HARVIN COLUMN: Seuss' rhyme adds fun to reading time

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." -- Dr. Seuss

The rhymes still repeat in your head, even if you can't remember the rest of the poem "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Dr. Seuss created books and poems that teens and adults learned to love as they delighted kids by reading the simple, whimsical books that led into the colorful world of his imagination. Who could forget "The Cat in the Hat" or "Green Eggs and Ham." Several area schools recently celebrated Dr. Seuss' 108th birthday.

At Eagle Nest Elementary in North Charleston, the school took time Friday to read Dr. Seuss. Third-graders put on "The Seussical" led by music teacher Blake Bredemeier. And Brendan Clark from Channel 2 News was guest narrator. The week before the birthday, they gave away Seuss totes and books to students who named the author of the read-aloud on the school's morning show.

James B. Edwards Elementary in Mount Pleasant is celebrating a monthlong Seussapalooza. They are reading stories and having activities and reading contests. Which means they are hooting over Whoville, and wondering at the pink snow: Do Lowcountry kids even know snow?

Out at Jane Edwards Elementary on Edisto, the birthday was marked with the famed green eggs and ham. That took courage. Green dye was mixed into a large bowl of eggs. The sixth-graders helped their young friends from the child development classes mix this glorious concoction.

If you have never tried this (Moms can get a little inspiration), it's a sure way to see if your kids are eating with their eyes instead of their tastebuds. Green eggs and ham don't have a different taste, but somehow it's hard to get them down if you think too green. (St. Patrick's Day is around the corner, so there is another chance to play with food color.)

But reading doesn't have to be just with Dr. Seuss. One new book club at the Marrington Elementary Library is Guys Read, a reading group for third- through fifth-grade boys and their fathers. In February, the boys read a variety of books about sports, including titles from Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids series. The group of about 20 boys also had a chance after school to talk with special guests who talked about the importance of reading and school. The guests included school mentor Alex Pallante, Stingrays hockey goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Derek Keller, and Goose Creek High School football players Tramel Terry, Gerald Turner and Mike Myers.

What a great way to get tough little guys reading and having fun. This is a great way to inspire men and their sons to spend time together.

So thanks to all these great ideas about how to get kids to read. And thanks to Dr. Seuss for creating his merriment, and for the memories that come with reading his smart silliness aloud. Try it. You will get as much pleasure as the kids.

Reach Stephanie Harvin at 937-5557 or sharvin@postandcourier.com.