Dr. Suess Day/Read Across America

The idea for this party was certainly not my own. My friend I used to teach with reminded me about Read Across America, a day that we celebrated faithfully when I taught 5th grade. She said she was going to do some reading activities and I thought, Hey - we should do that, too! I think she may even have said 'dorky' (dorky to throw reading parties and be email friends with librarians), but I say brilliant. I'm a teacher, you know? It's just who I am.

Gavin and I had a great time getting ready for the event. It wasn't stressful or too much because we were able to take each part and work on it together. We delivered invitations, went to the copy store, cut coloring pages, and made cookies.

Look at my little helper. Sugar cookie dough keeps him entertained for at least an hour.
Everyone got a cookie with their initial. You know, for reading day.
I didn't realize that everyone would actually want to come! Turned out it sounded like fun to my neighborhood mom friends. I invited all of the little kids who weren't in school. The day before when only two people told me they wouldn't be able to make it, I realized that we were going to need a different venue. I called to schedule the primary room at our church. We ended up with 16 moms and 25 kids plus a few babies - certainly a crowd too large for my little front room.

We started off with a little read aloud (by the former Mrs. Robinson) and then had the kids grab a little library card I made them. They went around to different moms who had their kids' favorite books and got a stamp or punch for each story they heard. They wandered and listened to books for about 20 minutes. It was so fun to see them engaged and excited about books.



After that they colored a Dr. Suess doorknob hanger. I loved to see how the kids naturally hunkered together on their tummies. They listened to Suessical, The Musical and danced around the room.
And lastly, cookie time. Always a hit. Gavin could. hardly. wait. to get his little fingers on that green G.
This isn't the whole crew, but most of them. I love these kids. Not only are they my friends' kids, but they are my (primary) kids, too.

A super fun day that I will for sure need to repeat next year. A fun new tradition for us! Thanks, Amy!