Kids choose from free books at a previous Read Across America event presented by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.The Chattanooga Public Library and United Way of Greater Chattanooga are among the organizations nationwide taking part in Read Across America next week.
The library will have celebrations at the downtown, Eastgate and Northgate branches. The United Way's activities take place at Hamilton Place mall. Find out more at ChattLibrary.org and LiveUnitedChattanooga.org.
AT THE LIBRARIES
¦ The Downtown Library, 1001 Broad St., plans a Seuss Extravaganza from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 3, on the second floor.
Those attending are encouraged to wear their best Seuss attire, even PJs, for "all things Seussical," including crafts, games, movies, activities and books by the celebrated author. Selfies made in a Seuss-themed photo booth will be transformed into buttons.
For more information, call 423-757-5310.
¦ The Eastgate Library, in Suite 105 of the 5900 Building at 5705 Marlin Road, will have a nutty adventure with the "Scaredy Squirrel" books by Melanie Watt at 4 p.m. Monday, March 3. Scaredy will be on hand with books, games, crafts, a film and other activities. Tarantulas, sharks and green Martians are not invited.
For more information, call 423-855-2689.
¦ The Northgate Library, 278 Northgate Mall Drive in Hixson, will host a fun-filled tribute to Mo Willems, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning author, at 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 3. Willems' first book for children was the short and snappy story "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus." Participants can get into books, games, films and crafts, maybe even drive a bus (no pigeons allowed). Activities are suited to preschoolers and early elementary ages.
For more information, call 423-870-0635.
AT THE MALL
The United Way is celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday with daily book readings at Center Stage at the mall, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.
Book readings are scheduled each evening, Tuesday, March 4, through Friday, March 7, along with visits from the Cat in the Hat, free book enrollments and book-related literacy activities for kids and their parents to enjoy. Local celebrities will be on hand to help with readings and will share their favorite books from Dr. Seuss' library of work.
The week will culminate with a birthday party in Dr. Seuss' honor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8. There will be snacks, book readings, arts and crafts, prizes (while they last), visits by the Cat in the Hat and the Bookmark Fairy, a birthday sing-along and a free Dr. Seuss book for the first 500 children.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., next to the play area in the mall, children under age 5 can get a learning checkup. Families whose children complete the checkup get a voucher for a free family pass to the Creative Discovery Museum.
The books of the day will be:
¦ Tuesday, March 4: "The Lorax," 6-7 p.m.
¦ Wednesday, March 5: "Horton Hears a Who," 6-7 p.m.
¦ Thursday, March 6: "If I Ran the Zoo," 6-7 p.m.
¦ Friday, March 7: "Green Eggs and Ham," 6-7 p.m.
¦ Saturday, March 8: "The Cat in the Hat," 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
For more information, call 423-752-0300.