The Cat in the Hat made an appearance Saturday afternoon in a Lake Ridge community center to promote reading. The event is held yearly to generate interest in reading and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday.

He would have turned 105 this year. The event featured sevA,AA,Aeral activities for children, including games, free books, and pictures with ' the Kat,' guest readers, puppet shows, book distriA,AA,Abutions; free reading reA,AA,Asources, and a book fair.

Fort Belvoir Elementary School kindergartener, 6- year old Ty Swick, read ' The Cat in the Hat.' His father, Tech Sgt. Stephan Swick volA,AA,Aunteered to wear the Cat in the Hat costume while Ty's mother volunteered assisting kids at each staA,AA,Ation.

Barbara Edwards, diA,AA,Arector of the program Kat in the Hat, teaches kinderA,AA,Agarten at Fort Belvoir Elementary school. ' My main goal is to empower families to read early and often to children,' Edwards said.

The Prince William County Supervisor, Michael C. May, was also a guest reader.

The program was deA,AA,Asigned to encourage chilA,AA,Adren and their parents to commit time and make an effort to develop reading skills in a fun- filled enviA,AA,Aronment.

Literacy begins at a very early age, and family involvement is significant to teaching our children to love reading and compreA,AA,Ahend age- appropriate books.

Kat in the Hat is a subA,AA,Asidiary of CRIBS: Caring Relationships Involving Book Sharing. CRIBS Program model is cenA,AA,Atered on one central belief: We must ' Start Reading Now!' Reading with, and to children, builds on their foundation for success.

For more information on future events or bookA,AA,Aings please e- mail theA,Acat@katinthehat.com or call 571 338- 4167.