Hundreds celebrate Dr. Seuss at annual Birthday Bash

Residents of all ages flocked to the Oceanside Library on March 5 to celebrate the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the beloved author best known for writing children’s books under the pen name Dr. Seuss.

Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, and died in 1991. About 750 people visited the library to celebrate his life and work, according to Tony Iovino, the library’s supervisor of community services. Children received a Dr. Seuss hat when they arrived and goody bags when they left, he added.

“He’s our favorite doctor,” Iovino said, “so, it’s a focal point for the community and the staff.”

The event, sponsored by Oceanside Kiwanis, featured arts and crafts stations, reading circles, continuous screenings of Dr. Seuss movies. Theater students from Oceanside High School also performed scenes from their production of “Seussical” — originally staged in January — for the many families in attendance.

“Everything we do here is to celebrate reading in one way or the other,” Iovino said, “and this is the best way.”