Children's Author Highlight: Dr. Seuss

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How could we do a series on children's authors and not include Theodor Geisel (or more commonly known as Dr. Seuss)?  Much has been written about Dr. Seuss, and can be read in good detail here.  I do want to share with you some of the fascinating facts about Ted.

Did you know?

• Seuss worked for 30 years in advertising (creating ads for companies like NBC, General Electric, and Ford).
• Of the 66 books Seuss wrote, illustrated, or were published posthumously, only 5 were written in prose.
• He began his children's book career because it was one of the only genres not banned in his advertising contract with Standard Oil.
• Seuss and his first wife, Helen Palmer (author of an Albright favorite A Fish Out of Water), could not have children, so Seuss talked of their imaginary children, even dedicating The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins to his imaginary daughter, Chrysanthemum-Pearl.
• The Cat in the Hat contains 236 different words, and was written for the purpose of helping children become better readers.
• Green Eggs and Ham (Seuss's best-selling title) was written in answer to a bet from a publisher that Seuss couldn't write a book with no more than 50 different words in it.

The website found here contains hours of educational activities and games featuring all things Seuss.  Also found on this website is a Seuss book list and links for both educators and parents.

Some of our Dr. Seuss Day Activities

Dr. Seuss books can be great for inspiring activities for children.  We have enjoyed making oobleck (recipes can be found here) after reading Bartholomew and the Oobleck, had a breakfast of green eggs and ham after reading Green Eggs and Ham, and built tall towers with building blocks after reading Yertle the Turtle.  Have you enjoyed similar activities inspired by a Dr. Seuss book?  Let us know about it!

Obviously, with 66 titles to choose from, this recommended list is limited but represents our favorites:

• Yertle the Turtle
• Green Eggs and Ham
•  Sneetches
• Horton Hatches the Egg
• The Cat in the Hat
• Bartholomew and the Oobleck

Disclaimer: Our recommendation of the books mentioned in this post is not a complete endorsement of the author, illustrator, or their other works.  Please use discernment in selecting books by any given author.

This is part 9 in the Children's Author Highlight Series.  Click here for more children's author recommendations.