United Way of Greater Chattanooga is celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday at Hamilton Place Mall on Saturday, by encouraging kids to get excited about reading. It is all part of Read Across Chattanooga, a local celebration of "Read Across America" week. Kids need to read to succeed, so United Way wants to make reading fun.
Kids love Dr. Seuss, but many children don't get to experience his zaniness outside of the classroom. United Way and its partners are bringing this event to the public, at no charge, so all children can enjoy "The Cat in the Hat" and other Dr.
Seuss classics.
Local celebrities will be on hand to help with readings and will share their favorite books from Dr. Seuss's library of work. Bring your children to hear one of their favorites, or maybe reminisce while listening to a favorite story from your childhood.
First, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., next to the play area in the mall, children under age five can get a learning checkup. Children who get a checkup will receive a voucher for a free family pass to the Creative Discovery Museum.
Then, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be the big birthday party in honor of Dr. Seuss. There will be free cookies, celebrity book readings every 30 minutes, and arts and crafts activities courtesy of Barnes & Noble, the Public Library, the Chattanooga Zoo, and WTCI TV. The Cat in the Hat will visit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as will the Bookmark Fairy, and there will be one free Dr. Seuss book - while supplies last - for each of the first 500 children who visit.
WTCI TV, Chattanooga's PBS station, will hold a workshop for students to collaborate with writers and illustrators who can guide them in their PBS KiDS GO! Writers' Contest entries. As part of their Dr. Seuss activities, the PBS station will also have free iPad apps for participants and will lead children in an engaging craft activity.
Hamilton Place Mall, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Sunny 92.3, WDEF TV 12, WTCI TV 45, The Chattanooga Zoo, the Public Library, and Barnes & Noble are partnering with United Way to bring this event to the public and provide literacy activities for children.
All these events are free to the public and everyone is invited to attend. For more information about United Way or this event, please call
423 752-0300 or visit
www.LiveUnitedChattanooga.org.