CUTTING LOOSE WITH SEUSS LITERACY DAY HONORS LATE AUTHOR'S WORKS.

Byline: Peggy Hager  Staff Writer

PALMDALE - They ate a breakfast of green eggs and ham - what better tribute to one of America's favorite children's authors?

Gathered around brightly decorated tables, the 40 guests at Ocotillo Elementary School were joined by student chaperons before offering their services as readers for Read Across America. The yearly program is sponsored by the National Education Association and inspired in part by Dr. Seuss, the late Theodore Geisel.

Among the readers were firefighters, a sheriff's deputy, politicians, parents and business people.

``This is just one of the many things that we do to put an emphasis on literacy,'' said Wynne May, coordinator for the event and a kindergarten teacher at the school.

After the breakfast of Dr. Seuss-style green eggs, ham, fresh fruit and croissants and a play by Sherri Williams' third-grade class, the readers and their chaperons headed for the classrooms.

``This is my second year, and it is so rewarding to come into the classroom and see our future be so excited and so nice,'' said Patricia Fregoso-Cox, a cable company manager who read David Shannon's ``The Rain Came Down'' to Pat Harris' first-grade class.

Three of Harris' 20 pupils have yet to master reading, and Monday's event motivated them, Harris said.

``I think that what they learn is that no matter what job you have, that reading's important and that people in the community care enough to share with them,'' Harris said. ``It's not just in their little classroom and you have to read for your teacher, they see that it's important for all jobs.''

Derek Treichelt, a fifth-grade teacher, played Seuss' trademark character, the Cat in the Hat. The character is a powerful one, he said, noting that a Hollywood stuntman once played the role for his class and read to the kids.

``Talk about something that hits close to home as far as what the kids want to do later on in life and the fun stuff they want to do,'' Treichelt said. ``Some gentleman comes as a stuntman and they think all he wants to do is fall off a building. But then he tells them how important it is to read so that they know where to find the jobs and how to read the contracts so they know how much they are getting paid and what they'll be doing during the next couple of weeks and then it really starts to hit home for them.''

Treichelt's scheduled reader didn't show up, but Fire Station 24 came to his rescue. ``They've answered the call once again,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Derek Treichelt, as the Cat in the Hat, encourages Ocotillo Elementary kids to read on the late Dr. Seuss.

(2 -- color) Ryan Penrose, 7, and Mesquite Elementary Principal Arland Atwood choose a book to read on Monday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer