Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
Information About the Author – Personal and Professional
Dr. Seuss is the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel. He was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was curator of the Forest Park Zoo. Geisel went to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. After graduating in 1925, he went to Oxford University in England, where he met his first wife, Helen Palmer (they were married in 1927).
Back in the United States, Geisel published cartoons for a humor magazine and got a job creating ads for an insecticide company. His ads for a product called “Flit” soon became famous. In 1936, he wrote his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. It was rejected by dozens of publishers, but was finally published in 1937.
During World War II, Geisel wrote documentaries for the United States’ Army. In 1951, after the war, his writing for the short cartoon movie, “Gerald McBoing-Boing,” won an Oscar.
In 1955, Geisel wrote The Cat in the Hat, using only 225 different words. He wrote the book after reading a magazine article that stated that children’s books were boring. His book was a tremendous success. In 1960, a friend of Geisel’s bet him that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 different words. He did, writing Green Eggs and Ham. It was his most popular book.
Dr. Seuss wrote about 60 children’s books. His last one, published in 1990, was Oh, the Places You’ll Go! He died on September 24, 1991.
Unique or Interesting Facts
Dr. Seuss adopted his pseudonym after being removed as editor-in-chief of the “Jack-O-Lantern,” Dartmouth College's humor magazine. He was asked to leave because he and his friends had hosted a drinking party (counter to prohibition laws and school policy). Geisel continued to write for the magazine but began signing his work "Seuss." Seuss was Geisel's middle name as well as his mother's maiden name.
Characteristics of Writing
Dr. Seuss’s books are considered picture books. They are easy reader/beginner books, but Seuss changed the approach of traditional easy readers of the 1950s, making his books much more appealing to children. His cartoon-like illustrations have a unique style that is attractive and engaging. The rhyming stories give the texts the predictable formats that emerging readers need. His works are directed to the age group of kindergarten through third grade. However, Dr. Seuss books have appeal for readers of all ages.
Dr. Seuss has influenced generations of readers and writers alike. The contributions of Dr. Seuss had such an enduring impact on children’s literature that an award has been created in his honor. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, begun in 2006 by the American Library Association, recognizes the most notable beginning reader book published each year.
List of Selected Works and Awards
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
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1937
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The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
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1938
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The King's Stilts
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1939
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The Seven Lady Godivas
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1939
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Horton Hatches the Egg
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1940
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McElligot's Pool
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Caldecott Honor Book
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1947
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Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose
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1948
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Bartholomew and the Oobleck
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Caldecott Honor Book
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1949
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If I Ran the Zoo
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Caldecott Honor Book
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1950
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Scrambled Eggs Super!
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1953
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Horton Hears a Who!
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1954
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On Beyond Zebra!
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1955
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If I Ran the Circus
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1956
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
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Also a feature length film
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1957
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The Cat in the Hat
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Also a feature length film
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1957
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The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
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1958
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Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
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1958
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Happy Birthday to You!
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1959
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One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
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1960
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Green Eggs and Ham
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1960
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The Sneetches and Other Stories
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1961
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Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
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1962
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Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!
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1963
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Hop on Pop
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1963
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Fox in Socks
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1965
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I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew
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1965
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The Cat in the Hat Song Book
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1967
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The Foot Book
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1968
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I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories
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1969
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My Book about ME
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1970
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I Can Draw It Myself
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1970
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Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises!
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1970
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The Lorax
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Also a feature length film (2012)
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1971
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Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!
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1972
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Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
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1973
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The Shape of Me and Other Stuff
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1973
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There's a Wocket in My Pocket
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1974
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Great Day for Up!
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1974
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Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
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1975
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The Cat's Quizzer
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1976
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I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!
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1978
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Oh Say Can You Say?
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1979
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Hunches in Bunches
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1982
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The Butter Battle Book
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1984
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You're Only Old Once!
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1986
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I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!
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1987
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The Tough Coughs as He Ploughs the Dough
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1987
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Oh, the Places You'll Go!
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1990
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Personal Response
The books of Dr. Seuss are a staple of literature in early childhood. The “funny rhythms and rhymes” (Temple, et al) of Seuss’s books complement the experience of a close, comforting read-aloud for young children and help them to develop a positive attitude toward the reading experience. His classic rhymes also help children to experiment with word families and find success with reading because of the books’ predictability. Dr. Seuss has a well deserved place in American culture.
Sources
Temple, C. (2011). Children's books in children's hands. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
http://www.seussville.com/
http://www.catinthehat.org/
http://www.drseussart.com/
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