Seuss still stirring readers

Since the end of the last school year, Trinity North Elementary fifth-graders haven’t spent time with Paula Anderson.
Until Tuesday.
The retired teacher was one of 40 guest readers who celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday at the elementary school. Across the country, schools are celebrating reading all week to coincide with the birthday of the author known for such children’s classics as “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Cat in the Hat” and “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.”
At Trinity North, teachers and students got into the mood by wearing Dr. Seuss clothing. Some of the guests read Dr. Seuss books.
Anderson, who told the class that she is enjoying her first year of retirement, said there’s no place she’d rather be on Dr. Seuss’ big day.
“I taught reading for 14 years at Trinity North,” she said after reading the book “Skylark.” “Reading was always important to me. I always wanted the kids to enjoy it.”
“Skylark” is the sequel to “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” written by Patricia Maclachlan. The fifth-graders read “Sarah, Plain and Tall” last year. The books are set in the 19th century about a widowed midwestern farmer with two children, who takes a mail-order bride.
Anderson didn’t finish “Skylark” Tuesday.
“I only read parts of the story so you can read the rest,” she told the class.
Several of the fifth-graders said they plan to read the book.
Julia Quarture, 11, said the guest readers are fun. Between two and four came to each Trinity North class.
“It gives us more time to enjoy the story,” she said.
While the students don’t know all of the guest readers before they arrive, sometimes retirees, like Anderson, come back for Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Caleb Reynolds, 11, said he likes that.
“I like to see them again,” he said.
Matthew Douglas, 11, said that reading is his favorite subject. He was glad that Anderson was one of his class’ guest readers.
“She was a really good reading teacher,” he said.
Guest readers at the school also included nurses, sheriff’s deputies, politicians and the Wild Things mascot.
“I like that we get to meet new people and that guest readers get to come in and see us again,” said 11-year-old Hannah Meyers.
Becky Cardone, teacher of one of the classes in which Anderson read, said students benefit from guest readers.
“It’s a good opportunity to hear others read to them,” she said.
The school will have events all week about reading.
“This is our chance to celebrate reading,” said Linda Oros, a Title I reading specialist who coordinated the events.