It’s almost time to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Even though we lost our beloved Dr. Seuss back in 1991 we still celebrate his life on his birthday, March 2nd.
Theodore Seuss Geisel wasn’t a real doctor but he had a prescription for fun and humor that has entertained readers for over 60 years. He started his career as editor-in-chief of Dartmouth’s humor magazine Jack-O-Lantern. His doodling at Oxford University caught the attention of student and future wife Helen Parker. She encouraged him to be an artist. After many years in a career of advertising he finally embarked on what he loved best, illustration and writing. With work in Naval Intelligence and at publications such Vanity Fair and Life he finally was approached by Viking Press to illustrate a series of children’s sayings named Boners. While the book wasn’t very popular, Ted’s illustrations received accolades. Although his first book And to Think That I Saw on Mulberry Street wasn’t an instant triumph his success and fame soon followed with the classic The Cat in the Hat. This book catapulted Dr. Seuss’ to the definitive writer of children’s books we’ve all grown to love.
Going through my children’s bookcases I was surprised at the amount of Dr. Seuss books we actually owned.
The Cat in the Hat
The Hair Book
The Nose Book
Dr. Seuss’s ABC
In a People House
The Ear Book
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Hop on Pop
Green Eggs and Ham
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut
The Sneetches and other Stories
Are you My Mother?
And various baby board books strewn around the house and car.
What are you going to do to celebrate the man who has brought so much laughter to our lives?
- How about Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast. Scramble some eggs with a couple drops of food coloring, let’s see who is the first to eat them.
- Read your favorite story to the kids, or let them read it to you. My kindergartener started reading Hop on Pop last night; we are going to continue tonight
- Visit Suessville.com for fun games like Sam I Am Says or One Fish Two Fish Matching Game. You can even create your own story with existing Seuss characters.
- Wear your favorite Seuss clothing! Be it a hat or kids shirt.
- Join your community for Read Across America. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ books with activities and special appearances by The Cat in the Hat
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”
