N4L 103: "Becoming Dr. Seuss" by Brian Jay Jones

SUMMARY 

Brian Jay Jones brings us “Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination,” the sweeping biography of the iconic American children’s book author and illustrator. More than 80 years after Theodor Geisel (also known as “Ted” then later by his pen name “Dr. Seuss”) published his first children’s book, his books continue to resonate with readers of all ages. But far from being a born to write children’s books, he takes a circuitous journey to becoming Dr. Seuss: from high-school journalist to advertising agent to Pulitzer Prize winner. How did he create some of the best-loved children’s works ever printed? By eschewing “bunny books” (the books adults think kids want to read) and refusing to talk down to kids.

KEY EXPERIENCES

Theodor Geisel learns his love of language and plays on words from his German mother; he likely gains his love of animals from his father who often takes him to the zoo. “Flit Insecticide” ad campaign for Standard Oil becomes his 17-year-long gig, providing him with a bread-and-butter job while he sells cartoons. His most useful training in storytelling comes while serving in the Army under commanding officer Frank Capra. Together, they make “Private Snafu” training films designed to educate illiterate troops. A seminal moment comes while teaching at a writers’ workshop at the University of Utah where Geisel formulates then articulates his treatise for becoming a children’s author. Seuss and his wife Helen could never have their own children, so they invent an imaginary child they call “Chrysanthemum Pearl.” The Cat in the Hat - breakout bestseller aimed at early readers; includes 280 educator-approved words as well as bouncy, whimsical illustrations that would soon come to characterize all his books How the Grinch Stole Christmas – one of Dr. Seuss’s “big books” and one whose main character captures much of his own persona—a villain turned hero. Oh, the Places You’ll Go – the last published book in Dr. Seuss’s lifetime and a type of benedictory at the end of his career

QUOTES FROM JONES

“Plot would always be king for the rest of his life because of [Frank] Capra.” “You have them; I’ll entertain them.” (Dr. Seuss’s quip when asked if he liked children.) “He had the ability to create very organic-sounding words that were made up but sounded like they always existed.” (e.g., “grinch,” “lorax,” “sneetch”) “The Cat in the Hat is the book that changes everything—not just for him but for children’s literature.” “I think his message, more than anything else, was ‘Reading doesn’t have to be a task; reading doesn’t have to be dull; reading can and should be exciting; reading should be something you want to do.’”

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