Dr. Seuss was born on March 2, 1902. He is an American author who significantly impacted children’s reading habits. 

Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, wrote and illustrated whimsical books, written in rhyming verses, with colorful, strange and unique characters.  He won two Academy Awards and two Emmys for an animated film, and his Grinch-inspired specials

Dr. Seuss’s books, and the productions he inspired, have entertained readers of all generations for decades.

Dr. Seuss’s birthday coincides with “Read Across America Week.” It was established with the goal of promoting reading among children. 

Read Across America has evolved into a celebration of the legacy of Dr. Seuss. (Click here to find out more about Dr. Seuss learning)

In West Columbia, Dr. Seuss books and characters are inspiring children. 

New Heights Pediatric Therapy at 1004 Meeting Street in West Columbia, provides quality services to children of all ages and their families. It specializes in occupational therapy and speech therapy services. Chelsea West is an occupational therapist and the owner of New Heights. Her staff incorporates Dr. Seuss to stimulate the senses of children.

“Dr. Seuss’s books are more than just fun rhymes and silly stories,” Chelsea said. “They’re also a powerful tool for child development. His playful verses and repetition help build early reading skills, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary.”

Chelsea also said the wacky characters and whimsical worlds of the Dr. Seuss books inspire kids to think outside the box, and to be creative and Imaginative. The rhyming patterns encourage sound production and language development.

The books also help develop problem-solving and social skills, Chelsea said. “His stories teach important life lessons about kindness, resilience, and thinking big. As Dr. Seuss wrote: ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ So grab a favorite Seuss book today and celebrate the magic of reading.” 

The Cayce-West Columbia Branch of the Lexington County Public Library is another place where you can find lots to read and all of the books of Dr. Seuss, said Amy Kneece, director of the library at 1500 Augusta Road, West Columbia. 

The mission of the library is to “Provide access to quality resources that promote lifelong literacy for the Lexington County community. The library features: books in hardcopy; audio books; videos; newspapers; magazines; and computers with Internet access.

Library hours are: 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mon-thru-Thurs. Fri and Sat hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the West Columbia branch is open from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. See a list of library programs below. 

Library hours are: 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mon-thru-Thurs. Fri and Sat hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the West Columbia branch is open from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. See a list of library programs below. 

Click here for a link to the Cayce-West Columbia Branch Programs and Events page 

Reading is alive and well in West Columbia. So go to the library and find your favorite Dr. Seuss book and read it again in honor of Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Week.