The Cat in the Hat was back to celebrate the 17th annual Read Across America Day, held on March 3. Read Across America is a program that focuses on bringing awareness and motivating children to read. The event is always held on or near the March 2 birthday of children’s author Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.

At Oakdale High School, the creative writing class, computer graphics class, and a number of art classes collaborated to create 22 original children’s story books. The OHS classes visited the Sierra View, Cloverland, and Magnolia elementary school campuses the morning of Monday, March 3 to read their stories to the kindergarten through third grade students.

“I thought they did great. It’s fun to have some of your former students presenting,” said second grade teacher Kim Spencer of the high school visitors. “I love that the stories were original and the high school kids talked about the process they went through to get to their final product. It gives our students inspiration and something to look forward to in high school.”

Second grade teacher Linda Kraus shared with OHS Vice Principal Craig Redman that she was impressed with the high school authors and illustrator who visited her room to share their children’s story book. She said they explained their assignments to her students, read their book while utilizing her in-class Elmo document camera, and then took questions from her students. She added that the OHS students “seemed proud of their work, and excited to have the opportunity to share their finished products” with her class.

Millions of people across the nation took part in the celebration, including thousands of California educators and students. The nationwide event is sponsored by the NEA (National Education Association).

Some of the festivities at Sierra View, along with the special readings, were serving up green eggs and ham in the classroom in honor of the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs And Ham, other special treats with Dr. Seuss book themes, decorating planter pots to look like The Lorax, and at least one teacher, Mrs. Kraus, dressing up in a full Cat In The Hat costume.