One of the perks that go along with becoming a parent is the opportunity to relive a piece of our childhood – through books. We get to dig out our favourites from when we were small and spend bedtime after bedtime showing our kids what makes those favourites worth reading again and again. Ultimately, in showing our love and passion for these books, we’re motivating our children to fall in love with reading.
Something that every prized collection of children books has in common, I would almost guarantee it, is that they each include at least one story written by Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss’ birthday is on March 2nd. Were you looking for a reason to celebrate? Now you have one. Dig out all of those old favourites and get creative. Green Eggs and Ham isn’t just for reading… have it for breakfast! Make your very own “oobleck” like Bartholemew and the Oobleck. And if you’re looking for some “places to go”, look no further than your local library!
To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, we decided to create our very own Oh! The Places You’ll Go! themed Library Scavenger Hunt.
A library scavenger hunt is a great way for our kids to get to know the ins and outs of how the library is organized (and a great way for us to re-acquaint ourselves too)!
The scavenger hunt we created was for my daughter who’s 7 and my son who’s 5 – so the challenges include things like looking books up in the library catalogue and then finding them on the shelves. Parent involvement was necessary but it made for an awesome afternoon activity for our family.
For preschoolers and younger children, it would be great fun for you to create your own scavenger hunt incorporating simpler tasks, for example: Can you find a clock on the wall? Dr. Seuss’ name starts with an S. Can you find something that starts with the letter S? Or maybe even FIND a letter S!
Dr. Seuss’ books are very silly and full of fun and rhyming nonsense words. Get creative with your clues – if you have fun then so will they!
If you’re interested, here is a list of the clues that we used in our Library Scavenger Hunt:
- It’s Dr. Seuss’ birthday! Find a recipe for the yummiest birthday cake!
- Dr. Seuss was born in 1904. Find a book that was published in 1904. (Hint: think Beatrix Potter).
- Find your favourite Dr. Seuss book.
- the “D.R.” in Dr. Seuss stands for “doctor”. Find a book about doctors.
- Oh! The places you’ll go! Find an atlas – choose a place you’d like to travel.
- Find a book about the place you’ve chosen to travel to.
- “You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.” Find a book about something that flies.
- “You’ll look up and down streets… about some you will say I don’t choose to go there.” Find a book of mazes or puzzles and complete one.
- “There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored and games to be won.” Find a computer and play a game!
- “You’ll find the bright places where boom bands are playing.” Find a CD of music you like.
- “You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” Explore a section of the library you haven’t yet (your choice!).
- “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… get on your way!” Draw a picture of your mountain. Be creative!
We also took the time to write out a few of our favourite inspiring Dr. Seuss quotes (there are some good ones out there) to leave behind in the books that we found for others to enjoy.
Dr Seuss Library Scavenger Hunt inspiring quote in map book
Like all of our clues? Here’s your chance! Click the image below and print your own copy of our “Oh! The Places You’ll Go” scavenger hunt!
Don’t have all afternoon? Pick your favourite clues, or challenge your children to complete a row each time you’re at the library!
Looking for more? Photocopy that recipe for birthday cake (see Clue #1), take it home and bake it! Take that atlas home with you, or the book of your chosen traveling place. Spend hours planning an imaginary trip, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and what you’ll see!
If Dr. Seuss can address serious issues in a silly way (think environmentalism in the Lorax and equality in the Sneetches), then we don’t really have to grow up at all. Have fun reliving those moments with your children – if any day, at least on Dr. Seuss’ birthday!
