Donated Dr. Seuss books will benefit students when school returns


ONE BOOK, TWO BOOK, RED BOOK, BLUE BOOK—Anu Goyal, left, portraying the Cat in the Hat, and Petra Montante as Mother Goose entertain the young students at Conejo Elementary School in T.O. Courtesy photo

ONE BOOK, TWO BOOK, RED BOOK, BLUE BOOK—Anu Goyal, left, portraying the Cat in the Hat, and Petra Montante as Mother Goose entertain the young students at Conejo Elementary School in T.O. Courtesy photo

Westlake Women’s Club education chair Petra Montante and club member Anu Goyal recently led the Dr. Seuss-Read Across America project following a General Federation of Women’s Clubs initiative to donate the children’s author’s books directly to local communities.

The women organized the donation of more than 50 Dr. Seuss books by club members.

Montante and Goyal then visited the Conejo Elementary School in Thousand Oaks prior to the pandemic shutdown to celebrate Read Across America Month with students on March 3.

In the presence of the school librarian and classroom teachers, selected Dr. Seuss books were read aloud to students in grades K-3.

The day concluded with a gift of over 50 books to the school’s library.

The two Westlake Women’s Club members also distributed pencils, bookmarks, writing pads, stickers and word/math cards to enhance the students’ experience.

Both Goyal, portraying the Cat in the Hat, and Montante as Mother Goose said they were delighted by the enthusiastic response of the students. The kids’ questions and comments showed how much they enjoyed the event.

“There is nothing like seeing the joy on children’s faces as they experience the excitement of the written word,” said Montante.