Western Pocono Community Library is celebrating Read Across America all this week with special story times, art projects, science experiments, scavenger hunts and songs.

Read Across America was launched by the National Education Association in 1998. It used to focus on Dr. Seuss, but the focus now has shifted to books that celebrate other authors and the diversity all around us.

“We are celebrating Dr. Seuss today and all week. Other weeks of the year, I feature other authors and themes,” Jessie Flickner, Youth Services Coordinator, said on Wednesday.

On Monday, her PlayK Prep group did Dr. Seuss books and activities, and she will do the same on Friday morning.

Wednesday’s events included Toddler Rhythm, Seuss Science, story time with Dr. Seuss books and Cat in the Hat craft, and Seuss art.

Families could also do a Dr. Seuss scavenger hunt, in which they looked for books that contained six things, such as someone being a good friend, something you would find in a zoo and a family. Once they found books with the six items and crossed them off the list, they took it back for a prize.

“I am so happy we are in person, after two years of doing this event on Zoom,” said Ashley Burney, programming coordinator.

Flickner had a big crowd for Toddler Rhythm at 10 a.m., in which the kids and their parents could come in a favorite Dr. Seuss character costume.

Jace Klix, 3, and 1-year-old sister Emery Klix came as Thing 1 and Thing 2, respectively.

“I found out yesterday and made something quick for them at home,” said mom Heather Klix.

She took red shirts they already own, and she drew two white circles and wrote “Thing 1” on one and “Thing 2” on the other then attached the signs to the shirts with tape and safety pins. Their costumes were a tribute to the twins in “The Cat in the Hat.”

She made a paper plate of green eggs and ham made out of construction paper, and sign that read “Sam I am.”

Her costume was a tribute to “Green Eggs and Ham.”

“It is my favorite Dr. Seuss book,” she said.

Her son has two favorites that they like to read a lot: “Mr. Brown Can Moo” and “Fox in Socks.”

Flickner led the children in songs and dances. She incorporates shaker eggs, scarves and silly gestures into the 30-minute session.

Seuss Science included erupting green eggs and making Oobleck inside a baggy.

Flickner set out a tray of green plastic egg halves, put some baking soda over top of each one and added vinegar. The kids cheered at the eruption the vinegar causes.

“This never gets old. They love this experiment no matter how many times we do it,” Flickner said.

The other was a tribute to Bartholomew and green Oobleck. The kids put some cornstarch, water and any color of food dye into a baggy and mixed it together.

“It’s like slime but not sticky. And it is not quite as messy - as long as the baggy stays ziplocked,” Flickner told the parents.

In the afternoon, she read Dr. Seuss books during story time and the kids made a Cat in the Hat craft using red and white construction paper, markers and glue.

During Seuss Art, the kids made Truffula Trees using pool noodles and tissue paper. It was an ode to “The Lorax.”