Feature Article December 4, 2003
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Dr. SeussIts trivia time. Answer the following questions. Check your score to see how clever you really are.
1. Which newly-released movie is based on a childrens book that was first published 40 years ago?
2. Which story was published in 1960 on a $50 bet that an entire book could not be written using only 50 words?
3. What author combined his experience as a World War II veteran, cartoonist and writer to pen more than 22 childrens books?
Keep in mind that if your score is 0 you are in the company of thousands who have fabulous readiness to learn skills! A score of 1 means you are in the know. A score of 2 or 3 means that either you are a librarian or you are happily anticipating the publication of The Seuss, The Whole Seuss and Nothing but the Seuss by Charles Cohen, expected on bookshelves early next year.
Lets discover the answers to these little- known and rarely asked questions. The Cat in the Hat, now popular family entertainment on the big screen, is almost over the hill. Leo Geisel, best known by his Dr. Seuss pseudonym, wrote The Cat in the Hat in response to a 1954 report in Life linking high illiteracy among American students with very boring early reader books. Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat as a new style of early reader. He used a limited number of common words with repetition, rhythm, rhyme and humour. We now recognize these elements as highly effective in helping children learn to read. Many of his early reader books were written under the name Theo LeSieg (Geisel spelled backwards.)
Dr. Seusss proven ability to write with very few words was put to the test in 1960 by Bennet Ceff, who bet Seuss $50 that he could not write an engaging childrens story using only 50 words. Seuss won the bet with the publication of Green Eggs and Ham.
Seuss began his career as a cartoonist and writer. During World War II he entered the army and created documentary films for soldiers. These life experiences flavoured his work as a childrens author and illustrator. Many of his childrens stories contain a gentle moral message using expressive cartoon images and humourous words that bounce with predictable rhythm and rhyme. Between 1937 and 1986, Dr Seuss wrote 22 childrens books.
One hundred years after Leo Geisel was born, the movie industry, the book industry and readers of all ages still feel the impact of this one man. We find ourselves inspired to say along with Seuss
The more that you read,
The more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
The more places youll go.
(From I Can Read With My Eyes Shut)
