Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, would have been 115 years old on March 2nd. The Elementary School is celebrating that occasion all this week. Tuesday was "If I Ran A Zoo" Day which comes from his book of the title which he wrote in 1950.
The Elementary children were encouraged to wear an animal print shirt and to bring their favorite stuffed animals to class. Some of Ms. McMillan's 2nd graders are seen doing this in the accompanying photo.
"If I Ran A Zoo" is written in anapestic tetrameter, Dr. Seuss' usual verse type. It tells the story of a child named Gerald McGrew, who when visiting a zoo, finds that the exotic animals there are not good enough. He says that if he ran the zoo, he would let all of the current animals free and find new, more bizarre and exotic ones such as the Fizza-ma-Wizza-ma-Dill, "the world's biggest bird from the island of Gwark, who eats only pine trees, and spits out the bark."
Despite recent criticism from some quarters, Dr. Seuss' stories are still beloved by many. His books also teach invaluable lessons. These include don't cave in when the going gets tough, take care of our planet-it's the only one we've got, be open-minded, be gracious, we're all equal, stand up for yourself, and do a good job, but remember to have fun.