First Posted: 3/9/2015
LAFLIN —
On March 2, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, known as National Read Across America Day, libraries all over the country celebrate Seuss’s work by having his books read. This year marks its 25th year.
The Laflin Public Library joined in the festivities with Dr. Seuss-related activities of its own.
“We are having story time,” said Laflin Public Library Librarian Nancy Coassolo. “The children are making Dr. Seuss hats, (like) the Cat in the Hat and we will also be making cupcakes that are going to resemble Thing 1 and Thing 2.”
The library also had games for the 12 children in attendance, including knocking red cups painted like the Cat in the Hat’s hat off a table with a small bean bag as well as a scavenger hunt.
Coassolo also went the extra mile to give the children a special day by dressing up as the Cat in the Hat.
The Laflin Public Library, according to Coassolo, has been doing a Dr. Seuss program for somewhere between 10 to 15 years, although she has been the librarian for only eight of those programs.
Coassolo always enjoys seeing the fun the children have at this event.
“I think it gets them excited about reading,” said Coassolo. “(Dr. Seuss) was a great author with rhyming and he made the books fun.”
Joining in on the Dr. Seuss festivities were members of the Luzerne County Reading Council, or LCRC, an organization consisting of individuals who support a love for reading, enjoy sharing and learning about ways to help children and adults become betters readers and provide services to promote literacy.
Anne Tinner, a retired school teacher and vice-president of LCRC, was on hand with fellow LCRC member and retired school teacher Jane Fritz to read to the children.
Tinner read “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think” and Fritz read “50 Below Zero.”
“Adults coming in and reading to the children in libraries exposes more children to Dr. Seuss,” said Tinner. “Preschool children come to the library for story hours and learn about Dr. Seuss and become familiar with him. As they go on, they can graduate onto longer Dr. Seuss books that can teach them lessons about using their imagination, trying to do things that are a little bit different and by having this across America during this special week, it means more children are exposed to Dr. Seuss, to reading and become interested in reading.”
One student exposed to Dr. Seuss at the Laflin Public Library was Laflin resident Jameson Sciandra, 7. The first grade student at Holy Rosary School in Duryea loves Dr. Seuss.
“He’s very creative,” said Scriandra. “(His books) are very creative and very colorful.”
Of all of the Dr. Seuss-related activities in which she participated, Sciandra enjoyed making the Cat in the Hat crafts as well as cupcakes.
She also won a gift basket in a random drawing. The basket was filled with gold fish crackers and other Dr. Seuss related items such as teddy grahams that represent bears from “The Lorax,” red and blue juice drinks and gummy bears.
It’s safe to say Sciandra is a big fan of Dr. Seuss Day.
“I got lots of books and I love reading,” she said.
