The Cat in the Hat made a special visit to Rachel Patterson Elementary School Thursday, March 2, as a part of the national celebration of his creator’s birthday, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
For 20 years, the National Education Association has used the occasion of Seuss’ birthday to encourage children to read. The first week of March has been designated as Read Across America Week.
At Rachel Patterson Elementary School, education and community leaders were invited to come to the classes and read to the students.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Vickery is a special friend of Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and each year she arranges visits by the popular character to area children, reading to them, juggling and playing some of the games he is well known for in the story Seuss wrote about him.
Among the readers were City Clerk Celia Lambert, Escambia County High School Principal Dennis Fuqua, Escambia County School Assistant Superintendent Beth Drew, ECHS Head Coach Rico Jackson, retired Rachel Patterson teacher Katrina Dean, Atmore firefighters Shane Rolin and Glenn Kelley.
News photos by Donna Fitzpatrick