They gathered behind an oversized red picture frame, some donning blue wigs, others choosing the familiar striped cap from “The Cat in the Hat.”
The photo opportunity was among a variety of activities celebrated March 2 during the annual Read Across America event at Lakeland Hills Elementary School.
School librarian Vickie Leaf has coordinated the event since Lakeland Hills opened a decade ago. Read Across America honors renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2, 1904.
Leaf said she develops a different theme each year in August, which allows her to coordinate the library. This year more than 200 students got clue cards and had to find a location in the school and solve a riddle to find out what activity they would perform based on 14 of Seuss’ books. Those ranged from artwork to making a “McElligot’s Pool,” which is based on Seuss’ 1947 book, in which a boy imagines a variety of strange fish in the pond where he is fishing.
“These activities are a way to get every kid to want to do something and then dig deeper into books,” Leaf said.
Along with volunteers from Auburn Riverside High School and Mt. Baker Middle School, Leaf said 26 students from Lakeland Hills helped produce the event. She, said the Lakeland Hills students met for 60 to 90 minutes once a week eight times to read six Dr. Seuss books.
“They had to do high comprehension questions,” Leaf said. “That was a great jeopardy game.”
Fourth-grade student Madelyn Staudinger worked at a station designed around “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose,” her favorite Dr. Seuss book. Students placed their thumbprints on paper antlers.
“I think it’s a really fun thing,” Staudinger said. “Mrs. Leaf does a great job with this.”
Second-grade student Carter Kocher partnered with Auburn Riverside sophomore Audrey Fernandez to create “pink snow” with diapers, food coloring and water. Fernandez got excited about volunteering for the event after learning about it through her membership with the National Honor Society, which requires students to perform community service.
“Every kid is a fan of Dr. Seuss,” she said. “He writes really good books, especially for children.”
Erika Moore, who teaches first- and second-grade students at nearby Ilalko Elementary, brought her daughter, her niece and a neighbor to the event.
“Mrs. Leaf always puts on a big event,” Moore said. “This is our third year coming, and the kids always look forward to it. She always puts on so many fun activities for the children.”
Lakeland Hills’ event was among the first in the Auburn School District to honor Dr. Seuss, who published 46 children’s books, including bestsellers such as “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat” before his death at age 87 in 1991. Arthur Jacobsen Elementary also had a spring book fair and dress-up events throughout the week that ended last Friday. Dick Scobee Elementary will celebrate Seuss from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 16 in the school’s gym.
