Dr. Suess Characters Read To Tulsa Students

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- What do you think happens when the Cat in the Hat shows up at an elementary school?  Likely, it is pandemonium, especially when the Cat brings along friends, Thing One and Thing Two.

On Tuesday, the Cat was trying to read to the Things at Kendall Whittier Elementary.  But, Thing One and Thing Two were doing whatever.

"Oh, no they're the comedy.  All I do is read and try to get a little bit of control," said the Cat in the Hat.

That just doesn't happen.  The Things live to do just the opposite, and the kids love that.

At Peary Elementary they posed for pictures.  And then, it was off to another school.  On the way, they stopped at QuikTrip to take care of a thing or two.

At Disney Elementary, the kids loved the Cat and especially Thing One and Thing Two.

The Cat, also known as Amy Mitchell, says it's all about encouraging reading.

"If you can bring a book to life, it makes kids go ‘hey Mom, hey Dad, the Cat in the Hat were at school today.  Can we go get that book and read it to me,'" said the Cat in the Hat.

Mitchell said six years ago a teacher asked her to dress as the Cat in the Hat for Dr Seuss' 100th birthday.  The next year she added the Things, who are also known as Stephanie Beard and Ashley Ball.

The Cat and the Things are all PTA moms at Peary Elementary.  They are only able to make about eight appearances each year around Dr Seuss' birthday because it requires a vacation day from their real jobs.