Happy Birthday to You! Dr. Seuss

Article Content

Generations have enjoyed the delightful rhyming books of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, who was born 115 years ago on March 2. He forever changed the way children’s books were written and continues to inspire generations.

UC San Diego will host a special birthday party on Friday, March 1 for the beloved author — which coincides with National Read Across America Day — with cake, carnival games, a Read-A-Thon, giant inflatable Seuss characters, a selfie station, live music by the Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra and a reading from “Happy Birthday to You!” The classic children’s book is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its publication this year. The university is also partnering with the Friends of the San Diego Public Library to host a book drive where guests can donate new or gently used books.

Dr. Seuss fans near and far are invited to join the fun starting at 11:45 a.m. in front of Geisel Library, the university’s iconic building named in honor of Ted and Audrey Geisel. UC San Diego’s Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Alysson Satterlund will be on hand to greet party-goers and serve cake and punch.

In 1991, the UC San Diego Library’s Special Collections & Archives became the official repository for the original works of Dr. Seuss. The collection now holds more than 20,000 items, including original drawings, sketches, manuscript drafts, books, notebooks, photographs and memorabilia, documenting the full range of Geisel’s creative achievements.

“We greatly treasure our Dr. Seuss Collection; it adds a creative dimension to the wealth of other papers and archives housed in Special Collections & Archives,” said Mitchell. “San Diego is where Ted Geisel perfected his craft to entertain, enlighten and instruct, values that are aligned with the university’s mission to teach students to think critically and express themselves creatively.”

In addition to the birthday festivities, a small exhibit of materials from the book “Happy Birthday to You!” will be on view from Monday, February 25 through Sunday, March 24 on the main floor of Geisel Library. For more information about the Dr. Seuss Collection at the UC San Diego Library, visit: lib.ucsd.edu/dr-seuss-collection.