By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Incorporating the whimsical themes found within the children’s books by the late Dr. Seuss, middle school students at Riverside Academy in Reserve shared Friday morning with preschoolers participating in events surrounding Read Across America Day.

As it is every year, Seuss’ extensive work was highlighted since the day coincides with the late author’s birthday. Seuss, whose real name is Theodore Geisel, would have been 108 today.

“Our goal this year was to involve the older students as mentors to the younger groups,” said Riverside Assistant Principal Rhonda Perkins. “They spent the entire morning together, and many of them will eat lunch together in the afternoon. We wanted to show the younger students ‘the places they will go’ when they move on to the higher grades.”

The middle school students went into the preschool classrooms to read with the children and participate in various activities. Perkins said the students made edible “Cat in the Hat” hats and “Yertle the Turtle” cookies and also made small planters and flowerpots. The highlight of the morning, however, was the giant “foot” mural.

“The students were reading The Foot Book to the preschoolers, so we decided to create a giant mural with finger paints,” Perkins said. “The preschoolers spent all morning walking across it leaving foot prints on the paper.”