Day 71: Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

Today is Dr. Seuss’s birthday! Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to us as Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2, 1904.  He also went by the names Theo LeSieg and Rosetta Stone. Dr. Seuss wrote 44 children’s books. We know them for their creative words and rhymes.  Dr. Seuss books are a favorite with children just learning to read because of their rhymes and fun characters. Do you have a favorite of the Dr. Seuss characters? Keep reading to see some faves! These are some of the Dr. Seuss books that our favorite Dr. Seuss characters come from.

The Cat in the Hat,

Green Eggs and Ham,

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish,

How the Grinch Stole Christmas,

Horton Hears a Who

While Geisel was celebrated as the magical Dr. Seuss, he was also a veteran of World War II, which gave him the opportunity to create a documentary film about his war experiences for which he was honored with the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1947. He went on to win another Oscar in 1950 for Best Animated Short Film, based on an original story he conceived during his Army days.

Dr. Seuss’s main audience is children. Did you know that 40% of children in the United States — nearly 29 million — live in low-income households? Most of these children have no age-appropriate books at home, and the classrooms and programs they attend are woefully under-resourced. Approximately two-thirds of these schools and programs cannot afford to buy books at retail prices.

A recognized leader in social enterprise, First Book has pioneered groundbreaking channels to provide new books and educational resources at deeply reduced prices — and for free — to schools and programs serving children in need. They provide teachers and program administrators with greater purchasing power and access to high quality books that otherwise would not be available to them. Through First Book, educators can create enriched learning experiences for their students, and the children can enjoy an ongoing supply of wonderful new books.

At First Book, their innovative approaches tackle the single biggest barrier to the development of literacy – access to books. To date, First Book has provided more than 80 million books to children in need, increasing access to needed materials for educators and administrators, and helping to elevate educational opportunities for our nation’s most disadvantaged youth. They don’t want to fight illiteracy – they want to end it. By working together, we can and will create a generation of lifelong readers and achievers.

Donation: $5

To support First Book, please visit:  http://www.firstbook.org/