Tomorrow, March 2, 2014, is the 110th birthday of celebrated children's author Theodore Geisel, better known to everyone as Dr. Seuss. The good doctor is no longer with us, of course (he passed away in 1991), but he's left us with a nearly unprecedented body of work that includes some of the most playful and imaginative books for children ever written.

As a parent, I suppose the most obvious difference between Dr. Seuss books and a lot of other children's books—especially books for early readers and small children—is that the Seuss books are usually as fun for adults to read as they are for kids to listen to. There are some books on the kids' bookshelf that we simply dread to read (I'm not going to name names, but Dora the Explorer figures highly in a few), but the Dr. Seuss books are not among them. Furthermore, Dr. Seuss' "Beginner Books " are some of the first books for beginning readers that are really fun and exciting to read, teaching important concepts and skills while entertaining and delighting. Fun with Dick and Jane? Bah! Bring on The Cat in the Hat!

Parents Place in San Rafael has been a valuable resource for countless Marin County parents and families. This March, they offer a wide variety of programs, from childbirth education to classes for parents and children. Here are a few of the programs they offer starting in March:

JAMaROO Music Time, plus bonus free play! (9 months–4 years)

A fun-packed, 40-minute class that combines music, creative movement, and storytelling. Children will sing, play simple instruments, listen to stories, balance bean bags, and dance with streamers to a variety of music from around the world. Class themes relate to nature and the outside world. Parental supervision is required. (As a bonus, the playroom will be available for free play from 10:40 am until noon after each session.) Tuesdays, March 4–18, 10–10:45 am. $39 per child, $22.50 for each additional sibling, for three-week series. Register here.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, February 28

• Disney On Ice Presents Rockin' Ever After
  Oracle Arena, Oakland
  Friday, 10:30 am & 7:30 pm, Saturday, 11 am, 3 pm & 7 pm, and Sunday, 11 am, 3 pm & 6:30 pm
  Get ready to rock out with your favorite Disney heroes and heroines, including Ariel and Sebastian, Rapunzel and Flynn, the Beast and Belle, and Merida from Disney/Pixar's Brave. Shows run from February 26–March 2. Tickets start at $20. Purchase tickets here. Location: 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. To purchase tickets, visit their website.
• Young Performers Theatre: Fantastic Mr. Fox
  Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
  Friday, 6:30 pm, Saturday, 1 pm & 3:30 pm, Sunday, 2:30 pm
  Roald Dahl’s much-loved story follows the vain attempts of three farmers, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, one fat, one short, one lean, to get rid of the fox who regularly steals food from their farms. Outwitted at every turn, the farmer’s ploys backfire. Fantastic Mr. Fox devises a plan, which will ensure full stomachs for not only his family but all his friends, who celebrate with a sumptuous feast. Tickets: $10. Purchase tickets here. For more info, visit their website.
• Wizards of Wonderland
  Dance Place, Pt. Reyes
  Friday, 7:30 pm
  Shows are all ages welcome, start at 7:30 pm, and are only $10 with the proceeds going directly to the artists! Think of it as the local farmers market for the soul! Come on down, put your dancing shoes in your produce basket, and join the fun! Wizards of Wonderland is a new musical. For more info, visit their website.
• Cabaret 2014: Alice in Wonderland
  Mill Valley Middle School
  Friday, 8 pm, Saturday, 1 & 8 pm
  This year's MVMS Cabaret will tell the timeless tale of Alice in Wonderland. But in true MVMS style, this story is embellished with a wild and fun musical score and some creative twists to the classic tale. Tickets at the door only $15 adults, $10 for MVMS students and younger. Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time. Location: MVMS Gym, 425 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley. For more info, visit their website.

Saturday, March 1

• Museums on Us
  Saturday & Sunday
  Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders get free general admission on the first full weekend of every month. Present your card and a photo ID for admission (one free general admission per cardholder). Get full details here. Participating museums include the de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
• Junior Ranger Day at Alcatraz Island
  Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday
  On Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, Alcatraz Island will host two Junior Ranger Day events and provide special interpretive programs. A limited number of free tickets are available only for children between 5–11 years old, maximum 4 per family or group. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult age 18 or older. Tickets must be purchased 3 days in advance and are not available online or at the Pier 33 ticket booth. To book Junior Ranger Day tickets, please call the Alcatraz Cruises Group Services Department at (415) 438-8361. For more info, visit their website.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy the best local and organic produce, flowers, pastured meats, seafood, organic cheeses, yogurt and milk, breads, baked goods, pasta, confections, olive oil, and brunch and lunch offerings! Kids can take a pony ride and visit the petting zoo (10 am–2 pm), try out some arts and crafts (9 am–2 pm) and listen to music (9:30–10:30 am). For more info, visit their website.
• McInnis Family Fun Mile
  McInnis Park, San Rafael
  Saturday, 10 am–noon
  Come out and enjoy a beautiful morning and gorgeous views while participating in an easygoing, mile-long, walk/hike/run with the family. This will be a low-pressure event and a great way to bond as a family. All participants will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Marin County Parks annual pass, day pass, or a pool pass!  Water, snacks, and hot chocolate will be provided. Heavy rain will cancel. Meet at the Hillside Picnic Area in McInnis Park in San Rafael (310 Smith Ranch Rd). For more info, call (415) 446-4423 or visit their website.
• Hamilton Pre-K/Tiny Tots/Teeny Tots Programs Open House
  Hamilton Community Center
  Saturday, 10–11:30 am
  If you are looking for a fantastic preschool option for now or for the Fall, come check out the Novato Parks and Rec Hamilton Pre-K/Tiny Tots/Teeny Tots Programs at their open house this Saturday. Come and meet the teachers and find out more about the program. Location: 503 S. Palm Drive, Novato. For more info, call Leslie at (415) 328-2684 or visit their website.
• The LEGO Movie Building Event: Hands-On Learning
  Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera
  Saturday, 1–1:45 pm
  Barnes & Noble Corte Madera Invites The LEGO Movie fans to a fun, free hands-on learning LEGO build event on Saturday. For ages 4–8. Space is limited for this event. Attendees are required to RSVP to Laurel Kidd, Community Relations Manager at the Corte Madera store, crm2274@bn.com, with their name, phone, and email. For more info, visit their website.

Did you know you can visit most of the Bay Area's major museums and cultural attractions for free every month? Just about all museums have one day a month set aside as a free day. They all aren't on the same day, too, so if you plan it right you can take in several museum outings without having to pay a thing.

Note that most museums charge for admission to special exhibitions, although the general admission fee is usually deducted from the total; see details with each museum listing below.

Also, groups are generally not admitted on free days; check with each museum for their free day group policy.

Bank of America Museums on Us—March 1 & 2

Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders get free general admission on the first full weekend of every month. Present your card and a photo ID for admission (one free general admission per cardholder). Get full details here. Participating museums include:

• de Young
• Legion of Honor
• Contemporary Jewish Museum
• Chabot Space & Science Center

Living in Marin, you don't have to look far for a summer camp that takes advantage of some of the amazing natural resources we have right in our own backyard. Parents have several outstanding nature and outdoors oriented summer camps to choose from. Here is a selection of some of our favorite day camps in Marin that have an emphasis on the outdoors and the natural world around us. To find more fantastic summer camps, visit our 2014 Marin Summer Camp Guide.

• Audubon Summer Adventures Camp is located at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Tiburon. Camp sessions start June 10 and run through August 16. Week-long sessions for kids 4–9 take place from 9 am–2 pm, include themes like Amazing Predators, The Mighty Bay, Survivor, Shark Week, and A Bug's Lide. Fees for these sessions are $330 per week. They also offer Expedition Camp ($375 per week) and On the Fly Camp ($330 per week) for children in grades 4–6, where campers deliver a little deeper into the varied habitats of Marin County and visit environments like the bay, ocean, redwood forest, and more. Extended hours untiil 5 pm are available for another $85 per week or $20 per day. Visit their website for more information and to register.
  

Marin Mommies presents this week's guest recipe from Nicole Cibellis, Marin mom and author of the blog A Family that Eats Together, where she shares meal plans and recipes that will please foodies and children alike.

Carbonara is our ultimate comfort food. When I ran across this recipe in the latest edition of Bon Appétit, I adapted it to fit our family. What I love about this recipe is that it replaces the cholesterol (from traditional carbonara) and adds vitamin-rich butternut squash. When I served it for dinner, a hush took the table and then came all the hums and a big yummy!

Serves: 4–6
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

My daughter recently turned eight, and she decided on a spa theme for her birthday party. I wasn't sure where to begin, but we made a list together of things she wanted for her party, and with a little research and planning, it all came together. When the day of the party arrived we were both thrilled with the results, and her friends were, too! I forgot how much work it was to plan a party like this, but I wouldn't have done it any other way.

I thought I'd share a few or our tips and must-haves for a successful kids' spa-themed birthday party. Much of what we did was inexpensive and easy to put together, and everyone really had a good time.

Marin Mommies presents a sponsored article from PlanetBravo, who are now offering their computer and technology summer camps in Marin County at Ross School.

This summer, Marin is the first-ever Bay Area location for PlanetBravo’s exciting Techno-tainment Camp! PlanetBravo’s camps at Ross School introduce talented kids to the latest in cutting-edge technological tools. Campers can create video games, film their own movies, animate in 2D and 3D, and even build robots.

Course offerings this summer from PlanetBravo in Ross include LEGO EV3 Robotics, Minecraft Modding, DSLR Photography and Video, 3D Animation in Maya, GameSalad 101 Mobile Apps, and much more. Some courses are full or nearly full, so sign up now for your spot!

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, February 21

• LEGO Play Day
  Mill Valley Library
  Friday, 2:30–4 pm
  Get in touch with your inner engineer! Free play with Lego supports creativity, problem solving, and reading skills. Age 5 and up. No sign-up needed. Location: Creekside Room, Mill Valley Public Library, 375 Throckmorton Avenue. For more info, call (415) 389-4292 x4741 or visit their website.
• Parents' Night Out
  Marinwood Community Center, San Rafael
  Friday, 5–10 pm
  Drop off the kids and enjoy a night out! While you relax, the kids will be having fun with the Marinwood camp staff playing games, park time, arts, crafts, snacks & more! This event often sells out—register early! For ages 2–10. Cost: $20; $18 sibling discount. For more info and registration call (415) 479-0775 or visit their website.
• Young Performers Theatre: Fantastic Mr. Fox
  Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
  Friday, 6:30 pm, Saturday, 1 pm & 3:30 pm, Sunday, 2:30 pm
  Roald Dahl’s much-loved story follows the vain attempts of three farmers, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, one fat, one short, one lean, to get rid of the fox who regularly steals food from their farms. Outwitted at every turn, the farmer’s ploys backfire. Fantastic Mr. Fox devises a plan, which will ensure full stomachs for not only his family but all his friends, who celebrate with a sumptuous feast. Tickets: $10. Purchase tickets here. For more info, visit their website.

Saturday, February 22

• Stafford Bass Derby
  Stafford Lake County Park, Novato
  Saturday, 8 am–noon
  Join rangers for this annual fishing contest! Prizes will be awarded for the first fish, biggest fish, and total combined stringer weight of fish caught. A limited number of fishing poles and bait will be provided first-come, first-served to beginner fishermen thanks to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A fishing license is required. No pets (except service animals) are allowed at this park. Meet at Stafford Lake Park, 3549 Novato Boulevard in Novato. Park entrance is $5 per vehicle. For more info, contact ranger Josh Gilmore at (415) 446-4424 or visit their website.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy the best local and organic produce, flowers, pastured meats, seafood, organic cheeses, yogurt and milk, breads, baked goods, pasta, confections, olive oil, and brunch and lunch offerings! Kids can take a pony ride and visit the petting zoo (10 am–2 pm), try out some arts and crafts (9 am–2 pm) and listen to music (9:30–10:30 am). For more info, visit their website.
• Free Performance: Little Beats Music Program
  Mill Valley Community Center
  Saturday, 9–11 am
  Get a taste of the new Little Beats early childhood music education program this Saturday with a free musical performance. Popular Bay Area children's musicians essence and Rachel will perform, joined by the Little Beats music program staff. Location: Mill Valley Community Center lobby, 180 Camino Alto. For more information, call (415) 383-1370 or visit their website.
• Wildcare Family Adventures: Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds
  San Rafael
  Saturday, 10 am
  Take a family stroll led by Wildcare naturalists around Las Gallinas Ponds and learn about the family life of the waterfowl that overwinter in this area. We’ll talk about nesting habits, mating displays, baby bird foods, and what it takes to raise a bird family every year! It is not all about birds. We’ll also look for river otters who are often seeing swimming in the ponds. Meet at Las Gallinas Ponds trailhead. For more info, visit their website.
• Free Day at Charles M. Schulz Museum
  Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 10 am–5 pm
  Enjoy free admission to the museum all day and a special constellation wall as part of the Starry, Starry Night exhibition. Check out the museum in our article here. Location: 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. For more info, call (707) 579-4452 or visit their website.
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