The Cat is back at Adams

COSTA MESA — Hayden Machbank did like green eggs and ham.

Hayden Machbank ate them like she should. Hayden Machbank ate them because she could.

“I was surprised because it was good,” said the 6-year-old dressed in a pink Disney princess robe without a hood.

Adams Elementary School’s multi-purpose room was filled with blankets, stuffed animals, animal pillows and pajama-clad kindergarten- and first-grade students Wednesday morning celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

The Costa Mesa students joined their peers across the nation for the 14th annual Read Across America Day, a celebration of the iconic children’s author’s 107th birthday.

“We want to be kind of silly like in the books,” said first-grade teacher Robyn Reese, who wore pajamas. “We’re kind of stepping into the literature.”

It’s important to celebrate authors and to promote literacy, Reese said, adding that it gets kids interested in reading.

Dr. Seuss is one of the most recognizable names in literature, making him relatable to everyone, said Principal Gabriel Del Real.

All the students had a special reading activity planned Wednesday and emotions were running high leading up to the event, he said.

“The kids were really excited,” Del Real said. “You could feel the fever on campus.”

Students sat cross-legged as Reese read “Green Eggs and Ham,” “Put Me in the Zoo,” “The Cat in the Hat” and “Hop on Pop,” before taste testing the wacky meal and watching a Dr. Seuss cartoon.

Richard Guadarrama, 7, said his favorite part was trying the green eggs and ham, which he said tasted just like their counterparts made without food coloring.

The first-grader said he likes “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back,” “Green Eggs and Ham” and especially “Go Dog Go,” a Seuss-style book by P.D. Eastman.

Hayden said she also likes to read Dr. Seuss, but added that she also enjoys other books.

Her favorite is “10 Apple Up on Top!” she said.

“Because 10’s a great number, and there’s animals and there’s apples, and I like apples,” she said.

The students were in for another special event Wednesday: a field trip to TeWinkle Intermediate School where the older students were going to read to them, Reese said.

“That’s something their going to remember for a lifetime,” she said.