Nanny to Mommy

March 2nd marks the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, and with it comes Read Across America Week—a nationwide celebration that encourages children to dive into the joy of reading. Originally launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), this annual event is more than just a tribute to Dr. Seuss—it’s a call to build a lifelong love of books.

As parents and educators, it’s the perfect time to make reading magical for our little learners. At our house (or in the classroom), we bring the pages of Dr. Seuss to life with Seuss-themed crafts, whimsical snacks, and reading goodie bags that spark excitement all week long!

Here are a few fun and easy ways to celebrate:

🎨 DIY Crafts: Make "Thing 1 and Thing 2" puppets or create a Cat in the Hat paper plate mask.

🍓 Themed Snacks: Think "Green Eggs and Ham" treats or red-and-white striped fruit skewers!

🎁 Goodie Bags: Fill them with Dr. Seuss pencils, mini books, and bookmarks to encourage reading at home.

Why It Matters: Read Across America promotes literacy and builds foundational reading skills, especially in young children. When we celebrate reading in a playful, engaging way, kids are more likely to view books as something fun—not a chore.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this week is a great opportunity to connect with your child and make reading part of your daily routine. So, grab a book, put on your Cat in the Hat hat, and get ready to rhyme your way through a week of literacy fun!

Dr. Seuss Dress Up Day Ideas:

- Teacher of All the Things Shirt
- I Speak for the Trees Lorax shirt - also great for Earth Day
- The Lorax mustache t-shirt (or you can make your own) & accessories to create costume
- Be Kind Dr. Seuss Long Sleeve
- Read Across America Week Peace, Love, Read

Dr. Seuss' Birthday Party Food Ideas:

- Cat in the Hat cheese sticks
- The Lorax cheeseballs - free printable mustache & eyebrows, use google eyes & fuzz nose
- Truffula Tree Seeds (Captain Crunch cereal just the berries)
- VERY Green Eggs & Ham
- "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" (color Goldfish)

Dr. Seuss Craft Ideas:

Items in gift bags:

1. Raymond Geddes Dr Seuss Number 2 Pencils For Kids 72 Count
2. Raymond Geddes Dr Seuss Mini Memo Pad (Pack of 48)
3. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss Number 2 Pencils With Giant Pencil Top Erasers
4. Raymond Geddes Dr Seuss Assorted Bookmarks For Kids (Pack of 50)
5. Raymond Geddes Dr Seuss Book Erasers For Kids (Pack of 48)
6. Raymond Geddes Dr Seuss Oh the Places You'll Go Number 2 Pencils For Kids (Pack of 72)
7. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Pen (Pack of 12)
8. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat #2 Pencils (Pack of 144), Pencil Set
9. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss 3D Character Ink Pens (Pack of 12)
10. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss Crayon Eraser (Pack of 24)
11. Raymond Geddes Dr. Seuss Incentive Bookmarks (Pack of 50)

Grab the Books and their Whimsical Characters:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE BOOK BANNER

You can do what I do and add as much as you can think of to your Amazon teacher wish list then get items sent in that way or ask parents to contribute a week or so before to make sure you have everything on hand. Give parents the option of sending money CashApp or Venmo because some would rather contribute that way. Remember you can do as much or as little as you want, customize it to you and your classes needs/wants. Don't stress and remember this is all about having fun while learning to read!