2 of 19

Write now Article Tools

Theodor (Ted) Seuss Geisel, or Dr. Seuss as he is better known, is arguably one of the best loved and most popular children's authors of all time. In a career spanning over fifty years, he published close to sixty children's books, most of which he illustrated himself. His superbly crafted whimsical yarns and characters have delighted children of all ages, and remained cherished favourites to a generation who now fondly revisit them with their own children and grandchildren.

Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated his first children's book, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street", in 1937 at the age of 33. The story centres on a young boy who concocts an elaborate tale to tell his father about the goings on in the street where he is walking, but on arriving home, decides that he should tell the truth instead. The manuscript was rejected numerous times before it was eventually published, paving the way for the brilliant series of titles that followed, all possessing the intricate, melodic verse and quirky illustrations that were Dr. Seuss' unmistakable trademark.

In 1957, Ted Geisel became aware of an increasing decline in the reading abilities of young school children. He believed the cause of this decline was due to the lack of entertaining and engaging reading material available to these children at the time. His response to the problem was the creation of "The Cat in The Hat", a fast moving, catchy story using only 223 very basic, easy to read words, and following the same rhythmic, witty and appealing style as his earlier work. The book was published as a school primer, and set the standard for a return to phonics, which had largely been replaced by the look-see, or whole language approach to teaching reading skills.

The enormous success of "The Cat in The Hat" prompted the formation of the independent publishing company, Beginner Books, of which Ted Geisel held the positions of president and editor. Beginner Books published a series of children's books catering to all stages of early reading development, many written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss. Classics such as "A Fly Went By", "Green Eggs and Ham", "Hop on Pop", and "Fox in Socks", to name just a few, were all tremendously popular titles in the Beginner Books series, and are still in print today; a testament to the timeless quality of Dr. Seuss' work.

Many of Dr. Seuss' books present not only a fanciful, intriguing story, but express his environmental (The Lorax), racial (The Sneetches), and political (The Zax) views. He even wrote three books depicting his views on ageing; "The Seven Lady Godivas" "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" and "You're Only Old Once". Following his death in 1991, a further four books were published under the name Dr. Seuss, based on Ted's numerous notes and sketches.

As an author, poet, artist, teacher and entertainer, Dr. Seuss has left a lasting impression on the literary world, and helped countless young readers through their formative years. His stories have become entrenched in the hearts and minds of all who have read them, and will continue to do so for many generations to come.

Learn more about this author, Just another writer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Children's books: A look at the works of Dr. Seuss?
We want to hear your view. Write now!