By Ruth SOWBY

As part of the National Reading Month of March, the library at La Crescenta Elementary School could be considered “Dr. Seuss Central.” Murals of Dr. Seuss characters line the walls, costumes of Dr. Seuss characters hang from the ceilings and books by Dr. Seuss (the moniker of Theodor Seuss Geisel) are stacked on shelves. Librarian Carole Mulder is so passionate over many of Dr. Seuss’ 60 books that she patiently supervised each of the school’s 430 students as they came to the library this month, class by class, in honor of Dr. Seuss.    

On Dr. Seuss’ March 2 birthday (also known as Read Across America Day), Mulder dressed as The Cat from Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” to welcome students and their teachers to the library. Mulder would read to them and encourage them to read for themselves. She counted on the costumes, decorations, books and free magnetic bookmarks to keep the interest of the children, ranging in age from 4 to 12. That did the trick for 10-year-old Samuel Kang. It was hard to pull him away from library hour.

“I read in my free time,” he said.   

Mulder even invented and put together Dr. Seuss games for the kids to play such as “Toss the Cat in the Hat” and Pin the Hat on the Cat.” She bought her game supplies and room decorations from the Dollar Store; no parents were asked for money. The $600 Mulder estimates she spent came from the school foundation and the PTA. 

Mulder feels it was worth it. Besides promoting a love for reading, the month of Dr. Seuss may also promote empathy. 

“When you spend time in another character’s shoes, like the children are doing, empathy may come,” said Mulder. And, according to Dr. Seuss, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”