Stories like "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Lorax "are timeless, so it's hard to believe that the wonderful and imaginative Dr. Seuss would have been 113 years old this year.

Every year, schools and libraries throughout the country celebrate his birthday, March 2, by planning "Read Across America" events.More than a dozen schools and libraries in our area took part in the event. They marked the occasion with Seuss-themed readings, costumes, crafts and activities.In the Palmerton School District, S.S. Palmer Elementary celebrated reading all week, and on Seuss' actual birthday, teachers and students busted out their "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" and oobleck to get in the spirit."We've had a lot of fun, it was a little messy, but very Dr. Seussy," second-grade teacher Melisa Beahn said of the gooey green substance that gets its name from Dr. Seuss' "Bartholomew and the Oobleck."Panther Valley Elementary got in the spirit with help from some older Dr. Seuss fans - Panther Valley High School JROTC cadets, as well as volunteers from St. Luke's University Health Network and Ametek Inc.JROTC member Jennah Malloy said that she remembered taking part in the event as an elementary student.In the Weatherly School District, state Rep. Doyle Heffley and Carbon County Commissioner Thomas Gerhard read stories, and Weatherly Mayor Tom Connors dressed up like the Cat in the Hat.This year, the Western Pocono Community Library held a day long reading event. Staff members read Dr. Seuss' books to groups of children from 9 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.The library also hosted a number of therapy dogs during the day. According to staff at the library some of the dogs come by regularly to have the children spend time with them and to read to them.Brian W. Myszkowski, Chris Reber and Judy Dolgos-Kramer