March 2, 2010

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

...and National Read Across America Day!

Born Theodor Seuss Geisel on this date in 1904, Dr. Se
uss wrote 44 children's books as well as a few meant for adults. His works have been made into movies, TV specials, and a Broadway musical and has inspired toys and dolls. Here are some of his most famous books. Is your favorite here?
Green Eggs and Ham
The Lorax
Horton Hears a Who!

The Cat in the Hat

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue F
ish
Horton Hatches the Egg
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

How the Grinch Stole Christ
mas
Geisel was born in Massachusetts and went to Dartmouth College, becoming a contributor and eventually the editor-in-chief of the college's humor magazine. When the college punished him for breaking a rule by making him drop all his extracurricular activities, Geisel began to write using his mother's maiden name (which was also his middle name), Seuss.

Upon graduation from college, Geisel began to work in advertising, using his clever writing and rhyming ability as well as his humorous illustrations. He also wrote humorous pieces for magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post and Life. During World War II
he created political cartoons and created posters for the U.S. war effort. He even joined the Army and became the commander of the Animation Department of the First Motion Picture Unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

But somewhere in there he managed to write a few children's books. His first,
And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was inspired by the rhythm of his ship as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Geisel never had kids of his own, although he was married twice (his first wife died in 1967).

Stats
  • Dr. Seuss books have been translated into at least 15 different languages.
  • Over 200 million Dr. Seuss books have been sold worldwide.
  • Dr. Seuss was given two Academy awards, 2 Emmys, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.
National Read Across America Day is supposed to be a day during which every child can read in the company of a caring adult.

Read some D
r. Seuss books, and write a story with the same sort of rhythm and rhyme. Then take a Seuss-book quiz.

Eat green eggs and ham.

Visit
Seussville! There is an entire playground to click around with—Seussicle games, pictures to color and crafts to make, a maze, a Seussish story builder, and more. Fun!


Make Oobleck! Inspired by Seuss's book Bartholomew and the Oobleck, try out this non-Newtonian fluid that acts like a liquid and a solid at the same time.

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