February 28, 2008

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

‘Cat in the Hat’ comes to Vineland Library

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Local children were in for a treat last Saturday when Vineland Library celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a reading challenge amidst much Hullabaloo.

District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle, far right, entertains children of all ages while 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 feline face. “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 weekly readings 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 an early celebration of his March 2 birthday as well as the 50th anniversary of the “Cat in the Hat,” was met with community enthusiasm with a 100 kids and their family members attending.

Even though the children 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 Pyle, a former teacher, 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?”

Pyle soon had kids repeating parts of the book and a group of children gathered around her in 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 stuffed animals including Horton the Elephant and other Dr. Seuss characters.

Face painting and a Cat in the Hat mesmerizes Kaitlyn Domingos at the Hullabaloo.

Pyle wasn’t the only volunteer sharing her time at the event. “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 the children delved into creating Horton the elephant masks, had their photographs taken as a “Cat in the Hat” and created bookmarks and door hangers. They also were eager to have their faces painted like 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 passports stamped as each activity was completed. The Whoville Reading Challenge presented a book-filled tent filled with children reading as many as possible for prizes. Vineland Library’s Rita Catillon read as well as organized 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.

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