Difference between revisions of "Dr. Seuss" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox Biography
 
{{Infobox Biography
 
| subject_name = Dr. Seuss
 
| subject_name = Dr. Seuss
 
| image_name = Ted Geisel NYWTS 2 crop.jpg
 
| image_name = Ted Geisel NYWTS 2 crop.jpg
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| image_caption = Dr. Seuss in 1957, with some of his books.
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| image_caption = Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel in 1957, with some of his books.
 
| date_of_birth = March 2, 1904
 
| date_of_birth = March 2, 1904
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| place_of_birth = [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], [[USA]]
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| place_of_birth = Springfield, [[Massachusetts]]  
 
| date_of_death = September 24, 1991
 
| date_of_death = September 24, 1991
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| place_of_death = [[La Jolla, California]]
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| place_of_death = La Jolla, [[California]]
 
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}}
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'''Theodor Seuss Geisel''' (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was a famous [[United States|American]] [[writer]] and [[cartoonist]] best known for his classic [[children's books]] under the [[pen name]] '''Dr. Seuss''', including ''The Cat in the Hat'', ''Green Eggs and Ham'', and ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas''. His books have become staples for many children and their parents. Seuss' trademark was his rhyming text and outlandish creatures. He also wrote under the pen names '''Theo. LeSieg'''.  He wrote and illustrated 44 children's books.
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'''Theodor Seuss Geisel''' (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) is the author of several classic [[children's book]]s, which he wrote under the pen name of '''Dr. Seuss.''' Among his most famous books are ''The Cat in the Hat,'' ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' and ''Green Eggs and Ham.'' Geisel created a world of whimsical characters, and his use of rhythm and rhyme made him a pioneer in techniques for facilitating reading skills in children. Also a [[cartoon]]ist, he illustrated all his own books.  
  
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==Life and work==
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Before he wrote books for children, Geisel had been a [[magazine]] writer, [[cartoon]]ist and [[advertising]] artist. Patriotic and politically active, he began his career as a writer and [[propaganda|propagandist]] for the American war effort against [[Nazism|Nazi]] [[Germany]], and some of his children's books are said to contain social messages.
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Geisel was born on March 2, 1904 in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]. He grew up at 74 Fairfield Street, an ideal location for a youngster, as it was only six blocks from the zoo where his father worked and three blocks from the library. He graduated from [[Dartmouth College]] in 1925, where he was a member of [[Sigma Phi Epsilon]] and [[Casque and Gauntlet]], and wrote for the ''[[Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern]]'' humor magazine.
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{{toc}}
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Geisel refused to endorse the marketing of his characters into any product that would have a negative impact on children. In all, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 children's books. His books have been translated into more than 15 languages and more than 200 million copies have been sold around the world. In 1984, Geisel was awarded a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his "special contribution over nearly half a century to the education and enjoyment of America's children and their parents."
  
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Even at this early stage, Geisel had started using the pen name "Dr. Seuss", as well as his own name. His first work signed as "Dr. Seuss" appeared six months into his work for Judge. Seuss was his mother's maiden name; as an immigrant from Germany, she would have pronounced it more or less as "zoice" (as it is pronounced in German). According to Alexander Liang, who served with Geisel on the staff of the Jack O' Lantern, and was later a professor at Dartmouth:
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==Life and Work==
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'''Theodor Seuss Geisel''' enjoyed an ideal and happy childhood. He was born on March 2, 1904, and grew up in Springfield, [[Massachusetts]]. His house was located on 74 Fairfield Street, six blocks from the [[zoo]] (where his father worked) and three blocks from the local [[library]]. He was a creative and energetic child who excelled academically. His father had great hopes for Seuss becoming a doctor. He attended and graduated from [[Dartmouth College]] in 1925. While at Dartmouth he was an active member of both Sigma Phi Epsilon and Casque and Gauntlet. Some of his first articles were published in the [[humor]] magazine, ''Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern.''  
  
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<blockquote>You're wrong as the deuce
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Geisel was encouraged to continue his education so he attended Lincoln College at the [[University of Oxford]], with the intent of earning a [[doctorate]] in [[literature]], and fulfilling his father's dream. However, he met Helen Palmer and the couple married in 1927. The two returned to the [[United States]] and Geisel never finished his studies at Oxford. As a result he decided to put "Dr." at the front of his chosen pen name "Seuss," so that his father could say his son was indeed a doctor. The name Seuss was Geisel's mother's maiden name, pronounced like "voice," though most American's pronounce it like "juice."<ref>[http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020401b.htm “Porsche” and “Neanderthal”: Pronouncing German Words in English 2.] About: German Language. Retrieved March 22, 2007.</ref>
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<br>
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{{readout||right|250px|The real name of the popular author of children's books, Dr. Seuss, was Theodor Seuss Geisel}}
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And you shouldn't rejoice
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Geisel began writing intently after his marriage, submitting humorous articles (along with original illustrations) to several magazines. Among these were ''Judge'' where he first began using his pen name "Dr. Seuss," the ''[[The Saturday Evening Post|Saturday Evening Post]],'' ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]],'' ''[[Vanity Fair]],'' and ''Liberty.'' During the [[Great Depression]], he found work by drawing [[advertisement]]s for [[General Electric]], [[NBC]], [[Standard Oil]], and many others. His first attempt at being a [[cartoon]]ist was a short-lived [[comic strip]] called ''Hejji'' in 1935.  
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<br>
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If you're calling him Seuss.
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Dr. Seuss wrote three children's books in [[prose]], including ''And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,'' before he found his unique [[rhyme]] and [[rhythm]]. He took a break from his fictional writing and began making strong political statements in the form of [[cartoon]]s, articles, documentaries, and eventually military service in [[World War II]]. From January 1941 to January 1943, he joined [[Frank Capra]]’s film unit of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
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<br>
 
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He pronounces it Soice.</blockquote>
 
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Though Geisel himself has been quoted as saying ''"'''Seuss''' — rhymes with '''voice'''"'', the  name is almost universally pronounced in English with an initial ''s'' sound and rhyming with "juice".<ref>http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020401b.htm</ref>  Geisel also used the pen name '''Theo. LeSieg''' (Geisel spelled backwards) for books he wrote but others illustrated.
 
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He entered [[Lincoln College, Oxford]], intending to earn a [[doctorate]] in [[literature]]. At [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] he met Helen Palmer, married her in 1927, and returned to the [[United States]] without earning the degree. The "Dr." in his pen name is an acknowledgment of his father's unfulfilled hopes that Seuss would earn a doctorate at Oxford.
 
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He began submitting humorous articles and illustrations to [[The Judge|''Judge'']] (a humor magazine), ''[[The Saturday Evening Post]]'', ''[[Life magazine|Life]]'', ''[[Vanity Fair magazine|Vanity Fair]]'', and ''[[Liberty magazine|Liberty]]''.  One notable "Technocracy Number" made fun of [[Technocracy Incorporated|Technocracy, Inc.]] and featured satirical rhymes at the expense of [[Frederick Soddy]].  He became nationally famous from his advertisements for [[Flit]], a common insecticide at the time. His slogan, "Quick, Henry, the Flit!" became a popular catchphrase. Geisel supported himself and his wife through the [[Great Depression]] by drawing advertising for [[General Electric]], [[NBC]], [[Standard Oil]], and many other companies. He also wrote and drew a short-lived comic strip called ''[[Hejji]]'' in 1935.
 
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In 1936, while Seuss was again on an ocean voyage to Europe, the rhythm of the ship's engines inspired the poem that became his first book, ''And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street''.  Seuss wrote three more children's books before [[World War II]] (see list of works below), two of which are, atypically for him, in [[prose]].
 
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As World War II began, Dr. Seuss turned to political cartoons, drawing over 400 in two years as editorial cartoonist for the [[left-wing]] [[New York City]] daily newspaper, ''[[PM (newspaper)|PM]]''.  Dr. Seuss's political cartoons opposed the viciousness of [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] and [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] and were highly critical of isolationists, most notably [[Charles Lindbergh]], who opposed American entry into the war.  [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/1942/20213cs.jpg Some cartoons] depicted all [[Japanese Americans]] as latent traitors or fifth-columnists, while at the same time other cartoons deplored the racism at home against Jews and blacks that harmed the war effort.  His cartoons were strongly supportive of President Roosevelt's conduct of the war, combining the usual exhortations to ration and contribute to the war effort with frequent attacks on Congress (especially the Republican Party), parts of the press (such as the [[New York Daily News]] and [[Chicago Tribune]]), and others for criticism of Roosevelt, criticism of aid to the Soviet Union, investigation of suspected Communists, and other offenses that he depicted as leading to disunity and helping the Nazis, intentionally or inadvertently.  In 1942, Dr. Seuss turned his energies to direct support of the U.S. war effort.  First, he worked drawing posters for the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] and the [[United States War Production Board|War Production Board]]. Then, in 1943, he joined the [[US Army|Army]] and was commander of the Animation Dept of the [[First Motion Picture Unit]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]], where he wrote films that included ''Your Job in Germany'', a 1945 propaganda film about peace in Europe after World War II, ''Design for Death'', a study of [[Japanese culture]] that won the [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best [[Documentary film|Documentary]] in 1947, and the ''[[Private Snafu]]'' series of adult army training films.  While in the Army, he was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]]. Dr. Seuss's non-military films from around this time were also well-received; ''[[Gerald McBoing-Boing]]'' won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Animated) in 1950.
 
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Despite his numerous awards, Dr. Seuss never won the [[Caldecott Medal]] nor the [[Newbery Medal|Newbery]]. Three of his titles were chosen as Caldecott runners-up (now referred to as Caldecott Honor books): ''McElligot's Pool'' (1947), ''Bartholomew and the Oobleck'' (1949), and ''If I Ran the Zoo'' (1950).
 
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After the war, Dr. Seuss and his wife moved to [[La Jolla, San Diego, California|La Jolla, California]].  Returning to children's books, he wrote what many consider to be his finest works, including such favorites as ''If I Ran the Zoo'', (1950), ''Scrambled Eggs Super!'' (1953), ''On Beyond Zebra!'' (1955), ''If I Ran the Circus'' (1956), and ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' (1957).
 
  
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At the same time, an important development occurred that influenced much of Seuss's later work. In May 1954, ''[[Life magazine|Life]]'' magazine published a report on [[illiteracy]] among school children, which concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring.  Accordingly, Seuss's publisher made up a list of 400 words he felt were important and asked Dr. Seuss to cut the list to 250 words and write a book using only those words.  Nine months later, Seuss, using 220 of the words given to him, completed ''[[The Cat in the Hat]]''. This book was a ''tour de force''&mdash;it retained the drawing style, verse rhythms, and all the imaginative power of Seuss's earlier works, but because of its simplified vocabulary could be read by beginning readers. A rumor exists, that in 1960, [[Bennett Cerf]] bet Dr. Seuss $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was supposedly ''Green Eggs and Ham''. The additional rumor that Cerf never paid Seuss the $50 has never been proven and is most likely untrue. These books achieved significant international success and remain very popular.
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He drew over 400 cartoons for the [[New York City]] left-wing daily newspaper ''PM.'' His cartoons expressed more right-wing sentiments on the vileness of [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]], [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]], and even [[Charles Lindbergh]] (who voiced his discontent over America joining the war effort).<ref>[http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/ Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss.] Mandeville Special Collections Library. Retrieved April 3, 2007.</ref>
  
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Dr. Seuss went on to write many other children's books, both in his new simplified-vocabulary manner (sold as "Beginner Books") and in his older, more elaborate style. In 1982 Dr. Seuss wrote "Hunches in Bunches". The Beginner Books were not easy for Seuss, and reportedly he labored for months crafting them.
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His cartoons made statements against [[racism]] and isolationist leaders, praising every decision by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] during the war. Seuss admired the president and was very patriotic. In 1942, he began drawing posters for the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] and the [[United States War Production Board|War Production Board]]. In 1943, he became a commander of the animation department of the First Motion Picture Unit of the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. He made several [[propaganda]] films about peace and earned [[Academy Awards]] for ''Hitler Lives'' (1946); for the [[documentary]] feature, ''Design for Death'' (1947); and for the animation short, ''Gerald McBoing-Boing'' (1951). He ended his service and was given the [[Legion of Merit]] award.  
  
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At various times Seuss also wrote books for adults that used the same style of verse and pictures:  ''The Seven Lady Godivas''; ''Oh, The Places You'll Go!''; and ''You're Only Old Once! : A Book for Obsolete Children|You're Only Old Once''.
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At the war's end, Seuss and Helen settled permanently in [[La Jolla]], [[California]] where his writing continued in earnest. He went on to write ''If I Ran the Zoo'' (1950), ''Scrambled Eggs Super!'' (1953), ''On Beyond Zebra!'' (1955), ''If I Ran the Circus'' (1956), and ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' (1957). His direction and goals as a writer changed when he read an article on [[illiteracy]] in the May 1954 issue of ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' [[magazine]]. The article stated that the rise of children's illiteracy was due, in part, to the lack of interesting reading material. Seuss' publisher gave him a list of 400 of the most important words a child should be reading, and asked Seuss to cut the list down to 250 words and write a book; thus, the history of the 220-word story, ''The Cat in the Hat,'' Dr. Seuss' most popular book. Next, he wrote ''Green Eggs and Ham'' a book that is said to have been written as a result of a bet. Publisher [[Bennett Cerf]] bet Dr. Seuss $50 that he could not write an entire children's book using only 50 words. Dr. Seuss proved to be up to the challenge; whether Cerf ever paid up is not known.
  
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During a very difficult illness, Dr. Seuss' wife, Helen Palmer Geisel, committed [[suicide]] on October 23, 1967. Seuss married Audrey Stone Dimond on June 21, 1968. Seuss himself died, following several years of illness, in [[La Jolla, San Diego, California|La Jolla, California]] on September 24, 1991.
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Seuss had an affair with Audrey Stone Dimond, a woman eighteen years his junior and married with two children. On October 23, 1967, suffering from a long struggle with illnesses including cancer—as well as emotional pain over her husband's affair—Seuss's wife Helen committed [[suicide]]. Audrey Dimond divorced her husband and Suess married her on June 21, 1968. The two remained married until Seuss' death on September 24, 1991 at his home in La Jolla, California, at the age of 87.  
  
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In 2002 the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial|Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]] opened in his birthplace of [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]; it features sculptures of Dr. Seuss and of many of his characters.
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Many honors were given to Dr. Seuss, including two [[Academy Award]]s, two [[Emmy Award]]s, a [[Peabody Award]], the [[Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal]], and the [[Pulitzer Prize]]. He also has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden opened in 2002, located in his birthplace of Springfield, Massachusetts; it features sculptures of Dr. Seuss and several of his characters.
  
 
==Poetic meters==
 
==Poetic meters==
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Dr. Seuss wrote most of his books in a verse form that in the terminology of [[meter (poetry)|metrics]] would be characterized as [[anapaest|anapest]]ic [[tetrameter]], a meter employed also by [[George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron|Lord Byron]] and other poets of the English literary canon. (It is also the meter of the famous Christmas poem ''A Visit From St. Nicholas''.) Abstractly, anapestic tetrameter consists of four rhythmic units (anapests), each composed of two weak beats followed by one strong, schematized below:
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Dr. Seuss wrote most of his books in [[anapaest|anapest]]ic [[tetrameter]], a meter used by many poets, including [[Lord Byron]]. Anapestic tetrameter is made up of four rhythmic units called anapests, and each are composed of two weak beats followed by one strong—schematized below:
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:  x x X x x X x x X x x X
 
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Often, the first weak syllable is omitted, or an additional weak syllable is added at the end.  A typical line (the first line of ''If I Ran the Circus'') is:
 
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:  In ALL the whole TOWN the most WONderful SPOT
 
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Seuss generally maintained this meter quite strictly, until late in his career, when he was no longer able to maintain strict rhythm in all lines.  The consistency of his meter was one of his hallmarks; the many imitators and parodists of Seuss are often unable to write in strict anapestic tetrameter, or are unaware that they should, and thus sound clumsy in comparison with the original.
 
  
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Seuss also wrote verse in [[trochaic]] [[tetrameter]], an arrangement of four units each with a strong followed by a weak beat.
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: x x X x x X x x X x x X
  
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: X x X x X x X x
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Occasionally, the first weak syllable is left out and added in at the end. A typical line (the first line of ''If I Ran the Circus'') is:
  
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An example is the title (and first line) of ''One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish''.  The formula for trochaic meter permits the final weak position in the line to be omitted, which facilitates the construction of rhymes.
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: In ALL the whole TOWN the most WONderful SPOT
  
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Seuss generally maintained trochaic meter only for brief passages, and for longer stretches typically mixed it with [[iambic]] tetrameter:
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Seuss employed this meter in his works during most of this career, however, in his later works he did not adhere to this meter as strictly. It is obvious that Seuss' use of meter is one of the major hallmarks of his writings, a hallmark that has never been imitated.
  
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:  x X x X x X x X
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Seuss also explored [[trochaic]] [[tetrameter]], which consists of an arrangement of four units each with a strong beat followed by a weak beat.
  
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which is easier to write.  Thus, for example, the magicians in ''Bartholomew and the Oobleck'' make their first appearance chanting in trochees (thus resembling the witches of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] ''[[Macbeth]]''):
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: X x X x X x X x
  
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:  Shuffle, duffle, muzzle, muff
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''One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish'' is a good example. Seuss usually used trochaic meter for short passages, and then switched to [[iambic]] tetrameter (which is much easier to write) for longer passages:
  
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then switch to iambs for the oobleck spell:
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: x X x X x X x X
  
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:  Go make the oobleck tumble down
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For example, in ''Bartholomew and the Oobleck,'' the magicians begin the story by chanting in trochaic tetrameter:
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:  On every street, in every town!
 
  
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In ''Green Eggs and Ham'', Sam-I-Am generally speaks in trochees, and the exasperated character he proselytizes replies in iambs.
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: Shuffle, duffle, muzzle, muff
  
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While most of Seuss's books are either uniformly anapestic or iambic-trochaic, a few mix triple and double rhythms.  Thus, for instance, ''Happy Birthday to You'' is generally written in anapestic tetrameter, but breaks into iambo-trochaic meter for the "Dr. Derring's singing herrings" and "Who-Bubs" episodes.
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Then he switches to iambic tetrameter for the oobleck spell:
  
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Dr. Seuss also inspired other authors to write in his story way and taught kids many things like reading.
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: Go make the oobleck tumble down
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: On every street, in every town!
  
 
==Artwork==
 
==Artwork==
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Seuss enjoyed illustrating his books as much as he enjoyed writing them. His style was distinctive and original. He began using simple pencil drawings or watercolors, but as his books grew in stature, his artistic talent grew as well. Most of his illustrations were made with black ink on white paper, and one or two colors.
  
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Seuss's earlier artwork often employed the shaded texture of pencil drawings or watercolors, but in children's books of the postwar period he generally employed the starker medium of pen and ink, normally using just black, white, and one or two colors.  Later books such as ''The Lorax'' used more colors.
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Seuss' characters and buildings are usually round and somewhat droopy. Both the faces of the Grinch and the Cat are floppy and full, with rounded bellies. He rarely used straight lines, in fact, he emphatically avoided them. To many readers it is his characters that stand out, but to true fans, the [[architecture|architectural]] creations of Seuss are just as important and amazing. He created elaborate palaces, ramps, platforms, and free-standing stairways. He invented several machines, including the most famous one, the Audio-Telly-O-Tally-O-Count, from ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book.'' Seuss added extravagant detail to his drawings of feathers and fur, as in the 500th hat of ''Bartholomew Cubbins.''
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Seuss's figures are often rounded and somewhat droopy. This is true, for instance, of the faces of the Grinch and of the Cat in the Hat. It is also true of virtually all buildings and machinery that Seuss drew:  although these objects abound in straight lines in real life, Seuss carefully avoided straight lines in drawing them (in fact, he never drew a completely straight line at any part of any of his works).  For buildings, this could be accomplished in part through choice of architecture.  For machines, for example, ''If I Ran the Circus'' includes a droopy hoisting crane and a droopy steam calliope.
 
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Seuss evidently enjoyed drawing architecturally elaborate objects.  His endlessly varied (but never rectilinear) palaces, ramps, platforms, and free-standing stairways are among his most evocative creations. Seuss also drew elaborate imaginary machines, of which the Audio-Telly-O-Tally-O-Count, from ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book'', is one example.  Seuss also liked drawing outlandish arrangements of feathers or fur, for example, the 500th hat of ''Bartholomew Cubbins'', the tail of ''Gertrude McFuzz'', and the pet for girls who like to brush and comb, in ''One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish''.
 
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Seuss's images often convey motion vividly.  He was fond of a sort of "voilà" gesture, in which the hand flips outward, spreading the fingers slightly backward with the thumb up; this is done by Ish, for instance, in ''One Fish, Two Fish'' when he creates fish (who perform the gesture themselves with their fins), in the introduction of the various acts of ''If I Ran the Circus'', and in the introduction of the Little Cats in ''The Cat in the Hat Comes Back''.  Seuss also follows the cartoon tradition of showing motion with lines, for instance in the sweeping lines that accompany Sneelock's final dive in ''If I Ran the Circus''.  Cartoonist's lines are also used to illustrate the action of the senses (sight, smell, and hearing) in ''The Big Brag'' and even of thought, as in the moment when the Grinch conceives his awful idea.
 
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Interestingly enough, there is some thought that Seuss's Imagery, especially that of ''The Cat in the Hat'' was a metaphor for "sweeping out" communism and ''cleaning out'' the "red".  
 
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===Recurring images===
 
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Seuss's early work in advertising and editorial cartooning produced sketches that received more perfect realization later on in the children's books. Often, the expressive use to which Seuss put an image later on was quite different from the original.  The examples below are from the website of the [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/seusscoll.html Mandeville Special Collections Library] of the [[University of California, San Diego]].
 
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*An [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/10716cs.jpg editorial cartoon of July 16, 1941] depicts a [[whale]] resting on the top of a mountain, as a [[parody]] of American [[isolationism|isolationists]], especially [[Charles Lindbergh]]. This was later rendered (with no apparent political content) as the Wumbus of ''On Beyond Zebra'' (1955).  Seussian whales (cheerful and balloon-shaped, with long eyelashes) also occur in ''McElligot's Pool'', ''If I Ran the Circus'', and other books.
 
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*[http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/10519cs.jpg Another editorial cartoon from 1941] shows a long cow with many legs and udders, representing the conquered nations of Europe being milked by [[Adolf Hitler]]. This later became the Umbus of ''On Beyond Zebra''.
 
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*The tower of turtles in [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/1942/20321cs.jpg this editorial cartoon from 1941] prefigures a similar tower in ''Yertle the Turtle''.
 
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*Seuss's earliest [[elephant]]s were for advertising and had somewhat [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dsads/bizpostcards/postcardD101.shtml wrinkly ears], much as real elephants do. With ''And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street'' (1937) and  ''Horton Hatches the Egg'' (1940), the ears became more stylized, somewhat like [[angel]] wings and thus appropriate to the saintly Horton. During World War II, the elephant image appeared as an emblem for [[India]] in [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/India.html four editorial cartoons]. Horton and similar elephants appear frequently in the postwar children's books.
 
  
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*While drawing advertisements for [[Flit]], Seuss became adept at drawing [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dsads/flit/flit.jpg insects with huge stingers], shaped like a gentle S-curve and with a sharp end that included a rearward-pointing barb on its lower side. Their facial expressions depict gleeful malevolence. These insects were later rendered in an editorial cartoon as a [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/1942/21111cs.jpg swarm of Allied aircraft] (1942), and later still as the Sneedle of ''On Beyond Zebra''.
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Seuss was able to convey vivid motion in all of his books. He loved drawing his characters making grand gestures, where the hand is flipping outward, the thumb up and the fingers slightly spread, a type of "voilà" gesture. More than gestures, he also showed motion with the old tradition of using lines, for example, in ''If I Ran the Circus,'' there are sweeping lines that indicate the swiftness of Sneelock's final dive. His early experience in cartoon drawing helped him not only convey motion, but also to illustrate the various senses of sight, smell, and sound. He used lines to portray even the Grinch's evil thoughts.
  
 
==Politics==
 
==Politics==
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[[Image:10425cs.jpg|thumb|left|300px|1941 cartoon by Dr. Seuss depicting [[Charles Lindbergh]].]]
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Serving in [[World War II]] gave Seuss' adamant love for his country an outlet, but he also developed an urge to be active in politics. Seuss had deep feelings about government issues across the globe. He opposed [[fascism]] and [[communism]], embracing the [[democracy]] of his country. Many believe that Seuss used his children's books as an expression of his feelings about social justice. The following are a few examples:
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His early political cartoons show a passionate opposition to [[fascism]], and he urged Americans to oppose it, both before and after the entry of the United States into World War II.  (By contrast, his cartoons tended to regard the fear of [[communism]] as overstated, finding the greater threat in the [[Dies Committee]] and those who threatened to cut America's [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/1942/20311cs.jpg "life line"] to Stalin and Soviet Russia, the ones [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/pm/1942/20219cs.jpg carrying "our war load"].)  Seuss' cartoons also called attention to the early stages of [[the Holocaust]] and denounced discrimination in America against [[Black (people)|black people]] and [[Jew]]s. Seuss himself experienced anti-semitism: in his college days, he was refused entry into certain circles because of a (mis)perception that he was Jewish. Seuss' racist treatment of the Japanese and of Japanese Americans<ref>[http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa291.htm The Political Dr. Seuss] Springfield Library and Museums Association</ref>, mentioned above, has struck many readers as a strange moral blind spot in a generally idealistic man.
 
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In 1948, after living and working in Hollywood for years, Seuss moved to La Jolla, California. It is said that when he went to register to vote in La Jolla, some [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] friends called him over to where they were registering voters, but Ted said, "You my friends are over there, but I am going over here [to the Democratic registration]." Seuss had since been a lifelong [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].
 
−
 
 
−
Seuss' children's books also express his commitment to social justice as he perceived it:
 
−
 
 
−
*''[[The Lorax]]'' (1971), though told in full-tilt Seussian style, strikes many readers as fundamentally an [[environmentalism|environmentalist]] tract.  It is the tale of a ruthless and greedy industrialist (the "[[Once-ler]]") who so thoroughly destroys the local environment that he ultimately puts his own company out of business. The book is striking for being told from the viewpoint (generally bitter, self-hating, and remorseful) of the Once-ler himself.  In [[1989]], an effort was made by [[lumber]]ing interests in [[Laytonville, California]], to have the book banned from local school libraries, on the grounds that it was unfair to the lumber industry.
 
  
−
*''[[The Sneetches]]'' (1961) is commonly seen as a satire of racial discrimination.
+
*''The Lorax'' (1971) has been said to be a commentary on [[environmentalist|environmentalism]]. The story explores the ill-effects of a ruthless industrialist (the "Once-ler") who completely destroys his environment and inevitably causes the closure of his own company.  
  
−
*''[[The Butter Battle Book]]'' (1984) written in Seuss's old age, is both a parody and denunciation of the [[nuclear arms race]]. It was attacked by conservatives as endorsing [[moral relativism]] by implying that the difference between the sides in the Cold War were no more than the choice between how to butter one's bread.
+
*''The Sneetches'' (1961) is seen as a satire on the injustice of [[racial discrimination]].
  
−
*''[[The Zax]]'' can be seen as a parody of all political hardliners.
+
*''The Butter Battle Book'' (1984) written in Seuss' old age, is both a parody and a personal denunciation of the [[nuclear arms race]]. It was attacked by conservatives who felt that Seuss' comparison between the [[Cold War]] and a battle of bread and butter was debasing and trite.  
  
−
*''[[Yertle the Turtle]]'' (1958) is often interpreted as an allegory of tyranny. It also encourages political activism, suggesting that a single act of resistance by an individual can topple a corrupt system.
+
*''The Zax'' has been seen by many as a parody of political hardliners.
  
−
*Shortly before the end of the [[Watergate scandal]], Seuss converted one of his famous children's books into a [[polemic]]. "Richard M. Nixon, Will You Please Go Now!" was published in major newspapers through the [[newspaper column|column]] of his friend [[Art Buchwald]]. Nine days later, Nixon went.
+
*''Yertle the Turtle'' (1958) has been compared to an allegory of tyranny, while at the same time advocating the power of political activism.
  
−
*Seuss's values also are apparent in the much earlier ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]'' (1957), which can be taken (partly) as a polemic against [[materialism]]. The Grinch, thinking he can steal [[Christmas]] from the Whos by stealing all the Christmas gifts and decorations, attains a kind of enlightenment when the Whos prove him wrong.
+
*In ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' (1957), Seuss made his religious values known with his underlying theme of fighting against materialism.  
  
−
*''Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose'' (1948) is often considered to be making a statement about [[hunting]].
+
*''Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose'' (1948) can be seen as an anti-[[hunting]] statement.
  
−
*''Horton Hears a Who!'' is said to be a response to the atomic bomb.  Also, one of its lines, "A person is a person, no matter how small," has been used as rhetoric against abortion rights.  However, Seuss threatened to sue an anti-abortion group for their use of the phrase.  His widow, also strongly pro-choice, has reiterated these criticisms. A lawsuit was filed in Canada in 2001 on this issue.
+
*''Horton Hears a Who!'' is said to be a response to the [[atomic bomb]].
  
 
==Adaptations of Seuss's work==
 
==Adaptations of Seuss's work==
−
For most of his career, Dr. Seuss was reluctant to have his characters marketed in contexts outside of his own books.  However, he did allow a few animated cartoons, an art form in which he himself had gained experience during the Second World War.
+
Seuss refused to let any of his characters be recreated for [[film]] and other mediums; however, he did approve some [[cartoon]]s. Among these was the 1966 version of ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!''; the cartoon was created by Chuck Jones, Seuss' friend since the war. It is a faithful adaptation of the original book and is considered to be a [[Christmas]] classic, appearing in the annual catalog of Christmas television specials. A few other works followed, including ''Horton Hears a Who!,'' ''The Lorax,'' and ''The Cat in the Hat.''
−
 
 
−
In 1966, Seuss authorized the eminent cartoon artist [[Chuck Jones]], his friend and former colleague from the war, to make a cartoon version of ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!''. Seuss, as "Ted Geisel", is credited as a co-producer along with Jones. This cartoon was very faithful to the original book. It is considered a classic by many to this day, and is in the large catalog of annual [[Christmas television special]]s. Several more animated specials based on Seuss' work followed, including cartoon versions of ''[[Horton Hears a Who!]]'' , ''The Lorax'' and ''The Cat in the Hat'' in 1971, but the latter was considered less successful.
 
  
−
Toward the end of his life, Seuss seems to have relaxed his policy, and several other cartoons and toys were made featuring his characters, usually the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. When Seuss died of cancer at the age of 87 in 1991, his widow Audrey Geisel was placed in charge of all licensing matters. She approved a live-action film version of ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]'' starring [[Jim Carrey]], as well as a Seuss-themed [[Broadway theater|Broadway musical]] called ''[[Seussical]]'' (both released in 2000). A [[The Cat in the Hat (film)|live-action film]] based on ''The Cat in the Hat'' was released in 2003, featuring [[Mike Myers (actor)|Mike Myers]] as the title character."The Grinch" is now in a limited engagement run on Broadway. Audrey Geisel was said to have been very vocal in her dislike of the film, and is believed to have said there would be no further live-action adaptations of Seuss' books.{{MS-NBC "Seussentenial: 100
+
As Seuss grew older he became more lax in his stance against adaptations and allowed several other cartoons to be made. After his death in 1991, his wife Audrey was left in charge of all licensing matters. Thus, a live-action variation of ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' was made starring [[Jim Carrey]] in the title role. In 2000, the [[Broadway theater|Broadway musical]] named ''Seussical'' debuted. With the success of these two adaptations, a live-action version of ''Cat in the Hat'' starring [[Mike Myers]] was released in 2003. Audrey, however, seriously disliked Myers interpretation of the Cat, and declared that there would be no further live-action adaptations of Seuss' books.  
−
years of Dr. Seuss
 
−
Geisel's widow continues
 
−
to nutures writer's cast of characters" Updated: 11:42 a.m. PT Feb 26, 2004}}
 
 
   
 
   
−
Dr. Seuss' books and characters also now appear in an amusement park:  the [[Universal Orlando Resort#Seuss Landing|Seuss Landing]] 'island' at the [[Universal Orlando Resort#Islands of Adventure|Islands of Adventure]] [[theme park]] in [[Orlando, Florida]].  Product tie-ins (cereal boxes, and so on) have also been implemented.  To stay true to the books, there is not one single straight line in all of Seuss Landing: everything curves around.
+
The Universal Orlando Resort's Seuss Landing theme park in [[Florida]] is full of Seuss' creations, staying true to the books with curving designs.
  
−
In  November 2004, an edition of [[MAD Magazine]] ([http://www.collectmad.com/madcoversite/index-covers.html Mad #447]) featured a cover story in which lines from Seuss' books were compared with supposedly similar lines from speeches made by [[George W. Bush]]. It was titled "The Strange Similarities Between the Bush Administration and the World of Dr. Seuss." The cover drawing was of a Cat in the Hat that resembled Bush.
+
==List of books==
−
 
+
* ''And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.'' New York: Random House, [1937] 1983. ISBN 0394844947
−
 
+
* ''The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.'' New York: Random House, [1938] 1984. ISBN 039484484X
−
==Trivia==
+
* ''The King's Stilts.'' New York: Random House, 1939. ISBN 0394800826
−
*On the season premiere of [[Saturday Night Live]] following Dr. Seuss' death, the Reverend [[Jesse Jackson]] was a special guest during the News segment. He declared that "rather than reading from First or Second Samuel, I will read from 'Sam I Am' by the Prophet Seuss," whereupon he read ''Green Eggs and Ham'' in the style of a preacher giving an impassioned sermon.
+
* ''The Seven Lady Godivas.'' New York: Random House, 1939. ISBN 0394562690
−
*On December 1, 1995 The University Library Building at the [[University of California, San Diego]] was renamed [[Geisel Library]] in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel for the generous contributions they have made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy. The Geisels were long-time residents of La Jolla, where UC San Diego is located. A sculpture of Dr. Seuss decorates the grounds of the library. Its Mandeville Special Collections Library contains many of his papers.
+
* ''Horton Hatches the Egg.'' New York: Random House, 1940. ISBN 0007175191
−
*'''Dr Seuss''' was frequently confused, by the US Postal Service among others, with '''Dr Suess''' (cf [[Hans Suess]]) his contemporary living in the same locality, [[La Jolla, San Diego, California|La Jolla]]. Ironically, both names have been posthumously linked together: The personal papers of [[Hans Suess]] are housed in the ''Geisel Library'' at [[UCSD]] [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/testing/html/mss0199a.html].
+
* ''McElligot's Pool'' New York: Random House, 1947. ISBN 0394800834
−
*Dr. Seuss was a friend and drinking partner of crime author [[Raymond Chandler]], who was also a resident of La Jolla.
+
* ''Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.'' New York: Random House, 1948. ISBN 0007175175
−
*The [[National Education Association]] celebrates March 2nd, Dr. Seuss' Birthday, as [http://www.nea.org/readacross/faq.html Read Across America Day]. Also known as some version of 'Read Dr. Seuss Day', some adopt the civic as well as fun responsibility to read a Dr. Seuss book to another.
+
* ''Bartholomew and the Oobleck.'' New York: Random House, 1949. ISBN 0394845390
−
* Was a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
+
* ''If I Ran the Zoo.'' New York: Random House, 1950. ISBN 0007169949
−
* The new High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL lists as its last train stop on its schedule as Springfield, in honor of the birthplace of Dr. Seuss.
+
* ''Scrambled Eggs Super!'' New York: Random House, 1953. ISBN 0007169965
−
* Name checked in the popular R.E.M. song 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite'
+
* ''Horton Hears a Who!'' New York: Random House, 1954. ISBN 0679800034
 +
* ''On Beyond Zebra!'' New York: Random House, 1955. ISBN 0394800842
 +
* ''If I Ran the Circus.'' New York: Random House, 1956. ISBN 039480080X
 +
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' New York: Random House, 1957. ISBN 0007173040
 +
* ''The Cat in the Hat'' New York: Random House, [1957] 1985. ISBN 0679891110
 +
* ''The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.'' New York: Random House, [1958] 1986. ISBN 0375875387
 +
* ''Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories.'' New York: Random House, 1958. ISBN 0517129914
 +
* ''Happy Birthday to You!'' New York: Random House, 1959. ISBN 0394800761
 +
* ''One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.'' New York: Random House, [1960] 1988. ISBN 0394800133
 +
* ''Green Eggs and Ham.'' New York: Random House, [1960] 1988. ISBN 0007672535
 +
* ''The Sneetches and Other Stories.'' New York: Random House, 1961. ISBN 0007158505
 +
* ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book.'' New York: Random House, 1962. ISBN 0394800915
 +
* ''Dr. Seuss's ABC.'' New York: Random House, [1963] 1991. ISBN 0394800303
 +
* ''Hop on Pop.'' New York: Random House, [1963] 1991. ISBN 039480029X
 +
* ''Fox in Socks.'' New York: Random House, [1965] 1993. ISBN 0394800389
 +
* ''I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew.'' New York: Random House, 1965. ISBN 0394800923
 +
* ''The Cat in the Hat Song Book.'' New York: Random House, [1967] 1994. ISBN 0394816951
 +
* ''The Foot Book.'' New York: Random House, [1968] 1996. ISBN 0394809378
 +
* ''I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories.'' New York: Random House, 1969. ISBN 039480094X
 +
* ''My Book about ME.'' By Dr. Seuss and Roy McKie. New York: Random House, [1970] 1995. ISBN 0394800931
 +
* ''I Can Draw It Myself.'' New York: Random House, [1970] 1996. ISBN 0679891749
 +
* ''Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises!'' New York: Random House, [1970] 1996. ISBN 0394806220
 +
* ''The Lorax.'' New York: Random House, 1971. ISBN 0394823370
 +
* ''Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!'' New York: Random House, [1972] 1997. ISBN 0394824903
 +
* ''Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?'' New York: Random House, 1973. ISBN 0394827198
 +
* ''The Shape of Me and Other Stuff.'' New York: Random House, [1973] 1997. ISBN 0394826876
 +
* ''There's a Wocket in My Pocket!'' New York: Random House, [1974] 1997. ISBN 0394829204
 +
* ''Great Day for Up!'' New York: Random House, [1974] 1998. ISBN 0394829131
 +
* ''Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!'' New York: Random House, [1975] 1996. ISBN 0394831292
 +
* ''The Cat's Quizzer.'' New York: Random House, [1976] 1993. ISBN 0394832965
 +
* ''I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!'' New York: Random House, [1978] 1996. ISBN 0394839129
 +
* ''Oh Say Can You Say?'' New York: Random House, [1979] 1996. ISBN 0394842553
 +
* ''Hunches in Bunches.'' New York: Random House, [1982] 1996. ISBN 0394855027
 +
* ''The Butter Battle Book.'' New York: Random House, 1984. ISBN 0394865804
 +
* ''You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete Children.'' New York: Random House, 1986. ISBN 0394551907
 +
* ''I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!'' New York: Random House, [1987] 1996. ISBN 0394892178
 +
* ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!'' New York: Random House, 1990. ISBN 0679805273
 +
* ''Daisy-Head Mayzie.'' New York: Random House, 1995. ISBN 0679867120
 +
* ''Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998 (Posthumous). By Dr. Seuss with some help from Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith. ISBN 0679890084
 +
* ''My Many Colored Days'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996 (Posthumous). By Dr. Seuss, paintings by Steve Johnson with Lou Fancher. ISBN 0679875972
 +
* ''Gerald McBoing-Boing'' New York: Random House, 2000 (Posthumous). ISBN 0679891404
  
−
==List of books==
 
−
* ''And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street'' New York: Beginner Books, Vanguard Press, Random House, 1937 1983 B-Extra 1
 
−
* ''The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins'' New York: Beginner Books, Vanguard Press, Random House, 1938 1984 B-Extra 2
 
−
* ''The King's Stilts'' New York: Random House, 1939
 
−
* ''The Seven Lady Godivas'' New York: Random House, 1939
 
−
* ''Horton Hatches the Egg'' New York: Random House, 1940
 
−
* ''McElligot's Pool'' New York: Random House, 1947. [[Caldecott Honor Book]]
 
−
* ''Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose'' New York: Random House, 1948
 
−
* ''Bartholomew and the Oobleck'' New York: Random House, 1949. [[Caldecott Honor Book]]
 
−
* ''If I Ran the Zoo'' New York: Random House, 1950. [[Caldecott Honor Book]]
 
−
* ''Scrambled Eggs Super!'' New York: Random House, 1953
 
−
* ''Horton Hears a Who!'' New York: Random House, 1954
 
−
* ''On Beyond Zebra!'' New York: Random House, 1955
 
−
* ''If I Ran the Circus'' New York: Random House, 1956
 
−
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' New York: Random House, 1957
 
−
* ''The Cat in the Hat'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1957, 1985 B-1
 
−
* ''The Cat in the Hat|The Cat in the Hat Comes Back'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1958 1986 B-2
 
−
* ''Yertle the Turtle|Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories'' New York: Random House, 1958
 
−
* ''Happy Birthday to You!'' New York: Random House, 1959
 
−
* ''One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1960 1988 B-13
 
−
* ''Green Eggs and Ham'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1960, 1988 B-16
 
−
* ''The Sneetches and Other Stories'' New York: Random House, 1961
 
−
* ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book'' New York: Random House, 1962
 
−
* ''Dr. Seuss's ABC'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1963, 1991 B-30
 
−
* ''Hop on Pop'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1963, 1991 B-29
 
−
* ''Fox in Socks'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1965 1993 B-38
 
−
* ''I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew'' New York: Random House, 1965
 
−
* ''The Cat in the Hat Song Book'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1967, 1994 B-Extra 3
 
−
* ''The Foot Book'' New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1968, 1996 BE-1
 
−
* ''I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories'' New York: Random House, 1969
 
−
* ''My Book about ME'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1970 - [[Roy McKie]] 1995 B-Extra 4
 
−
* ''I Can Draw It Myself'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1970, 1996 B-Extra 5
 
−
* ''Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises!  New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1970, 1996 BE-7
 
−
* ''The Lorax'' New York: Random House, 1971. National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book / Social Studies
 
−
* ''Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!'' New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1972, 1997 BE-13
 
−
* ''Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?'' New York: Random House 1973
 
−
* ''The Shape of Me and Other Stuff'' New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1973, 1997 BE-16
 
−
* ''There's a Wocket in My Pocket!'' New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1974, 1997 BE-18
 
−
* ''Great Day for Up! New York: Bright & Early Books, Random House, 1974 - (Pictures by Quentin Blake) 1998 BE-19
 
−
* ''Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1975.  (Story and Pictures by Dr. Seuss) 1996 B-62
 
−
* ''The Cat's Quizzer'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1976, 1993 B-75
 
−
* ''I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1978, 1996 B-64
 
−
* ''Oh Say Can You Say?'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1979, 1996 B-65
 
−
* ''Hunches in Bunches'' New York: Beginner Books, Random House, 1982, 1996 B-Extra 6
 
−
* ''The Butter Battle Book'' New York: Random House, 1984
 
−
* ''You're Only Old Once! : A Book for Obsolete Children'' New York: Random House, 1986. 
 
−
* ''I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!'' New York: Random House, 1987 - (illustrated by James Stevenson) 1996 B-74
 
−
* ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!'' New York: Random House, 1990
 
−
* ''Daisy - Head Mayzie'' New York: Beginner Books, Random Housen 1995, 1997 B-Extra 7
 
−
* ''Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.  By Dr. Seuss with some help from Jack Prelutsky & [[Lane Smith]] (posthumous)
 
−
* ''My Many Colored Days'' New York : Alfred A. Knopf: Distributed by Random House, 1996.  by Dr. Seuss, paintings by Steve Johnson with Lou Fancher (posthumous)
 
−
* ''Gerald McBoing-Boing'' New York: Random House, 2000 (posthumous)
 
 
===Omnibus Volumes===
 
===Omnibus Volumes===
−
*''A Hatful of Seuss: Five Favorite Dr. Seuss Stories''
+
*''A Hatful of Seuss: Five Favorite Dr. Seuss Stories.'' Random House. ISBN 0679883886
−
**''Bartholomew and the Oobleck'' (1949), ''If I Ran the Zoo'' (1950), ''Horton Hears a Who!'' (1954), ''The Sneetches and Other Stories'' (1961), and ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book'' (1962)
+
**''Bartholomew and the Oobleck'' (1949), ''If I Ran the Zoo'' (1950), ''Horton Hears a Who!'' (1954), ''The Sneetches and Other Stories'' (1961), and ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book'' (1962).
−
*''Your Favorite Seuss : A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss'' Molly Leach (Designer)
+
*''Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss.'' Molly Leach (designer). Random House. ISBN 0375810617
−
** ''And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street'', ''Horton Hears a Who!'', ''McElligot's Pool'', ''If I Ran the Zoo'', ''Happy Birthday to You!'', ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book'', ''Yertle the Turtle'', ''The Cat in the Hat'', ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'', ''Green Eggs and Ham'', ''The Lorax'', ''The Sneetches'', and ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!''
+
** ''And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street,'' ''Horton Hears a Who!'' ''McElligot's Pool,'' ''If I Ran the Zoo,'' ''Happy Birthday to You!'' ''Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book,'' ''Yertle the Turtle,'' ''The Cat in the Hat,'' ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' ''Green Eggs and Ham,'' ''The Lorax,'' ''The Sneetches,'' and ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!''
−
*''Six By Seuss: A Treasury of Dr. Seuss Classics''
+
*''Six By Seuss: A Treasury of Dr. Seuss Classics.'' Random House. ISBN 0679821481
−
**''And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street'', ''The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins'', ''Horton Hatches the Egg'', ''Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories'', ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'', and ''The Lorax''
+
**''And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street,'' ''The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins,'' ''Horton Hatches the Egg,'' ''Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories,'' ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' and ''The Lorax.''
  
 
===Writing as Theo. LeSieg===
 
===Writing as Theo. LeSieg===
−
LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards.
+
*''Ten Apples up on Top!'' Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1961. ISBN 0394800192
−
*''Ten Apples up on Top!''. Illustrated by Roy McKie. ©1961, 1989–2004, B-19
+
*''Come over to My House.'' Illustrated by Richard Erdoes. Random House, 1966.
−
*''Come over to My House''. Illustrated by [[Richard Erdoes]]. ©1966, B-44; 2006, B-Bonus Book
+
*''In a People House.''. Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, [1972] 2007. ISBN 0394823958
−
*''In a People House''. Illustrated by Roy McKie. ©1972, 1997–2007, BE-12
+
*''Wacky Wednesday.'' Illustrated by George Booth. Random House, 1974. ISBN 0394829123
−
*''Wacky Wednesday''. Illustrated by George Booth. ©1974, 1996–2006 B-59
+
*''Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?'' Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1975. ISBN 000171290X
−
*''Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?''. Illustrated by Roy McKie. ©1975, 1998–2006, BE-21
+
*''Hooper Humperdink…? Not Him!'' Illustrated by Charles E. Martin. Random House, [1976] 2006. ISBN 0679881298
−
*''Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him!.'' Illustrated by Charles E. Martin. ©1976, 1998–2006, BE-22
+
*''Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet!'' Illustrated by Michael J. Smollin. 1980, 1996–2009. ISBN 0001713361
−
*''Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet!''. Illustated by Michael J. Smollin. ©1980, 1996–2009, B-Extra 8
+
*''The Tooth Book.'' Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 1989. ISBN 0375810390
−
*''The Tooth Book''. Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 2000/1989, BE-25
+
*''The Eye Book.'' Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 1996. ISBN 0375800336
−
*''The Eye Book''. Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 1999/1996, BE-2
+
*''I Wish that I Had Duck Feet.'' 1994–2006. ISBN 0394800400
−
*''I Wish that I Had Duck Feet''. 1994–2006, B-40
+
*''Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!'' Illustrated by Art Cummings. 1977, 1997–1999. ISBN 0394835638
−
*''Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!''.  Illustrated by Art Cummings. 1977, 1997–1999, B-63
+
*''The Pop-up Mice of Mr. Brice.'' Random House, 1973. ISBN 0679801324
−
*''The Many Mice of Mr. Brice''. (A pop-up book) BE-15
+
*''I Can Write!'' Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1993. ISBN 0679847006
−
*''I Can Write''. Illustrated by Roy McKie. BE-Extra 2
 
−
*''Are you my Mother?''
 
  
 
===Writing as Rosetta Stone===
 
===Writing as Rosetta Stone===
−
* ''Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo!'' illustrated by Michael Frith. New York: Beginner Books, 1975 1996 B-61
+
* ''Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo!'' Illustrated by Michael Frith. New York: Beginner Books, 1975. ISBN 0394831306
  
 
==Film, television, and theater adaptations==
 
==Film, television, and theater adaptations==
−
* ''Horton Hatches the Egg'': a 1942 [[Warner Brothers]] [[cartoon]], an early Seuss adaptation, which includes the elephant (and his son, at the end) singing a popular nonsense tune of that time, "The Hut-Sut Song" [http://www.rienzihills.com/SING/T/thehutsutsong.htm].
+
* ''Horton Hatches the Egg:'' a 1942 [[Warner Brothers]] [[cartoon]], an early Seuss adaptation, which includes the elephant (and his son, at the end) singing a popular nonsense tune of that time, "The Hut-Sut Song."
−
* ''The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T'': a 1953 feature-length live-action movie, with sets that look like classic Seuss drawings and screenplay by Dr. Seuss
+
* ''The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T:'' a 1953 feature-length live-action movie, with sets that look like classic Seuss drawings and screenplay by Dr. Seuss.
−
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!#Television|How the Grinch Stole Christmas'': a 1966 animated television special directed by [[Chuck Jones]] for [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
+
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!:'' a 1966 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones for [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]].
−
* ''Horton Hears a Who!'': a 1970 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
+
* ''Horton Hears a Who!:'' a 1970 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
−
* ''The Cat in the Hat'': a 1971 animated television special directed by [[Hawley Pratt]] for [[DePatie-Freleng Enterprises]] and [[CBS]]
+
* ''The Cat in the Hat:'' a 1971 animated television special directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and [[CBS]].
−
* ''The Lorax'': a 1972 animated television special directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS
+
* ''The Lorax:'' a 1972 animated television special directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS.
−
* ''Dr. Seuss on the Loose'': a 1973 animated television special and Movie directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS, Dr. Seuss; this special included the stories ''The Sneetches'', ''The Zax'', and ''Green Eggs and Ham''
+
* ''Dr. Seuss on the Loose:'' a 1973 animated television special and movie directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS; this special included the stories ''The Sneetches,'' ''The Zax,'' and ''Green Eggs and Ham.''
−
* ''The Hoober-Bloob Highway'': a 1975 animated television special directed by Alan Zaslove for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS
+
* ''The Hoober-Bloob Highway:'' a 1975 animated television special directed by Alan Zaslove for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS.
−
* ''Halloween Is Grinch Night'': a 1977 animated television special directed by [[Gerard Baldwin]] for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
+
* ''Halloween Is Grinch Night:'' a 1977 animated television special directed by Gerard Baldwin for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].
−
* ''Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?'': a 1980 animated television special directed by Gerard Baldwin for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
+
* ''Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?:'' a 1980 animated television special directed by Gerard Baldwin for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
−
* ''The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat'': a 1982 animated television special directed by [[Bill Perez]] for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, [[Marvel Productions Ltd.]]
+
* ''The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat:'' a 1982 animated television special directed by Bill Perez for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Marvel Productions Ltd.
−
*''The Butter Battle Book'': a 1989 animated television special by [[Ralph Bakshi]] for [[Turner Entertainment]]
+
*''The Butter Battle Book:'' a 1989 animated television special by Ralph Bakshi for Turner Entertainment.
−
* ''In Search of Dr. Seuss'': a 1994 television biopic outlining Seuss's life along with his books
+
* ''In Search of Dr. Seuss:'' a 1994 television biopic outlining Seuss's life along with his books.
−
* ''Daisy-Head Mayzie'': a 1995 animated television special by [[Christopher O'Hare]] for Hanna-Barbera Productions (posthumous)
+
* ''Daisy-Head Mayzie:'' a 1995 animated television special by Christopher O'Hare for Hanna-Barbera Productions (posthumous).
−
* ''Kids for Character'': a 1996 animated television special by [[Character Counts!]]
+
* ''Kids for Character:'' a 1996 animated television special by Character Counts! (posthumous).
−
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'': a 2000 live-action film (posthumous)
+
* ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!:'' a 2000 live-action film (posthumous).
−
* ''Seussical'': a 2001 Broadway musical (posthumous)
+
* ''Seussical:'' a 2001 Broadway musical (posthumous).
−
* ''The Cat in the Hat'': a 2003 live-action film (posthumous)
+
* ''The Cat in the Hat:'' a 2003 live-action film (posthumous).
−
* ''Horton Hears a Who! (film)'': a 2008 CGI film (posthumous)
 
  
−
==Further reading==
+
== Notes ==
−
*''[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1933160012 Theodor Seuss Geisel: The Early Works, Volume 1]'' ([http://checkerbpg.com Checker Book Publishing], 2005; ISBN 1-933160-01-2), Early Works Volume 1 is the first of a series collecting various political cartoons, advertisements, and various images drawn by Geisel long before he had written any of his world-famous books.
 
−
*''Dr. Seuss From Then to Now'' (New York: Random House, 1987; ISBN 0-394-89268-2) is a biographical retrospective published for the exhibit of the same title at the [[San Diego Museum of Art]]
 
−
*''The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss'' by Audrey Geisel (New York: Random House, 1995; ISBN 0-679-43448-8) contains many full-color reproductions of Geisel's private, previously unpublished artwork.
 
−
*''Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel'', a selection with commentary by Richard Minnear (New Press, 2001; ISBN 1-56584-704-0).
 
−
*''Oh, the Places He Went'', a story about Dr. Seuss by Maryann Weidt (Carolrhoda Books, 1995; ISBN 0-87614-627-2)
 
−
*''The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel'' by Charles Cohen (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2004; ISBN 0-375-82248-8).
 
−
* ''Dr. Seuss: American Icon'' by Philip Nel (Continuum Publishing, 2004; ISBN 0-8264-1434-6)
 
−
* ''The Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss'', edited and with an introduction by Richard Marschall (also includes autobiographical material); ISBN 0-688-06548-1
 
  
−
==References==
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
== References ==
 +
* ''Dr. Seuss: American Icon.'' Philip Nel. Continuum Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0826414346
 +
*''Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel: A Biography.'' By Judith Morgan and Neil Morgan. Da Capo Press, 1996. ISBN 030680736X
 +
*''Dr. Seuss From Then to Now.'' Random House, 1987. ISBN 0394892682 – a biographical retrospective published for the exhibit of the same title at the San Diego Museum of Art
 +
*''Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel.'' A selection with commentary by Richard Minnear. New Press, 2001. ISBN 1565847040
 +
*''Oh, the Places He Went.'' A story about Dr. Seuss by Maryann Weidt. Carolrhoda Books, 1995. ISBN 0876146272
 +
*''The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.'' By Audrey Geisel. Random House, 1995. ISBN 0679434488 – contains many full-color reproductions of Geisel's private, previously unpublished artwork.
 +
* ''The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.'' By James W. Kemp. Judson Press, 2004. ISBN 0817014578
 +
*''Theodor Seuss Geisel: The Early Works, Volume 1.'' Checker Book Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1933160012. Early Works Volume 1 is the first of a series collecting various political cartoons, advertisements, and various images drawn by Geisel long before he had written any of his world-famous books.
 +
*''The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel.'' By Charles Cohen. Random House, 2004. ISBN 0375822488
 +
* ''The Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss.'' Edited and with an introduction by Richard Marshall. William Morrow, 1989. ISBN 0688065481
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
{{wikiquote}}
+
All links retrieved January 30, 2024.
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*[http://www.seussville.com/ Seussville site (Random House)]
 
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*[http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/testing/html/mss0230a.html Brief biography of Dr. Seuss (UC San Diego)]
 
−
*[http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dsads/index.shtml The Advertising Artwork of Dr. Seuss (UC San Diego)]
 
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*[http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/ The complete Dr. Seuss editorial cartoons (UC San Diego)]
 
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*{{imdb name|id=0317450|name=Dr. Seuss}}
 
−
*[http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031123.wseuss1123/BNStory/Entertainment/ "Green eggs and subversion," an essay by Sarah Milroy, ''Toronto Globe and Mail'']
 
−
*[http://www.ksu.edu/english/nelp/seuss/ Dr. Seuss on the web]
 
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*[http://www.kidsreads.com/features/010221-seuss/seuss-timeline.asp Dr. Seuss timeline]
 
−
*[http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110007816 The Wall Street Journal - Green Eggs and Ham]
 
−
 
 
  
 +
* [http://www.seussville.com/ Seussville.]
 +
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317450/ Dr. Seuss] at the Internet Movie Database.
 +
*[http://www.k-state.edu/english/nelp/seuss/ Dr. Seuss on the Web].
  
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[[Category:Art, Music, Literature, Sports, and Leisure]]
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[[Category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
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[[Category:Writers and poets]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
  
  
 
{{Credit|92156956}}
 
{{Credit|92156956}}

Latest revision as of 17:31, 30 January 2024


Dr. Seuss
Ted Geisel NYWTS 2 crop.jpg
Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel in 1957, with some of his books.
Born
March 2, 1904
Springfield, Massachusetts
Died
September 24, 1991
La Jolla, California

Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) is the author of several classic children's books, which he wrote under the pen name of Dr. Seuss. Among his most famous books are The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Green Eggs and Ham. Geisel created a world of whimsical characters, and his use of rhythm and rhyme made him a pioneer in techniques for facilitating reading skills in children. Also a cartoonist, he illustrated all his own books.

Before he wrote books for children, Geisel had been a magazine writer, cartoonist and advertising artist. Patriotic and politically active, he began his career as a writer and propagandist for the American war effort against Nazi Germany, and some of his children's books are said to contain social messages.

Geisel refused to endorse the marketing of his characters into any product that would have a negative impact on children. In all, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 children's books. His books have been translated into more than 15 languages and more than 200 million copies have been sold around the world. In 1984, Geisel was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his "special contribution over nearly half a century to the education and enjoyment of America's children and their parents."

Life and Work

Theodor Seuss Geisel enjoyed an ideal and happy childhood. He was born on March 2, 1904, and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. His house was located on 74 Fairfield Street, six blocks from the zoo (where his father worked) and three blocks from the local library. He was a creative and energetic child who excelled academically. His father had great hopes for Seuss becoming a doctor. He attended and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1925. While at Dartmouth he was an active member of both Sigma Phi Epsilon and Casque and Gauntlet. Some of his first articles were published in the humor magazine, Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern.

Geisel was encouraged to continue his education so he attended Lincoln College at the University of Oxford, with the intent of earning a doctorate in literature, and fulfilling his father's dream. However, he met Helen Palmer and the couple married in 1927. The two returned to the United States and Geisel never finished his studies at Oxford. As a result he decided to put "Dr." at the front of his chosen pen name "Seuss," so that his father could say his son was indeed a doctor. The name Seuss was Geisel's mother's maiden name, pronounced like "voice," though most American's pronounce it like "juice."[1]

Did you know?
The real name of the popular author of children's books, Dr. Seuss, was Theodor Seuss Geisel

Geisel began writing intently after his marriage, submitting humorous articles (along with original illustrations) to several magazines. Among these were Judge where he first began using his pen name "Dr. Seuss," the Saturday Evening Post, Life, Vanity Fair, and Liberty. During the Great Depression, he found work by drawing advertisements for General Electric, NBC, Standard Oil, and many others. His first attempt at being a cartoonist was a short-lived comic strip called Hejji in 1935.

Dr. Seuss wrote three children's books in prose, including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, before he found his unique rhyme and rhythm. He took a break from his fictional writing and began making strong political statements in the form of cartoons, articles, documentaries, and eventually military service in World War II. From January 1941 to January 1943, he joined Frank Capra’s film unit of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

He drew over 400 cartoons for the New York City left-wing daily newspaper PM. His cartoons expressed more right-wing sentiments on the vileness of Hitler, Mussolini, and even Charles Lindbergh (who voiced his discontent over America joining the war effort).[2]

His cartoons made statements against racism and isolationist leaders, praising every decision by President Roosevelt during the war. Seuss admired the president and was very patriotic. In 1942, he began drawing posters for the Treasury Department and the War Production Board. In 1943, he became a commander of the animation department of the First Motion Picture Unit of the United States Army Air Forces. He made several propaganda films about peace and earned Academy Awards for Hitler Lives (1946); for the documentary feature, Design for Death (1947); and for the animation short, Gerald McBoing-Boing (1951). He ended his service and was given the Legion of Merit award.

At the war's end, Seuss and Helen settled permanently in La Jolla, California where his writing continued in earnest. He went on to write If I Ran the Zoo (1950), Scrambled Eggs Super! (1953), On Beyond Zebra! (1955), If I Ran the Circus (1956), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957). His direction and goals as a writer changed when he read an article on illiteracy in the May 1954 issue of Life magazine. The article stated that the rise of children's illiteracy was due, in part, to the lack of interesting reading material. Seuss' publisher gave him a list of 400 of the most important words a child should be reading, and asked Seuss to cut the list down to 250 words and write a book; thus, the history of the 220-word story, The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss' most popular book. Next, he wrote Green Eggs and Ham a book that is said to have been written as a result of a bet. Publisher Bennett Cerf bet Dr. Seuss $50 that he could not write an entire children's book using only 50 words. Dr. Seuss proved to be up to the challenge; whether Cerf ever paid up is not known.

Seuss had an affair with Audrey Stone Dimond, a woman eighteen years his junior and married with two children. On October 23, 1967, suffering from a long struggle with illnesses including cancer—as well as emotional pain over her husband's affair—Seuss's wife Helen committed suicide. Audrey Dimond divorced her husband and Suess married her on June 21, 1968. The two remained married until Seuss' death on September 24, 1991 at his home in La Jolla, California, at the age of 87.

Many honors were given to Dr. Seuss, including two Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and the Pulitzer Prize. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden opened in 2002, located in his birthplace of Springfield, Massachusetts; it features sculptures of Dr. Seuss and several of his characters.

Poetic meters

Dr. Seuss wrote most of his books in anapestic tetrameter, a meter used by many poets, including Lord Byron. Anapestic tetrameter is made up of four rhythmic units called anapests, and each are composed of two weak beats followed by one strong—schematized below:

x x X x x X x x X x x X

Occasionally, the first weak syllable is left out and added in at the end. A typical line (the first line of If I Ran the Circus) is:

In ALL the whole TOWN the most WONderful SPOT

Seuss employed this meter in his works during most of this career, however, in his later works he did not adhere to this meter as strictly. It is obvious that Seuss' use of meter is one of the major hallmarks of his writings, a hallmark that has never been imitated.

Seuss also explored trochaic tetrameter, which consists of an arrangement of four units each with a strong beat followed by a weak beat.

X x X x X x X x

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is a good example. Seuss usually used trochaic meter for short passages, and then switched to iambic tetrameter (which is much easier to write) for longer passages:

x X x X x X x X

For example, in Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the magicians begin the story by chanting in trochaic tetrameter:

Shuffle, duffle, muzzle, muff

Then he switches to iambic tetrameter for the oobleck spell:

Go make the oobleck tumble down
On every street, in every town!

Artwork

Seuss enjoyed illustrating his books as much as he enjoyed writing them. His style was distinctive and original. He began using simple pencil drawings or watercolors, but as his books grew in stature, his artistic talent grew as well. Most of his illustrations were made with black ink on white paper, and one or two colors.

Seuss' characters and buildings are usually round and somewhat droopy. Both the faces of the Grinch and the Cat are floppy and full, with rounded bellies. He rarely used straight lines, in fact, he emphatically avoided them. To many readers it is his characters that stand out, but to true fans, the architectural creations of Seuss are just as important and amazing. He created elaborate palaces, ramps, platforms, and free-standing stairways. He invented several machines, including the most famous one, the Audio-Telly-O-Tally-O-Count, from Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book. Seuss added extravagant detail to his drawings of feathers and fur, as in the 500th hat of Bartholomew Cubbins.

Seuss was able to convey vivid motion in all of his books. He loved drawing his characters making grand gestures, where the hand is flipping outward, the thumb up and the fingers slightly spread, a type of "voilà" gesture. More than gestures, he also showed motion with the old tradition of using lines, for example, in If I Ran the Circus, there are sweeping lines that indicate the swiftness of Sneelock's final dive. His early experience in cartoon drawing helped him not only convey motion, but also to illustrate the various senses of sight, smell, and sound. He used lines to portray even the Grinch's evil thoughts.

Politics

Serving in World War II gave Seuss' adamant love for his country an outlet, but he also developed an urge to be active in politics. Seuss had deep feelings about government issues across the globe. He opposed fascism and communism, embracing the democracy of his country. Many believe that Seuss used his children's books as an expression of his feelings about social justice. The following are a few examples:

  • The Lorax (1971) has been said to be a commentary on environmentalism. The story explores the ill-effects of a ruthless industrialist (the "Once-ler") who completely destroys his environment and inevitably causes the closure of his own company.
  • The Butter Battle Book (1984) written in Seuss' old age, is both a parody and a personal denunciation of the nuclear arms race. It was attacked by conservatives who felt that Seuss' comparison between the Cold War and a battle of bread and butter was debasing and trite.
  • The Zax has been seen by many as a parody of political hardliners.
  • Yertle the Turtle (1958) has been compared to an allegory of tyranny, while at the same time advocating the power of political activism.
  • In How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957), Seuss made his religious values known with his underlying theme of fighting against materialism.
  • Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose (1948) can be seen as an anti-hunting statement.
  • Horton Hears a Who! is said to be a response to the atomic bomb.

Adaptations of Seuss's work

Seuss refused to let any of his characters be recreated for film and other mediums; however, he did approve some cartoons. Among these was the 1966 version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!; the cartoon was created by Chuck Jones, Seuss' friend since the war. It is a faithful adaptation of the original book and is considered to be a Christmas classic, appearing in the annual catalog of Christmas television specials. A few other works followed, including Horton Hears a Who!, The Lorax, and The Cat in the Hat.

As Seuss grew older he became more lax in his stance against adaptations and allowed several other cartoons to be made. After his death in 1991, his wife Audrey was left in charge of all licensing matters. Thus, a live-action variation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was made starring Jim Carrey in the title role. In 2000, the Broadway musical named Seussical debuted. With the success of these two adaptations, a live-action version of Cat in the Hat starring Mike Myers was released in 2003. Audrey, however, seriously disliked Myers interpretation of the Cat, and declared that there would be no further live-action adaptations of Seuss' books.

The Universal Orlando Resort's Seuss Landing theme park in Florida is full of Seuss' creations, staying true to the books with curving designs.

List of books

  • And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. New York: Random House, [1937] 1983. ISBN 0394844947
  • The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. New York: Random House, [1938] 1984. ISBN 039484484X
  • The King's Stilts. New York: Random House, 1939. ISBN 0394800826
  • The Seven Lady Godivas. New York: Random House, 1939. ISBN 0394562690
  • Horton Hatches the Egg. New York: Random House, 1940. ISBN 0007175191
  • McElligot's Pool New York: Random House, 1947. ISBN 0394800834
  • Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose. New York: Random House, 1948. ISBN 0007175175
  • Bartholomew and the Oobleck. New York: Random House, 1949. ISBN 0394845390
  • If I Ran the Zoo. New York: Random House, 1950. ISBN 0007169949
  • Scrambled Eggs Super! New York: Random House, 1953. ISBN 0007169965
  • Horton Hears a Who! New York: Random House, 1954. ISBN 0679800034
  • On Beyond Zebra! New York: Random House, 1955. ISBN 0394800842
  • If I Ran the Circus. New York: Random House, 1956. ISBN 039480080X
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas! New York: Random House, 1957. ISBN 0007173040
  • The Cat in the Hat New York: Random House, [1957] 1985. ISBN 0679891110
  • The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. New York: Random House, [1958] 1986. ISBN 0375875387
  • Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories. New York: Random House, 1958. ISBN 0517129914
  • Happy Birthday to You! New York: Random House, 1959. ISBN 0394800761
  • One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. New York: Random House, [1960] 1988. ISBN 0394800133
  • Green Eggs and Ham. New York: Random House, [1960] 1988. ISBN 0007672535
  • The Sneetches and Other Stories. New York: Random House, 1961. ISBN 0007158505
  • Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book. New York: Random House, 1962. ISBN 0394800915
  • Dr. Seuss's ABC. New York: Random House, [1963] 1991. ISBN 0394800303
  • Hop on Pop. New York: Random House, [1963] 1991. ISBN 039480029X
  • Fox in Socks. New York: Random House, [1965] 1993. ISBN 0394800389
  • I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew. New York: Random House, 1965. ISBN 0394800923
  • The Cat in the Hat Song Book. New York: Random House, [1967] 1994. ISBN 0394816951
  • The Foot Book. New York: Random House, [1968] 1996. ISBN 0394809378
  • I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories. New York: Random House, 1969. ISBN 039480094X
  • My Book about ME. By Dr. Seuss and Roy McKie. New York: Random House, [1970] 1995. ISBN 0394800931
  • I Can Draw It Myself. New York: Random House, [1970] 1996. ISBN 0679891749
  • Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises! New York: Random House, [1970] 1996. ISBN 0394806220
  • The Lorax. New York: Random House, 1971. ISBN 0394823370
  • Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! New York: Random House, [1972] 1997. ISBN 0394824903
  • Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? New York: Random House, 1973. ISBN 0394827198
  • The Shape of Me and Other Stuff. New York: Random House, [1973] 1997. ISBN 0394826876
  • There's a Wocket in My Pocket! New York: Random House, [1974] 1997. ISBN 0394829204
  • Great Day for Up! New York: Random House, [1974] 1998. ISBN 0394829131
  • Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! New York: Random House, [1975] 1996. ISBN 0394831292
  • The Cat's Quizzer. New York: Random House, [1976] 1993. ISBN 0394832965
  • I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! New York: Random House, [1978] 1996. ISBN 0394839129
  • Oh Say Can You Say? New York: Random House, [1979] 1996. ISBN 0394842553
  • Hunches in Bunches. New York: Random House, [1982] 1996. ISBN 0394855027
  • The Butter Battle Book. New York: Random House, 1984. ISBN 0394865804
  • You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete Children. New York: Random House, 1986. ISBN 0394551907
  • I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today! New York: Random House, [1987] 1996. ISBN 0394892178
  • Oh, the Places You'll Go! New York: Random House, 1990. ISBN 0679805273
  • Daisy-Head Mayzie. New York: Random House, 1995. ISBN 0679867120
  • Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998 (Posthumous). By Dr. Seuss with some help from Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith. ISBN 0679890084
  • My Many Colored Days New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996 (Posthumous). By Dr. Seuss, paintings by Steve Johnson with Lou Fancher. ISBN 0679875972
  • Gerald McBoing-Boing New York: Random House, 2000 (Posthumous). ISBN 0679891404

Omnibus Volumes

  • A Hatful of Seuss: Five Favorite Dr. Seuss Stories. Random House. ISBN 0679883886
    • Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949), If I Ran the Zoo (1950), Horton Hears a Who! (1954), The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961), and Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book (1962).
  • Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss. Molly Leach (designer). Random House. ISBN 0375810617
    • And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, Horton Hears a Who! McElligot's Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, Happy Birthday to You! Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book, Yertle the Turtle, The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, The Sneetches, and Oh, the Places You'll Go!
  • Six By Seuss: A Treasury of Dr. Seuss Classics. Random House. ISBN 0679821481
    • And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, Horton Hatches the Egg, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and The Lorax.

Writing as Theo. LeSieg

  • Ten Apples up on Top! Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1961. ISBN 0394800192
  • Come over to My House. Illustrated by Richard Erdoes. Random House, 1966.
  • In a People House.. Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, [1972] 2007. ISBN 0394823958
  • Wacky Wednesday. Illustrated by George Booth. Random House, 1974. ISBN 0394829123
  • Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1975. ISBN 000171290X
  • Hooper Humperdink…? Not Him! Illustrated by Charles E. Martin. Random House, [1976] 2006. ISBN 0679881298
  • Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet! Illustrated by Michael J. Smollin. 1980, 1996–2009. ISBN 0001713361
  • The Tooth Book. Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 1989. ISBN 0375810390
  • The Eye Book. Illustrated by Joe Mathieu/Roy McKie. 1996. ISBN 0375800336
  • I Wish that I Had Duck Feet. 1994–2006. ISBN 0394800400
  • Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! Illustrated by Art Cummings. 1977, 1997–1999. ISBN 0394835638
  • The Pop-up Mice of Mr. Brice. Random House, 1973. ISBN 0679801324
  • I Can Write! Illustrated by Roy McKie. Random House, 1993. ISBN 0679847006

Writing as Rosetta Stone

  • Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo! Illustrated by Michael Frith. New York: Beginner Books, 1975. ISBN 0394831306

Film, television, and theater adaptations

  • Horton Hatches the Egg: a 1942 Warner Brothers cartoon, an early Seuss adaptation, which includes the elephant (and his son, at the end) singing a popular nonsense tune of that time, "The Hut-Sut Song."
  • The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T: a 1953 feature-length live-action movie, with sets that look like classic Seuss drawings and screenplay by Dr. Seuss.
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: a 1966 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
  • Horton Hears a Who!: a 1970 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
  • The Cat in the Hat: a 1971 animated television special directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS.
  • The Lorax: a 1972 animated television special directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS.
  • Dr. Seuss on the Loose: a 1973 animated television special and movie directed by Hawley Pratt for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS; this special included the stories The Sneetches, The Zax, and Green Eggs and Ham.
  • The Hoober-Bloob Highway: a 1975 animated television special directed by Alan Zaslove for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and CBS.
  • Halloween Is Grinch Night: a 1977 animated television special directed by Gerard Baldwin for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and ABC.
  • Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?: a 1980 animated television special directed by Gerard Baldwin for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
  • The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat: a 1982 animated television special directed by Bill Perez for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Marvel Productions Ltd.
  • The Butter Battle Book: a 1989 animated television special by Ralph Bakshi for Turner Entertainment.
  • In Search of Dr. Seuss: a 1994 television biopic outlining Seuss's life along with his books.
  • Daisy-Head Mayzie: a 1995 animated television special by Christopher O'Hare for Hanna-Barbera Productions (posthumous).
  • Kids for Character: a 1996 animated television special by Character Counts! (posthumous).
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: a 2000 live-action film (posthumous).
  • Seussical: a 2001 Broadway musical (posthumous).
  • The Cat in the Hat: a 2003 live-action film (posthumous).

Notes

  1. ↑ “Porsche” and “Neanderthal”: Pronouncing German Words in English 2. About: German Language. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  2. ↑ Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss. Mandeville Special Collections Library. Retrieved April 3, 2007.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Dr. Seuss: American Icon. Philip Nel. Continuum Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0826414346
  • Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel: A Biography. By Judith Morgan and Neil Morgan. Da Capo Press, 1996. ISBN 030680736X
  • Dr. Seuss From Then to Now. Random House, 1987. ISBN 0394892682 – a biographical retrospective published for the exhibit of the same title at the San Diego Museum of Art
  • Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel. A selection with commentary by Richard Minnear. New Press, 2001. ISBN 1565847040
  • Oh, the Places He Went. A story about Dr. Seuss by Maryann Weidt. Carolrhoda Books, 1995. ISBN 0876146272
  • The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss. By Audrey Geisel. Random House, 1995. ISBN 0679434488 – contains many full-color reproductions of Geisel's private, previously unpublished artwork.
  • The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss. By James W. Kemp. Judson Press, 2004. ISBN 0817014578
  • Theodor Seuss Geisel: The Early Works, Volume 1. Checker Book Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1933160012. Early Works Volume 1 is the first of a series collecting various political cartoons, advertisements, and various images drawn by Geisel long before he had written any of his world-famous books.
  • The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel. By Charles Cohen. Random House, 2004. ISBN 0375822488
  • The Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss. Edited and with an introduction by Richard Marshall. William Morrow, 1989. ISBN 0688065481

External links

All links retrieved January 30, 2024.


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