Serving-Up Green Eggs & Ham with Dr. Seuss

The Goddard School Celebrates Literacy & Reading

By closing schools state-wide on Monday, March 2nd, the Nor’easter snow storm that blanketed our area only served to delay, BUT NOT CANCEL, the annual observance of *Dr. Seuss Day* at The Goddard School for Early Education, located at 255 Route 70 in Toms River.

To honor the 105th birthday of children's author-illustrator, Theodore Seuss Geisel, known to all kids and kids at heart as *Dr. Seuss*, teachers at the preschool and kindergarten joyfully served up green eggs and ham as the breakfast snack to the children on Tuesday morning instead.

The special breakfast, as well as special readings of Dr. Seuss books all week long during 'Circle Time', were just a part of the *Read Across America* program promoted by the National Education Association (NEA), the country's largest teachers union. The event both acknowledges Seuss’ contributions to children’s literature -- and helps to celebrate literacy and reading among children.

Though he didn’t publish his first children’s book until 1937, one of Seuss’ early books was the reading primer, titled “The Cat in the Hat”. The Cat, his signature character, wore a red bow-tie and red-and-white striped stovepipe hat. This one book actually revolutionized the way young children learned to read, because it made the process of reading fun.

During later years Seuss went on to write more books, creating more of his quirky characters, lively rhymes and idiosyncratic illustrations. These qualities, along with promoting his strong moral values, helped his books achieve great popularity. All told, 44 books by Seuss have been translated into more than 20 languages.

“While most schools promote and encourage literacy year-round, our Goddard School’s annual celebration of the Dr. Seuss Day celebration *marks* March 2nd as an ultra-special occasion for all our youngsters," said Ms. Dana Chibbaro (CQ), owner-operator of the Route 70 facility.

"It really does help to promote reading among the children," says Ms. Sharon Jensen, the Education Director at the pre-school and kindergarten near Whitesville Road

The Goddard School was voted *Best of the Best* child care center in both Monmouth and Ocean County, according to the most recent Readers’ Choice poll conducted by the Asbury Park Press ! Goddard was recently recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as the “#1 Childcare Franchise” for the eighth consecutive year (January 2009).