It was rhyme time at Clear Stream

To celebrate the birth of a popular children’s author, guest readers visited classrooms at Clear Stream Avenue School to share the works of Dr. Seuss.

Theodor Seuss Geisel would have turned 106 years old on March 2. Among those reading his books to students that day were Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas, Assistant Superintendent for Business Ed Cullen, Curriculum Director Gerard Poole and music teacher Timothy Adams.

Kanas, who visited a third-grade class, chose popular Seuss book “The Cat in the Hat.” That’s because, Kanas said, her husband often says to her that after she cooks a meal the kitchen looks like the Cat in the Hat was there.

School security guard Marie Cintorino also read “The Cat in the Hat.” She said she finds its the most interesting of Seuss’ books. “When I was a little girl, my mom read this to me,” Cintorino said. “It brought back memories as a child.”

Sixth-graders from Clear Stream Avenue went over and read to the little ones at the Washington Avenue Kindergarten Center. Kindergarten teacher Sandra Aragona noted that the current sixth-grade was the first class to attend Washington Avenue when it re-opened as a school in 2003. “It was their first time coming back since kindergarten,” she said.

In addition to reading Dr. Seuss books together, children used graham crackers, marshmallows and red icing to make edible Cat in the Hat treats.

Sixth-grade teacher Karin Savino said her students were looking forward to reading to the kindergarten students, and each got to select which Dr. Seuss book they wanted to read. She said one of her students was pretty nervous, so he practiced reading “Green Eggs and Ham” in class the day before.

Kizane Marshall said he read Dr. Seuss’ ABC book to his buddy, since learning the alphabet is an important part of kindergarten. “It was about letters,” he said of the book. “It’s something that you need to know.”

Kizane said his kindergarten buddy asked him which is his favorite letter. “My first name starts with “K,” he said, “so that’s my favorite letter.”

Principal Helene Levine shared “Horton Hatches the Egg” with two classes. It is her favorite Dr. Seuss book, she said, because it has messages about being faithful and being a good person. It’s also very funny.

Levine said she always likes to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a read-aloud. “I’ve done this in every school I’ve been in,” she said. “I just think it’s great when you see people reading to kids.”

Children love the rhyming, repetition and patterns of his books, Levine explained. She added, “Everybody has a favorite Dr. Seuss book.”