Students at Oakland Elementary School spent Tuesday learning about various kinds of art and reading up on Dr. Seuss.

The school’s celebration of literacy and fine arts was a combination of two events that have been held previously, one celebrating Dr. Seuss near his birthday and another on the arts. The teachers decided to combine them this year.

Community and school leaders read Dr. Seuss books to various classes while others rotated through stations exposing them to different kinds of fine arts.

“We’re just trying to expose them to a variety of fine arts that they might not see on an everyday basis,” said Rena Long, the music teacher at the school.

A painter, a clay artist, a wool spinner, a dulcimer player and a puppet storyteller were among those who presented to the students. The third- through fifth-grade students also presented a dinner theater written by P.B. Rogerson on Monday.

Long said the experience is meant to expose the students to different kinds of art they may even be able to do for a career.

She also said while the current generation of art enthusiasts grows older, there is a need for a new generation.

“We need to cultivate and harvest that new generation that maybe wants art as a career but also just wants to support art, just for the fact it is good for the human soul,” Long said.

The literacy portion of the event encouraged having fun with reading, especially with such a fun-loving author as Dr. Seuss, Long said.

“Kids need to be able to listen and read for enjoyment, not because there’s a test standard that has to be met,” Long said. “This gives them a meaningful experience with guest readers.”