WEEKEND: Library events celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday

Schools and libraries on the North Olympic Peninsula and across the nation are set to celebrate the birthday of the man who wrote The Lorax and other children’s favorites.

Today, many elementary schools — including schools in the Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Cape Flattery districts — are having special events to mark the 108th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss.

On Saturday, The Harmonica Pocket! will present “Get Loose with Seuss” at the Port Angeles and Sequim libraries.

Geisel, born March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Mass., wrote more than 60 children’s books during his life, using the pen name Dr. Seuss for all of the books he both wrote and illustrated and the name Theo LeSieg for books he wrote but others illustrated.

Enduring classics

Among his enduring classics are The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Lorax and Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories.

The National Education Association is sponsoring the 15th annual Read Across America Day today, encouraging members of the public to read to schoolchildren today to honor Dr. Seuss and promote reading.

The celebration continues Saturday.

Keeth Monta Apgar and hoop-wielding sidekick Nala Walla, both of Port Townsend, will perform songs, stories and dance at 10:30 a.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

They will provide the 2 p.m. grand finale show of a read-a-thon in honor of Dr. Seuss at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.

The read-a-thon will begin at 10 a.m. and with The Harmonica Pocket! show.

The Dr. Seuss read-a-thon is an event to support literacy and is free to all.

This is the first read-a-thon at the Sequim Library, and patrons of all ages are encouraged to stop in throughout the day to read fun books and have a snack.

The first 50 children get a Cat in the Hat-inspired top hat.

For more information visit www.nols.org.

More in Life

Tim Branham, left, his wife Mickey and Bill Pearl work on a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle entitled “Days to Remember.” The North Olympic Library at its main branch on South Peabody Street in Port Angeles sponsored a jigsaw puzzle contest on Saturday, and 15 contestants challenged their skills. With teams of two to four, contestants try to put together a puzzle in a two-hour time limit. Justin Senter and Rachel Cook finished their puzzle in 54 minutes to win the event. The record from past years is less than 40 minutes. The next puzzle contest will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 8. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Piece by piece

Jigsaw puzzle contest in Port Angeles

HORSEPLAY: Planning can help prevent disaster in an emergency

ISN’T IT TRUE in life, when one door closes and appears locked… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: In pruning, why and where matter

WELL, DAY 10 still has no frost and the mild temperatures are… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Freedom and the stranger

FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION are at the very heart of the Torah portions… Continue reading

Jamal Rahman will discuss teaching stories and sacred verses that transformed his life at 11 a.m. Sunday. Rahman will be the guest speaker at Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship speaker set

Jamal Rahman will present “Spiritual Wisdom and Practices for… Continue reading

Pastor Omer Vigoren set for retirement

Bethany Pentecostal Church will honor retiring pastor the Rev.… Continue reading

The Rev. Glenn Jones
Unity in Olympics program scheduled

The Rev. Glenn Jones will present “Come Alive in… Continue reading

Shanna Bloom, who lives at the intersection of Fifth and Cherry streets in Port Angeles, plans to keep her American flag lights up well into spring. "These aren't Christmas lights anymore," she said. "They are patriotic lights now." (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Patriotic lights

Shanna Bloom, who lives at the intersection of Fifth and Cherry streets… Continue reading

An article from the Olympic-Leader newspaper of Port Angeles on July 20, 1894.
BACK WHEN: A tale of a Peninsula tragedy from 130 years ago

IT IS THE start of a new year. Have you made any… Continue reading

Angel Beadle holds Phoebe Homan, the first baby born on the North Olympic Peninsula in 2025. Father David Homan stands by their side in a room at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles couple welcomes first baby of 2025

Phoebe Homan joins 7-year-old brother

Andrew May/For Peninsula Daily News  
Fall color can add so much to your garden, as seen here on a garden designed and planted for 16 years. Always add some new fall color to your garden.
A GROWING CONCERN: Don’t let warmer temperatures catch your garden out in the cold

IT’S SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT to come to terms that Wednesday is a new… Continue reading