Top 5 Dr. Seuss Facts
Dr Seuss, famous children's authors, who wrote books such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Cat in the Hat, and Green Eggs and Ham lived an interesting life. He often fused his children's books with political meaning, such as in The Lorax which has a environmentalist message. He also invented the word nerd.
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Written by Sean Harris
#5: He Didn't Like Children That Much
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Dr. Seuss wrote for kids, and the kids loved to read
But kids of his own? He said no, not for me!
Not only did he have no children of his own, but Dr. Seuss wasn’t especially fond of kids full stop. His widow, Audrey Dimond, even went so far as to say he was slightly afraid of them. According to Audrey, Seuss was always worried about what they’d do or say next – so he struggled to spend any notable time with the millions of children he’d made happy with his writing. When asked about children and parenthood, Geisel is reported to have once said, “you make ‘em, I’ll amuse ‘em”. But he does seem to have had a certain reverence for them as well; of writing for grownups, he once said "Adults are just obsolete children, and the hell with them."
#4: He Invented the 'Nerd'
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Seuss could write day and night, making up unknown words
But one word we know best, and that word – well, it’s nerd!
Seuss was both a master and a maker of words, and although many of his unique utterances have yet to fully establish themselves in everyday speech, the word ‘nerd’ can actually be traced back to a 1950 Seuss story called “If I Ran the Zoo”. In the book, a kid is busy listing lots of fantastical creatures for his own hypothetical zoo, when he names ‘A Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too!” Now, in this instance it’s highly unlikely that the ‘nerd’ in question was dressed in geek chic and had an impressive IQ. But even so, Seuss had unknowingly coined the collective term for today’s more intelligent folk. And if that’s not clever, we don’t know what is!
#3: He Wrote Adult Books Too
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Dr. Seuss? He’s for kids! Yes you’re right, but you’re wrong
There’s also books for bigs, for adults to sing-song
Seuss will always be a children’s writer first and foremost, but he could (and did) entertain an older audience as well. During the Great Depression, to make ends meet Geisel made ads for the likes of General Electric, NBC and Standard Oil. And there are two expressly adult entries in his otherwise charmingly child-friendly bibliography. In 1939 he published “The Seven Lady Godivas”, a retelling of the popular legend which actually featured nude illustrations. The good faux-Dr considered the 80-page clunker to be his biggest failure, and never liked the way ridiculous way he drew the naked sisters. 47 years later, when Geisel was 82, he released “You’re Only Old Once!” Unlike his first non-children’s book, it was received very well. It reached #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List, and spent over 60 weeks in the chart.
#2: His Rhymes Were Often Political
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When Horton heard a who it was more than just that
Seuss’ rhymes made a point, a well versed diplomat
Sometimes, even Seuss’ so-called kid’s books have a more mature latent meaning, and the playful pensmith often made his political point known. During World War II, Geisel was tasked with creating war propaganda cartoons and writing films for American troops and citizens. Private Snafu is perhaps his most well known invention, a bumbling GI designed to teach new recruits how to be a good soldier. Many of Seuss’ later stories also served as allegories for other things, such as “Horton Hears a Who” which is about America’s treatment of post-war Japan, and “Yertle the Turtle” which is based on Adolf Hitler. His most controversial work, however, is probably “The Butter Battle Book”. The Cold War-era book depicts the escalating conflict between the Yooks and the Zooks and their eventual stalemate when they both acquire a weapon called the “Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroo.” It’s basically a thinly veiled allegory of the nuclear arms race.
#1: "Green Eggs and Ham" Was Written on a Dare
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But fifty words I’m allowed? No problem, I can do!
Said Seuss to his boss, then he made Sam for you
It’s one of Seuss’ best known tales, but “Green Eggs and Ham” was only ever written because Geisel took up a seemingly ridiculous bet. In 1960 Seuss’ editor, Bennett Cerf, challenged the author to write a book using only 50 words – Sam I Am’s cyclical story was what he came up with. The picky eater character is one most children (or at least most parents) recognise, and Sam’s determination to convert his friend’s culinary tastes is a life lesson in itself. Seuss set out to make learning to read more exciting for children, and “The Cat in the Hat” is often credited with killing off old-school ‘Dick and Jane’ stories which were increasingly seen as boring. Only 220 words were required for “The Cat in the Hat”, but Sam I Am’s half century of wordsmithery is a wonder in itself!
So, which of these facts surprised you? What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book? For more Nerkle, Nerd and Seersucker Top 10s, and Bitsy Big-Boy Top 5s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
