The 112th birthday of whimsical children’s book author Ted “Dr. Seuss” Geisel will be celebrated across the Southland and around the United States today with Read Across America Day.
Geisel was born March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and first used the pen name Dr. Seuss on a cartoon in the Saturday Evening Post in 1927.
His first book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” was published 10 years later — after 27 rejections. He penned classics like “Green Eggs and Ham” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” that became staples for young readers.
He died in 1991.
The National Education Association launched Read Across America on his birthday seven years later. The program promotes the importance of reading to school children.
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian and LAUSD board member Scott Schmerelson will take part in a Read Across America event at Rio Vista Elementary School in North Hollywood, while a Read Across America ceremony will be held at the Battleship Iowa in San Pedro, beginning a month-long book drive.
A slate of actors and actress will take part in an event at Lindbergh Elementary School in Lynwood. Among those reading to children will be Aarti Mann (“The Big Bang Theory”), Nina Siemaszko (“The West Wing”), Alexandra Barreto (“The Fosters”), Marieve Herington (“How I Met Your Mother”), Jennifer R. Blake (“The Bar”), Donis Leonard (“House of Lies”) and Jadon Sand (“The Lego Movie”).
