Fascinating facts behind Dr Seuss’ most popular stories
Theodor Seuss Geisel is one of the most successful children’s writers in history. Throughout his career he published over 60 books including “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham”. Here are the stories behind 5 of his most popular books.
1. The Lorax
This book is believed to showcase Dr Seuss’ view on environmentalism and how humans negatively impact nature. After the book was published, groups within the logging industry weren’t happy and created a counter-book called “The Traux”. The book used to contain the line “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie” but after 14 years, Dr Seuss received a letter from the Ohio Sea Grant Program telling him how the conditions had improved and asked him to take out the line. He agreed, and it wasn’t in future editions.
2. The Cat in the Hat
Dr Seuss was inspired to write this book after he thought the famous “Dick and Jane” beginner books were boring. He believed that because the books were disengaging, kids were slacking in their efforts to learn to read. He then wrote the book. "I have great pride in taking Dick and Jane out of most school libraries," the author once said. "That is my greatest satisfaction."
3. Green Eggs and Ham
Dr Seuss’ editor made a bet with him that he couldn’t write a book using 50 words or less. Not wanting to back down from a challenge, “Green Eggs and Ham” was created, using exactly 50 words.
4. Yertle the Turtle
“Yertle the Turtle” follows the story of Yertle who demands that all the other turtles stack themselves on top of each other, so he can survey the land. Mack, at the bottom of the stack, is tired and asks to rest but Yertle ignores him. Then, Yertle notices the moon and is angry that anything is higher than him and just when he is about to get more turtles under his stack, Mack burps. The movement causes the whole stack to collapse, freeing all the turtles. Dr Seuss said that Yertle was a representation of Hitler.
5. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
The first of Dr Seuss’ books was rejected 27 times according to Guy McLain of the Springfield Museum in the writer’s hometown. It was when Dr Seuss bumped into a friend who’d just been hired by a publishing house that the book was finally published. "He said if he had been walking down the other side of the street," McLain told NPR, "he probably would never have become a children's author."
What is your favourite Dr Seuss book?