I found this note in a book (It was returned in a Spanish-language book, if that’s any clue) that was returned Monday. At first I thought it was in hieroglyphs, but then looked closely and saw it wasn’t. I was curious what script it was written in but didn’t want to take the time to try and figure it out. I invited all the Dr. Seuss characters to meet to help plan library activities.

Planning with the characters went as well as could be expected with Hop on Pop jumping around, the fish arguing with the Cat in the Hat to do the right thing, the Grinch being rude, and Horton and Sam being so persistent… what with all of the hooting, bleating and hollering it was difficult to stay focused and on task!

Despite the clash of characters, we managed to plan a few activities for the boys and girls at William O. Schaefer School. I left feeling happy and satisfied. But then, Wednesday morning I came to work and saw this!

There had to be an explanation for this mess. Who had access to the library? Then it occurred to me…the Dr. Seuss characters! I had some questions for that cast of characters!

This is what I learned:

Sam’s Alibi

Sam loved to read mystery books. He went to the Orangeburg Library everyday. He checked out and read four mystery books over the break! The books included a Nancy Drew book, a Cam Jansen book, a Geronimo Stilton book and a Boxcar Children book. After he finished reading the first book, he gave it to his friend from the pond, Yertle the Turtle, to read! He read the book about the missing pig last.

Grinch’s Alibi

Sam and Yertle visited Grinch over the break to hang out. They were going on and on about the twin mystery book they were reading. Grinch was getting annoyed. Sam finished reading his second book and insisted the Grinch read it, something about a missing frog. The Grinch doesn’t really like to read. He loves to travel. In fact, he is planning a trip for April break with his dog Max and is looking forward to climbing the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range.

Yertle the Turtle’s Alibi

Yertle the Turtle and his family took the Grinch with them on that very hot day over February vacation and went to the Van Saun Park in Bergen County. They saw a few farm animals, monkeys and buffalo. In fact, one of the large farm animals they saw at the zoo was in the twin mystery book Sam and Yertle were talking about the other day. Grinch thought the book actually sounded like something he might enjoy, he thinks having a photographic memory would be cool!

Horton’s Alibi

Horton loved to read more than Sam. He read fiction and nonfiction books. He read street signs, magazines, newspapers and maps..well just about anything he could get his hands on. His grandparents had visited from Puerto Rico over the holidays and he even learned how to speak Spanish with a book he checked out from the library! Horton was jealous when he found out Grinch went to the zoo with Yertle. Just yesterday, Sam finished reading his last mystery book, Nancy Drew, and gave it to Horton to read..it had one of the farm animals in it! Horton would have loved to see that animal up close.

Use this organizer to help you discover…Who did it?