March 2nd is Theodor Seuss Geisel’s actual birthday! In honor of this great writer and illustrator and his classic works, Bookmans in Flagstaff hosted their Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Party at the Downtown Flagstaff Public Library, and it was a great hit. Kids listened to many of the classics, including "Green Eggs and Ham," "The Lorax," "Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?," "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish," and the well-loved "Cat in the Hat," a book using 250 words that Seuss’ friend and textbook editor, William Ellsworth Spaulding, derived from a literacy report that all 1st graders should know. Spaulding dared Seuss to use 250 of these essential words to write a children’s book, and still make the book entertaining. Nine months after the dare, Seuss had written The Cat in the Hat!

Our birthday party in Flagstaff, kindly hosted by the Flagstaff Public Library, consisted of wonderful Seuss-themed balloon sculpture hats, fun animal crafts (including Sneech stars), and displaced Bookmans employees reading and acting-out their favorite Dr. Seuss books. Pepe, our kids’ books expert, read "Green Eggs and Ham," because he’d enjoyed reading the book to his daughter when she was younger (also named Sam like the character in the book) and because it has a great moral of being willing to try new things, even if they sound gross! Robert read "Red Fish, Blue Fish..." with the help of his very young assistant in his favorite crazy lady voice, and Kate read "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" for all the little ones who are just learning to make animal noises! Each child also got to take home a Bookmans t-shirt and a grab bag with a Dr. Seuss bookmark, crayon-shaped erasers, I Love Reading Stickers, and other fun stuff. There were likely over 40 or so folks attending, including kids, from infants to teenagers (only cool teens appreciate Dr. Seuss!). We certainly hope that Flagstaff families will keep turning out for fun interactive kids’ events hosted by Bookmans and our own lovely library.