Trooper Craig Karpinski from the Fern Ridge State Police barracks was the guest reader at West Pocono Community Library on Thursday.

“I was here in the morning, and they asked if could come this afternoon to read and let the kids see the police car,” he said. “This is exciting.”

The library celebrated Read Across America Day on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Libraries across the nation celebrate books and the value of literacy.

“We are having a very good day. There have been a lot of kids here today. We have had Dr. Seuss themed activities during story time all week and today is the big hoorah,” said Jessie Flickner, youth services coordinator.

Karpinski read Dr. Seuss’ Foot Book to Kimberly Merola’s Pre-K Counts class from The Growing Place Polk Center, their families and children from the public.

“It is really nice to get the kids out of the classroom and into a different environment to read and play with their friends,” Merola said.

As the trooper read, he showed the pictures and asked if any of the students’ feet looked like the ones in the book. There were striped feet, fuzzy feet and many feet.

When he was done reading, Flickner led the students on a tour through children’s area of the library and out to the Circulation Desk.

Library director Patti Weiss explained to the students that at the Circulation Desk, they can return books and check out books, sign up for a library card and ask questions about where to find items inside the library.

From there, the students followed their teachers and Karpinski out to where is vehicle was parked. He allowed each one to sit in the driver’s seat to flash the lights and siren. He also let the kids try on his hat and vest.

Afterwards, the kids could make a Cat in the Hat snack, which was a cookie for the hat’s rim and then alternating slices of strawberries and bananas for the red and white stripes.

“These sessions have been a lot of fun and engaging,” said Merola, who spent most of the day at the library with her three classes.

The students could also do a Dr. Seuss scavenger hunt and read The Lorax along the StoryWalk inside the library, as well as take a craft home.

Flickner also had Dr. Seuss activities planned for the evening’s Charlie Cart cooking programs for pre-teens.

“We will be making Truffula trees, which are marshmallows dipped into different colored sprinkles, and red and white yogurt parfaits with raspberries, strawberries and vanilla yogurt,” she said.

The Charlie Cart is an all-encompassing mobile kitchen that has a sink, oven, storage, and kitchen utensils. It is used to teach healthy eating and kitchen safety.