Seuss did not start out as a children's author
Seuss did not start out as a children's author. He wrote political cartoons and advertisements for several magazines. His anti-Japanese cartoons helped to fuel the flames of distrust in Americans for their neighbors. After the war, however, Seuss went to Japan and he realized the effect or WWII on everyone. His book, Horton Hears A Who, seems to represent his change of heart as Horton continuously repeats “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Dr. Seuss decided to try his hand at children's literature when he saw how rampant illiteracy was becoming. He believed the boring nature of children's books was the main reason for the lack of desire to learn to read.
I was surprised to learn that Cat In The Hat was not his first children's book. His first was: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. It had been rejected 27 times before he showed it to a former classmate who worked for Vangard Press. Knowing this talented man received rejection letters lessens the sting from those I receive.
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I found it interesting to learn that I, along with most people, have always mispronounced his name as is remarked by Alexander Laing who wrote:
"You're wrong as the deuce
And you shouldn't rejoice
If you're calling him Seuss.
He pronounces it Soice"
One of his many well-known books, Green Eggs and Ham was written because of a bet with his publisher that he could not write a book using less than the 236 words he used in The Cat in the Hat. He won the bet as the book only uses 50!
Dr.Seuss is my lifelong favorite author. He is my inspiration. The way his books could evoke feelings of morality without forcing the issue amazed me. His style of writing led me to mine. I write in the first person, to show people different viewpoints while never aiming my finger at anyone. My desire being to enlighten people to become more caring, more humane.
POETRY
CHILDREN'S BOOK
Some great info on the amazing Dr. Seuss. I didn´t realize we have been mispronouncing his name all along.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize I was either, Huggles
DeleteHe was the best!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteAnother one who picked up on how I've been mispronouncing "Seuss".
ReplyDeleteHe did decided that having his name pronounced to rhyme with Mother Goose was probably a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great and inspiring post. Thanks Cindy
ReplyDelete