Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, has been capturing imaginations for decades with his wacky and whimsical tales.
The creator of such classics as “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham,” Seuss used rhymes to remind children they can achieve any dream if they simply put their mind to it. He taught empathy, using stories of “The Lorax” and “Horton Hears a Who!” to show children it was up to them to stand up for others and to fight for what was right.
Every year, communities across the nation come together to celebrate the creator of the stories they all have come to love by honoring Seuss on his birthday. Bruton is hopping in the festivities by offering a quirky birthday party themed around the event.
“Here at Bruton we celebrate reading,” Amanda Preece, youth services associate, said. “His characters are relatable and stories told in rhyme are always more popular. ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go,’ I got that book for graduation. These stories made a lasting impact on generations of readers.”
Bruton Memorial Library is partnering with the GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club to bring the festive celebration to local youth. Schools throughout the country, including several in Plant City, are celebrating Dr. Seuss on his birthday as is evidenced by the empty shelves at Bruton.
Preece said teachers have flocked to the children’s section to take back multiple copies of the beloved stories to share with their classes. Seuss was born on March 2, 1904, so most of the school celebrations have officially wrapped up.
Due to the fact the Florida Strawberry Festival is currently in town Preece decided it would be best to wait for it to conclude before the library hosted its special event. The party will officially be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 13.
The GFWC Plant City Junior Women’s Club won a grant for literacy and is using the funds to help bring the spectacular event to life. Not only will they use the funds to purchase all of the necessary supplies, but the group will also be volunteering at the party. There will of course be a Seuss story time as well as party games, crafts like coloring book markers and refreshments including birthday cake and apple juice. Photo opportunities will also be available throughout the party.
All in all, Preece said the party should last approximately 45 minutes and they are expecting a few dozen children to attend.
“People are more willing to read to their children what they read as kids,” Preece said. “So these stories are often passed down from generation to generation. It doesn’t seem to be a collection that children are losing interest in so I’m sure we will continue to see a fascination for his work for years to come. I’m sure both the children and their parents will have a fun time Wednesday night.”
Children are welcome to wear normal attire, however, if they have kooky Seuss-themed costumes they wish to celebrate in, they’re welcome to come decked out for the event.
To add to the fun affair the library has rescheduled the telescope night for the same evening at 7 p.m. Poor visibility led to the abrupt rescheduling for the event and as long as the skies are clear local youth will have the opportunity to gaze up at the moon through the lens of Craig MacDougal’s telescope.
The party will be held inside the library in the meeting room and the telescope event is outside on the library’s lawn. Both events are open to children of any age and their families. Seuss even wrote a short poem on the importance of honoring birthdays and reminded readers without them the world would be a darker place.
“If we didn’t have birthdays, you wouldn’t be you. If you’d never been born, well then what would you do?… Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you,” Seuss wrote.