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From the Jungle of Nool, to the top of Mt. Crumpet to Mulberry Street, Theodore Geisel, (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) shows us a world of magical places. Theo LeSieg (an anagram of Giesel) introduces us to Homeric heroes too: a long-suffering moose named Thidwick, the 'Grinch' a green Simon Legree with garlic in his soul, and a dauntless and bombastic 'cat' with a funny hat.

We've learned all sorts of lessons from Dr. Seuss. As children, we learned to read 'little words like "if" and "in" and "Timbuktu"'. We've learned to count 'one fish, two fish'. We've learned to rhyme 'thing, sing, long, song; goodbye thing you sing too long!". We have learned to like green eggs and ham.

As we've grown into adulthood, Dr. Seuss is still teaching us. Under his several whimsical pseudonyms Dr. Seuss has imbued the silliest of situations with the wisdom of the ages. We giggle at the 'star-bellied Sneetches with 'stars on thars' and we blush at our own ridiculous foibles, sensibilities and prejudices inherent.

We can safely stand with the Lorax against the 'dirty old Onceler' whose Thneed factories drive off the brown Barbaloots, Swammy Swans and Humming-fish. But we know in our souls that we have seen the Once-ler and he is us. We have destroyed our own environment and poisoned our own water sources. We must save our own trufula trees against 'axes that hack'. Seuss's stories are the spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down.

Dr. Seuss's gentle bedtime stories are often Orwellian indictments upon mankind. Yertl the Turtle is Seuss's paper-doll version of Hitler/Mussolini. The horrors of nepotism are clear. When personal ambition supercedes any consideration for the common good, power hungry tyrants will stop at nothing to get ahead. Seuss's metaphors are distinct; one ascent to power is reached by breaking the shells of those below him.

Bartholomew Cubbins is David against a world of Goliaths. Horton is Gandhi, protecting his peopled speck against the onslaught of hatred and violence. And a courageous, albeit anal-retentive little fish, stands up to a troublesome cat bent on wrecking the house with pink ink. It's even been suggested that a new president be made to read Seuss's 'If I Ran the Zoo', with it's quaint, common sense approach to 'international relations'.

Seussiana doesn't preach anarchy. The Doctor's message is quiet transcendentalism that just keeps on doing right in the midst of wrong. The proud are brought low by the courage of the meek. The strong are subdued with wisdom. Even the cat cleans up his messes. Dr. Seuss stories are textbooks for life, lightly frosted with humor: Coco-Puffs for the Soul.

Learn more about this author, Marilisa Sachteleben.
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