading motivation and awareness among children. For the celebration, Director of Library Services Linda Shaw plans to reprise her role as the beloved Cat in the Hat character. Having graduated from Baylor University with a degree in music performance, Shaw said she enjoys donning Cat’s trademark red-and-white-striped hat as well as dramatic face makeup to portray the frenetic feline each year. “He’s outrageous. He does what he wants to do. He’s just full of attitude and exuberance and joy in the way he sees the world,” she said of the character. “The Cat in the Hat” is Shaw’s favorite of the 44 children’s tomes that Seuss penned and illustrated prior to his 1991 death. “I like how (Cat) comes in and it’s a rainy day and … just takes over. He wheels in a big box and out come (twin characters) Thing 1 and Thing 2, and the kids’ responses are great,” she said. “There’s a little bit of a message in there about just how much do you obey your parents, and the question of what would you do if the Cat came into your house. It’s just an absolutely fun book to read.” A sizeable selection of Seuss books are displayed year round near the library’s entrance. “Kids go right to them,” Shaw explained of their popularity with young readers. Also, “We have as many of the books as I could get in Spanish because they check out as frequently as those in English.” Seuss’ books “are designed to build reading skills in kids with the rhyming and the silliness of them,” she said. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy reading them. He’s even written books that are essentially meant for adults” to appreciate. Youth Services Librarian Lauren Graves said she is partial to 1990’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”, the final Seuss book published during the author’s lifetime. “It’s inspiring,” she said of the story, which has helped earn the book a reputations as a stalwart gift for graduates of all ages. “Life is weird, and things happen. I feel like (the theme) just kind of encompasses that.” Children who attend the library celebration will receive a gift bag filled with reading-related items to take home. “Because when you go to a birthday party,” Shaw said, “usually you leave with a goodie bag.”