March 14, 2008

The Cat in the Hat comes to Vineland Library

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Local kids were in for a treat last Saturday when Vineland Library celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a reading challenge and hullabaloo.

District 10 councilmember Nancy Pyle [far right] entertained kids of all ages reading from the “Cat in the Hat.” Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“This is our second year having the hullabaloo,” said Vineland Library’s Jane Cronkhite bedecked in a red and white hat and painted on feline face as the “Cat in the Hat” character. “We are celebrating the National Education Association’s tribute to Dr. Seuss with games, prizes, refreshments and reading by and to the children. Councilwoman Nancy Pyle is our featured reader reading “the Cat in the Hat. This event is an exciting highlight for us at the Vineland Library and our community.”

Vineland Branch Library provides reading weekly with children’s story times for different age groups as well as for families. But the hullabaloo celebrating the legacy of Theodor Geisel [1904-1991], better known as Dr. Seuss author and illustrator of 44 children books, with a celebration of his birthday on March 2 as well as the 50th anniversary of the “Cat in the Hat” was met with community enthusiasm with a 100 kids as well as family members attending.

But though the kids were all familiar with the outlandish characters of the “Cat in the Hat” and Thing One and Two, they listened as if they were hearing the story of the feline’s wacky tricks for the first time as District 10 Councilwoman Nancy Pyle animatedly read the book.

“You are some of the cutest kids I’ve seen,” said Pyle. “When I read I like to have active participation, does anyone know what this means?”

District 10 councilmember Nancy Pyle and the Cat in the Hat aka Miss Nancy [Buckles] received an excited welcome from the kids who attended the Vineland Library’s Hullabaloo. Photo by Jeanne C. Carbone

Pyle soon had kids repeating well known parts of the book and even a group of children gathered around her in their excitement. There was even more enthusiasm as Pyle and the Cat in the Hat aka Miss Nancy [Buckles] chose the raffle tickets with winners receiving stuff animals of Horton the elephant and other beloved Dr. Seuss characters.

“I’m always looking for new events to volunteer for the Key Club,” said Santa Teresa High School senior Pam Sanchez who manned the Horton the elephant mask making table. “This is a really a fun one.”

But the excitement was just beginning as a multitude of crafts followed. The eager kids delved into creating a Horton the elephant mask, having their photograph taken as a “Cat in the Hat” or creating bookmarks and door hangers and were eager to have their young faces painted as felines and pachyderms by Cronkhite.

“I love Horton so she painted an elephant face on me,” said MacKenzie Domingos. Her mother, Jen had heard about the event at Almaden Pre-School.

The kids had their Hullabaloo Passport stamped as each activity was completed. The Whoville Reading Challenge presented a tent filled with books with children reading as many as possible for prizes. Vineland Library’s Rita Catillon read as well as organizing the chaos and said “It’s a very special day at the library.”

But what would a birthday celebration be without a cake to celebrate the guest of honor? Parents and kids enjoyed the sweet treat together ending their birthday celebration of the “Cat in the Hat” author at Vineland Library.