Staff Report
Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, once said, “A person’s a person, no matter how small. Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted.” His work has influenced generations and children today to find joy in reading books.
The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum announced that the spirit of Dr. Seuss will once again come alive during their second annual Read Across America “Eggstravaganza” on March 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event, presented in collaboration with the Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, is free and open to the public. It takes place at the museum, located at 3596 Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez.
What makes this a special experience is that it will feature a read-aloud of Dr.Seuss’s Horse Museum! — a newly published New York Times bestseller, illustrated by Andrew Joyner.
Dr. Seuss fans will be treated to activities with thematic elements from the book. Special guest presenters include Miss Kindness (Karen Palmer), Robo the Clown (Robert Hasley), and artist-musician Teresa McNeil MacLean. These presenters and other artists, poets and storytellers will be on hand to provide creative projects for kids.
Dr. Seuss-themed snacks will be served such as “Go Dog Go” hot dogs, green deviled eggs and more. There will be a free raffle for a variety of books about horses. In addition, visitors can view horse-themed artwork and exhibits which complement the story in Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum.
Original artwork by students attending Inspire Charter School will be on display, and equine enthusiasts will be able to see displays of antique saddles, tack and equipment used by Valley Vaqueros and cowboys for riding and caring for their horses. In addition, the historic Santa Ynez Branch Library, established in 1910 and located next door to the museum, will be open for touring.
“Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum is the perfect book choice for this year’s Read Across America Eggstravaganza,” said Theresa Reilly, the museum’s curator of education. “This new work is about seeing and creating art based on an unrhymed manuscript and sketches by Dr. Seuss which were discovered in 2013. The book is like a visit to a museum — with a horse as your guide and guest appearances by the Cat in the Hat, The Grinch and Horton the Elephant. It’s silly and playful, while stimulating critical thinking about making art with the horse as an artist’s muse. What could be better than the magic of a hot-off-the-press Seuss-themed story, introduced to a new generation of Valley children at a Museum that celebrates the role horses have and still play in our region! We hope the day will inspire young readers to embrace reading and value the Museum as a place to learn, have fun and grow.”
The museum is calling for extra volunteers who are needed to read books, help with art projects, perform, and display children’s art and poetry. If you would like to help, please contact Reilly at education@santaynezmuseum.org, or call 805-688-7889, extension 109.
