By Meg Veal
Correspondent
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The costume for today at Cleveland State is red bow ties and tall striped toppers for the seventh annual Dr. Seuss birthday party to promote reading and literacy.
As many as 400 costumed children are expected to show up for a busy morning of making birthday hats, eating cupcakes, decorating green eggs and, most of all, hearing stories read.
The college’s early childhood education program and club sponsors the party every year around the children’s book author’s birthday, program director Suzanne Wood said.
Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodore Geisel, would have been 96 this past Tuesday. The theme for this year’s party is his book, “Happy Birthday to You!”
Ms. Wood’s class and volunteers set it up and preside over the action, and all the events are centered around literacy. “Literacy is not just reading and writing. It’s speaking and listening,” Ms. Wood said.
Early Childhood Education student Amanda Holtom is a little nervous about reading aloud.
“Dr. Seuss books are so tongue-twisting!” said Miss Holtom, who plans to transfer to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduate with a degree in K-3 education.
“I think the most important gift we can give children is a love of reading,” she said.
IF YOU GO* What: Dr. Seuss birthday party* When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cleveland State Community College Library* Sponsored by the CSCC Early Childhood Education program and club. Children must be accompanied by an adult.* Activities: Games, refreshments, reading, fishing, face painting, door prizes
Ms. Wood said local businesses — too many to name — support the annual event. But there’s one donor she particularly wished to recognize.
The Maylyn and Carson Thacker Foundation is named after Holli Carroll’s children. Maylyn, 8, and Carson, 5, were victims of violence in 2000.
Two mosaic benches in honor of the children will be unveiled at the party, and there are plans to build a children’s reading garden.
“My children loved to read,” said Ms. Carroll, a graduate of the early childhood education program.
Meg Veal is based in Cleveland. E-mail her at megveal@gmail.com.