Norma Frango as “The Cat” started off the festivities with a spiriting reading of Dr. Seuss’ most famous book, “The Cat in the Hat.”

Youngsters in the Craig County Public Library reading program celebrate Read Across America Day with a special birthday party for Dr. Seuss on March 3 with a visit by The Cat in the Hat, with Norma Frango as "The Cat."

Betty Smith and Nila Goodwin worked with all the children to create their own red-and-white-striped hat. Following this fun activity, everyone went outside on the patio for sweet treats.

After singing “Happy Birthday” to Dr. Seuss, late children’s author Theodore Seuss Geisel, the children went home with more goodies, and, of course, a few library books to enjoy.

The event was attended by children, parents, and grandparents from the community and Headstart classes, plus the Headstart teachers.

Storytime for Preschoolers is held at the library on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. All preschoolers are invited.

At Glenvar Elementary School kindergarten teacher Kim Clapper cooked chartreuse-tinted scrambled eggs and warmed slices of ham on an electric skillet in her classroom for her students. Before that, a volunteer read Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” and a book by local author CeCe Bell, “Sock Monkey Boogie – A Friend is Made.” Bell lives in Roanoke County in the community of Ironto.

The scene of teachers wearing tall red-and-white striped “Cat in the Hat” hats and volunteers of all walks of life reading to kids was repeated in schools throughout the nation, on “Read Across America Day.”

It was the 106th birthday of late children’s author Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel.

West Salem Elementary School celebrated the event and “Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character” one day early, to keep from conflicting with a more serious mood for state-mandated Standards of Learning Tests in writing for fifth graders, held this year on March 2.