No grinches at these parties

Hey, Sam-I-Am! Hey, Sam-I-Am! 

It’s somebody’s birthday. 

Can you guess the man? 

It’s Dr. Seuss, born on March two. 

And if you’re a fan, here’s what you can do:

Crozet Library sets the stage for a very special shadow puppet adaptation of Seuss’ book The Lorax on March 2. The play, created by Crozet resident Fred Williamson and his family, was originally performed at the family’s Christmas party. Librarian Margaret Haupt attended that party and, thinking it the perfect way to celebrate what would be the great doctor’s 98th birthday, invited the Williamsons to present it for the public. With little more than smoke and mirrors, Williamson creates a very low-tech, but highly engaging, production that features the distinctive images of Seuss’ characters.

The library will continue the party with games, puzzles, mazes, and Seuss mania throughout the day. Other Jefferson-Madison Regional Library branches also honor the man who deep-sixed forever America’s dependence on the banal basal reader as a tool for reading instruction and replaced it with imaginative 50-word stories like the Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. Northside Library celebrates Seuss on March 7 at 4pm with stories and crafts for kids of all ages. Central Library parties on with stories and fun on March 10 from 2 to 3pm. 

But a festival of Seuss wouldn’t feel right without Charlottesville’s voice of colorful characters, Peter Jones. “Tell Us a Tale,” the only children’s radio program in Central Virginia, tapes live at the Prism Coffeehouse on March 2 with a Seuss birthday celebration to be aired the following day on 91.1FM WTJU. Fans are invited to participate in the lively, interactive performance of a number of Seuss tales by Jones and his regular cast of characters, along with the Jan Smith band.  

So if you do like green eggs and ham, thank Theodore Seuss Geisel ‘cause he’s the real man. 

Crozet Library is located in the old train station on Three Notch’d Road  in Crozet. Show up early for good seats at the Williamsons’ performance of The Lorax, which begins promptly at 10am. 823-4050. Northside Library is in Albemarle Square. Registration is required for the March 7 festivities. 973-7893. No registration is required for the March 10 party at Central Library, located at 201 E. Market St. 979-7151, ext. 3. Prism Coffeehouse is at 214 Rugby Road. Taping takes place from 1 to 3pm. Donations will be accepted at the door. Call Peter Jones at 978-3603.