Dr. Seuss Enterprises is stepping it up this year, offering even more free books in honor of Dr. Seuss Day. Last year, the organization promised a free book to every child born on March 2, 2024. This year, individuals in the U.S. with a March 2 birthday – from any year – are eligible to receive a free, personalized copy of “The Cat in the Hat.” Alternatively, those who qualify can opt to donate their complimentary book through First Book, a nonprofit that supplies educational materials to children in underserved areas.
“Fostering learning and development through the joy of reading is at the core of our mission at Dr. Seuss Enterprises,” stated Susan Brandt, the president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “Expanding the Birthday Pledge allows us to bring Dr. Seuss books to a wider audience because, ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’”
On Dr. Seuss Day, individuals who share a birthday with Theodor Seuss Geisel will receive a complimentary book.
How to get a free book on Dr. Seuss Day:
Any U.S. resident with a March 2 birthday can request a free copy of “The Cat in the Hat.” To claim yours, sign up at SeussPledge.com and indicate whether you want Dr. Seuss Enterprises to send the book to you or donate it to a child in an underserved community.
What is Dr. Seuss Day?
Dr. Seuss Day is celebrated yearly on March 2 to honor the beloved children’s book author responsible for classics like “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on this day in 1904, and this year’s celebration would mark his 121st birthday.
For more than two decades, the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day coincided with Dr. Seuss Day until 2019 when the partnership ended. While both are still observed around the same time, NEA has shifted its focus for the annual reading day to highlight diverse children’s books. In 2022, Read Across America Day falls on March 3.
This change follows controversy and criticism regarding the portrayal of people of color in some Seuss books. On Dr. Seuss Day in 2021, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced the discontinuation of six books due to their hurtful and inappropriate depictions.
This year, Dr. Seuss Enterprises will mark March 2 with the ninth annual “Tackle Reading” event, a collaboration between Creative Minds Publications and NFL players. Athletes will read a beloved Seuss title at a school-wide assembly, and participating schools will receive a set of Random House Children’s
