The famed Cat in the Hat made a visit to the School of Discovery Monday to spread the joy of reading among the students.

Librarian Nichole Long and student council member Destiny McCurdy, who was dressed as the Cat in the Hat character, visited classes reading an excerpt from the book Monday to celebrate Read Across America day. Held in honor of rhyming book author Dr. Seuss, the day was created by the National Education Association to encourage students to read and dive into their imagination.

“Dr. Seuss is important for literacy,” Long said. “Dr. Seuss day teaches children it’s never to late in life to learn how to read.”

Long and McCurdy shared smiles and laughter with several School of Discovery students as they read to classes.

Long said McCurdy was selected to read to classes as the Cat in the Hat character because of her excellent reading ability, positive attitude, can read with expression and loves to read out loud.

After either McCurdy or Long read to students, Long asked the classes which were their favorite Dr. Seuss books.

“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Lorax” were among some of the most popular responses from students.

Long said people of any age can enjoy a Dr. Seuss book, which she said teaches important grammar skills acts as a tool to maintain an individual’s love of reading.

School of Discovery principal Jacqueline Walker said reading or watching books and movies associated with Dr. Seuss brings her back to her childhood.

“As an adult, I watch it just like the children,” Walker said as she described her experience watching the movie version of the Dr. Seuss book “’How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ It was something in me as a child, and when I grew up, it was still in me.”

Long said many Dr. Seuss books have lessons people can apply to life.

“It teaches children life contains bumps, it contains pain, it contains tragedy, but it’s up to you to keep going,” Long said. “Don’t let life’s obstacles stop you from achieving your goals goal.”

Walker said Dr. Seuss books serve as a great escape from the harsh reality many young children face nowadays. Walker said silly Dr. Seuss books allow children to fully enjoy their childhood.

“Let these children be children as long as possible, because they are faced with so many adult situations nowadays,” Walker said. “Let them go back to being children, and they can travel through Dr. Seuss.”