Dr. Seuss, might be best known as a children’s writer and illustrator, but I think we as adults might, not so secretly, love him more than the children. Dr. Seuss had published a multitude of children’s books in his life, some of which were turned into t.v. shows, movies and even a Broadway music, all using a similar pattern of rhyming and imagining.
Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a Dr. Seuss, a.k.a Theo LeSeig (for books he wrote and others illustrated), was born 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts and eventually moved to Southern California until 1991. From his first book, “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street!” (which was rejected by publishers more than once...I bet they were kicking themselves) to his World War II political cartoons, to his much-anticipated artwork, has left his imprint on the 20th century and beyond.
Everybody who has read Dr. Seuss books as a child, to their child or just to feel like a child has their own personal favorite Dr. Seuss book, character or quote. Or, if you are anything like me, they are all your favorite. Dr. Seuss once stated in an interview, “If I were invited to a dinner party with my characters, I wouldn’t show up.” And, very understandable...imagine with me, if you will, sitting at a black tie dinner with Dr. Seuss and his entourage of Horton, a Who, the Grinch, The Cat in the Hat and a Red Fish and a Blue Fish. I would dare not ask one of them to pass the salt. Unless I was bored, which, I probably would be.
"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." Just one of many memorable quotes from a Dr. Seuss book. Yes, it is written in a way that children can grasp it and remember it, but I think it might even be aimed more towards the parents reading the books to their children. Dr. Seuss has grasped our attention through his silly rhyming and offbeat illustrations for the better part of a century. Could we consider him one of the great poets or artists of our time? It depends on who you ask, but I say yes.