Butler Catholic School first-grader Matthew Dudley, above, takes part in an art project during Read Across America Day in Brian Herlihy's class. At left, Sean Martin works on his Dr. Seuss-themed art project Tuesday.

Butler Catholic School celebrated what would have been Theodor Seuss Geisel's 117th birthday Tuesday with arts and crafts projects.

Geisel is better known as Dr. Seuss, the famed children's writer who has sold millions of books across the world. And children in the school were encouraged to dress up as their favorite character from the countless fictional worlds Dr. Seuss penned.The school is also celebrating national “Read Across America Day” all week by encouraging students to bring a book to school and read for leisure.Kathy Dudley, the school's director of development, said it's important that students learn about the joys of reading and push aside technological distractions.“I feel like today in society with all our tech, we forget how much fun it is to sit down with a book and just let your imagination take hold, and we try to encourage that,” she said.Many of the students took the school's offer to dress up, Dudley said.“Thing 1 and Thing 2 are the most popular this year,” she said. “We have an awful lot of Things running around the school today.”

Butler Catholic first-grader Sean Martin takes part in an art project during Read Across America week. First-graders in Brian Herlihy's class used hand paintings to create red and blue fish in recognition of Dr. Seuss.

Butler Catholic first-grader Sean Martin takes part in an art project during Read Across America week.

First-graders in Brian Herlihy's class use hand paintings to create blue fish.

Butler Catholic first-grader teacher Brian Herlihy incorporates hand painting in his class to create red and blue fish in recognition of Dr. Seuss.

First-graders in Mr. Brian Herlihy's class use hand paintings in recognition of Dr. Seuss.