Professional athletes joined with Dr. Seuss last Friday to encourage students at Carriage Crest Elementary School to read.

Dr. Seuss is the pen name of writer and cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geise, who published more than 60 children’s books. He was born March 2, 1904.

Helping Carriage Crest celebrate the birthday were Seattle Thunderbirds’ players Lindsay Nielsen and Brenden Dillon and Seahawks player Roy Lewis Jr.

They read Dr. Seuss books to more than 80 second graders, who earned the party by logging more than 1,000 minutes of reading.

During the party the students celebrated by eating the classic “Green Eggs and Ham” and wearing Dr. Seuss’ well-known red-and-white striped hat.

Nielsen and Dillon started the morning by reading “Cat in the Hat.”

Lewis read the tongue-twister, “Fox in Socks.” After reading Lewis spoke to the children and shared with them some of his favorite books as a child, including Berenstain Bears and Dr. Suess books.

He also stressed to the children the importance of reading and education in his everyday life.