Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Today, March 2, kicks off Read Across America week (along with National Reading Month throughout the month of March), beginning on the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

During this week, let us focus on encouraging and promoting the benefits and importance of reading, especially for our children who have at their disposal these days so much technology that, at times, negatively impacts reading a good ol' fashion book.

Today, and throughout the week, I commit to spending time reading. Will you?

What are your favorite go-to books, Dr. Seuss or otherwise? I'd love to hear and compare the favorites amongst all of us.

National Read Across America Day

A day to celebrate reading. What more could we want?

This day, National Read Across America Day, is celebrated every year on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. While I will read at least one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books today, I will also be celebrating by reading my own books, BEDTIME KISSES and LITTLE BUG, to a very special group of young kids at John Paul II Elementary, the school in which I serve as Speech/Language Pathologist and the school all of my own kids attended from preschool through 6th grade.

What a privilege! Thank you to Mrs. Morgan for inviting me to visit. I can think of no better way to celebrate the joy of reading than by sharing my own books with children. I love to engage with kids and share my love of reading and books. I strongly believe it is imperative to encourage kids to read and foster a love of books, especially in the face of the technologically driven world in which we live today. It is so important for kids to learn that books are exciting and fun. The stories contained within the pages can transport us to completely different worlds and places as well as allow us to meet new characters and have new life experiences. In addition, reading is relaxing and helps us learn about many things. For, in the words of a very wise Dr. Seuss,

"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

So, today, as Read Across America Day kicks off the National Reading Month of March, pick up your favorite picture book, novel, biography, etc., and lose yourself in the pages of a great story. And, please, help me spread the word to all those young minds eager to learn and explore. Reading is the very best way to do so!

Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss

Happy birthday to you, Dr. Seuss! Thank you for giving generations over time such fun reads. 

Today is National Read Across America Day. Whether it is Dr. Seuss or something else, grab a book and spend some time reading and exploring the new worlds books offer. 

I love the idea of celebrating a day of reading as I would love to spend most days doing nothing but reading and writing books. In an effort to salute Dr. Seuss and his birthday, what are the favs from your childhood or from those read to your children more recently?  I'm not sure I can pick my favorite "older" Seuss book though THE CAT IN THE HAT, GREEN EGGS AND HAM and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! are definitely up there. OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO! is one of my all time favorites though.

How about you? And who can forget all the great advice Seuss provided? 

This is one of my most favorite pieces of advice ever and quite profound on many levels. Tomorrow is never promised. Cherish today and live life to the fullest. It is so worth it.

But, besides Dr. Seuss, what are your other favorite reads to curl up with today?

Picture Book Bonanza

In a world where chaos, fear and uncertainty reign supreme, sometimes you just have to lose yourself in a good picture book and revisit the wonder of childhood. As a picture book author, I do this all the time; however, I highly recommend it for everyone. It makes the heart happy!

Here is what is on my reading list for the next couple days. Some classics and some new, but all wonderful.

The Remember Balloons
Where the Wild Things Are
The Giving Tree
Goodnight Moon
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Velveteen Rabbit
Love You Forever
Oh, The Places You'll Go!
The Kissing Hand
Neck & Neck
I Wish You More
The Rainbow Fish
The Snowy Day
Owl Moon

And, of course, my own...

Celebrate Dr. Seuss

Today is National Read Across America Day. This day is celebrated to mark the birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss, who wrote and illustrated some of the most well-known children's books of all time. I know I have my favorite (Oh, The Places You'll Go!). What is yours?

Honor Dr. Seuss today. Pick up a book, read to your children or visit a library and celebrate the day!

Celebrate Read Across America Day

Today, March 2, is widely celebrated as Read Across America Day. This day serves as motivation and awareness in calling every child to celebrate reading in honor of the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  Who better to celebrate than Dr. Seuss who made reading and enjoying books so much fun for kids, and who continues to enchant and entertain children and adults today.

Motivating children to read, which, in turn, improves student achievement and performance in school, is so very important.  As a children's author, my goal is to write books that make kids (and the parents reading to their kids) want to read them time and time again.  I want to instill a love of reading and books in kids and make them want to pick up a book and read. 

Losing oneself in the pages of a book and the life created therein is what made me want to be an author in the first place.  To do this for children is the greatest honor and privilege, and I salute Dr. Seuss for helping the world see the fun words and stories can be for children.

So, today, grab your favorite book, Dr. Seuss or otherwise, and settle in to read. I know I will be doing the same.

Should you feel so inclined, please share your favorite Dr. Seuss book below.  It is hard to beat THE CAT IN THE HAT, but OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO is one of my favs! How about you?

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Today marks the birthday of one of the world's most wonderful storytellers, Dr. Seuss. As such, a nationwide reading celebration takes place every year on this day. It is Read Across America Day, so get out your books (especially the Dr. Seuss books) and read.

Dr. Seuss was a masterful storyteller but also a subtle teacher for children as he showed kids the importance of having a kind heart, believing in oneself and in one's potential in life.  I can think of no other person having such a long and important impact on children's reading and learning...and with such fun stories!

As I started to think of some of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes to share today, I realized they all came from the same book...Oh, The Places You'll Go! (1990)

Some of my most favorite include the following...

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so...get on your way!"

"And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too."

I guess that means Oh, The Places You'll Go! is my favorite Dr. Seuss book given all my favorite quotes come from it, but there are so many wonderful books.

What are your favorite Dr. Seuss books and/or quotes?  I'd love to hear them!

Barnes & Noble Bookfair

For anyone in the Sioux Falls, SD, area on Saturday, February 25, Barnes & Noble is hosting a book fair which will support and raise funds for our Dakotas chapter of Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

Kids can enjoy story time, activities (including an illustration demonstration by Elise Parsley and caricature drawings by Chuck Bennis) and a Dr. Seuss celebration.  Adults can enjoy books, drinks and treats in the cafe as well as discounts on cheesecake purchases Saturday in the deli.

Use code #12054516 at checkout or mention the book fair promo to the cashier.

For anyone not in the Sioux Falls area tomorrow and interested in participating, shop online at www.bn.com from February 25, 2017 to March 2, 2017 and use code #12054516 in the space for "book fair id" at checkout.

Thanks in advance for supporting our SCBWI Dakotas chapter and happy shopping, reading, coffee drinking and treat eating!