By

Noureddine Boutahar
 Rational
 I discovered Dr Seuss on March 31, 2008, at the student
center, KSU when the National Education Association
(NEA) organized a reading activity for children to celebrate
this great writer’s birthday. I was surprised to see how
famous and how much loved he is in the US and never
heard of abroad, especially in Morocco. I began reading a
few of his books and was attracted by his drawing style,
verse rhythms, and all the imaginative power.
 Dr Seuss represents children’s literature who has
ushered generations of American children down the loopy
path to literacy and helped millions of kids learn to read.
 He rates as an integral American icon
whose books were written for children, but
are beloved by all because there are many
deep and useful lessons on life and
general issues behind his ‘childish’
language.

 Because of their potential, my hope is to

make this great writer's books known in
my country so that they are used to teach
not only reading but also critical literacy.
 Biography
 Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904 in
Springfield, Massachusetts.
 After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1925, he went to
Oxford University, intending to acquire a doctorate in literature.
 At Oxford he met his future wife Helen Palmer; he married her
in 1927, and returned to the United States without earning the
degree.
 Upon his return to America later that year, Geisel published
cartoons and humorous articles for Judge, the leading humor
magazine in America at the time.
 His cartoons also appeared in major magazines such as Life,
Vanity Fair, and Liberty.
 Geisel developed the idea for his first children's book in 1936
while on a vacation cruise.
 During World War II, Geisel joined the Army and was
sent to Hollywood where he wrote documentaries for
the military.
 In May of 1954, Life published a report on illiteracy
among schoolchildren, suggesting that children were
having trouble reading because their books were
boring. This problem inspired Dr Seuss who wrote,
The Cat in the Hat, which was his tour de force.
 Dr Seuss won a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and three
Academy Awards.
 He authored and illustrated 44 children's books.
 His enchanting stories are available as
audiocassettes, animated television specials, and
videos.
 Books 1
First
Book Notes
published
released on audiobook, read by Adrian
Green Eggs and Ham 1960
Edmondson.
approximately 7.2 million copies sold
The Cat in the Hat 1957 as of 2000 released on audiobook,
read by Adrian Edmondson
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish released on audiobook, read by Rik
1960
Blue Fish Mayall
Hop on Pop 1963
Oh, the Places You'll Go! 1990
released on audiobook, read by Rik
Dr. Seuss's ABC 1960
Mayall
released on audiobook, read by Adrian
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back 1958
Edmondson
 Books 2
released on audiobook, read by Adrian
Fox in Socks 1965
Edmondson
How the Grinch Stole
1957 released on audiobook, read by Rik Mayall
Christmas!
My Book about ME 1969 Illustrated by Roy McKie
I Can Read with My Eyes
1978
Shut!
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975
Oh Say Can You Say? 1979
There's a Wocket in My
1974
Pocket!
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can
1996 board book
You?
 Books 3
Dr. Seuss's ABC 1996 board book
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? 1970
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories 1958
The Sneetches and Other Stories 1961
listed as Theo. LeSieg;
Ten Apples up on Top! 1961
illustrated by Roy McKie
I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today! 1987 illustrated by James Stevenson
Horton Hatches the Egg 1940
Happy Birthday to You! 1959
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book 1962
 Dr Seuss Books Word
Search puzzle
C N N S W B H K B T K R F T I M
D C O P T P O P N O P O H N B D
T F E Q N I Z Y J M E O D G P X
Y T H E C A T I N T H E H A T H
U F B D R S E U S S S A B C D H
D Y M K A X Y M V X I A D C G A
P O T N O P U S E L P P A N E T
K H E M C Z R L V O O Y E U U I
B O O M E T S K C O S N I X O F
 Themes

 Horton Hears A Who!

– Themes: democratization in post-war Japan, treating Japanese
people with respect and really listening to them
 Yertle the Turtle
– Themes: Hitler, thirst for power
 The Sneetches
– Themes: anti-Semitism, racism, tolerance and importance of
diversity.
 The Cat in the Hat
– Themes: general subversion and rebellion against authority, new
optimism and energy of the 1960s
 The Lorax
– Themes: conservation, corporate greed, against the consumer
culture
 The Butter Battle Book
– Themes: Cold War, against silly conflict that escalates into a
dangerous situation
 Dr Seuss Said:
 "Children want the same things we want. To
laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and
delighted.“

 “So the writer who breeds more words than he

needs, is making a chore for the reader who
reads.”

 “Sometimes the questions are complicated and

the answers are simple.”

 “Kids can see a moral coming a mile off and they

gag at it. But there’s an inherent moral in any
story.”
 “You have brains in your head. You have feet
in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any
direction you choose.”

 “From there to here, and here to there, funny

things are everywhere.”

 “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it

happened.”

 “If you never did, you should. These things are

fun, and fun is good.”
 ♦ The Grinch
♦ The Cat in the Hat
♦ Sneeches
♦ The Lorax
♦ Horton the Elephant
♦ Thidwick the Moose
♦ Yertle the Turtle
♦ Sam -I-am
♦ Thing One and Thing Two
The Glinch.
The cat in the Hat.
The sneeches
The Lorax
Horton the Elephant.
Thidwick the Moose
Yertle the Turtle's.
Sam – I – am.
Thing One & Thing Two.
 Dr Seuss Words.

Dr Seuss invented a lot of words and

many of them entered everyday English
language.
nerd
zummers
thnadners
glikker
sneedle
vipper
Beft
Gootch
diffendoofer
snuvs
guff
zong
murky-mooshy
schlopp
bar-ba-loots
lerkim
gluppity-glupp
squitsch
bofa
thneeds
 Links to Dr Seuss Material.
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/seuss/ activities
based on Dr Seuss’ books.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=
Dr+Seuss&search_type
= Watch Dr Seuss characters on video.

http://www.seussville.com/games/ (online and

printable activities)
 Awards:
Academy Award for Gerald McBoing-Boing (Best
Cartoon, 1951); two Emmys for Halloween is Grinch
Night and The Grinch Grinches the Cat (Best Children's
Special, 1977 and 1982, respectively); a Pulitzer Prize
(1984); a Peabody for the animated specials How the
Grinch Stole Christmas! and Horton Hears a Who!
(1971); a New York Library Literary Lion (1986);
Caldecott Honor Awards: McElligot's Pool (1947),
Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949), and If I Ran the
Zoo (1950); the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award -- the
American Library Association's special award given to an
author or illustrator whose books have made a
substantial contribution and lasting impact on children's
literature (1980).