Why I Loved Dr. Seuss
by Doug Halsey
Dr. Seuss's world of Sneeches, Loraxes, and Whos played a very significant part in my childhood. As a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to go down into my grandparents' basement and read. I had a whole stack of Seuss books down there. Reading them by myself gave me a real sense of independence. My favorites were Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches an Egg. Not only because I loved elephants, but because Horton was an underdog. He gets a lot of grief, but he never gives up.
Seuss's books never get old. His stories are clever enough to fascinate adults, but simple enough to entertain children. Theodore Giesel, the mastermind of Dr. Seuss, is the rare children's author who can captivate both kids and their parents.
We've chosen some books to honor Dr. Seuss:
Green Eggs and Ham
Although this book is older than some of the parents reading it aloud, children still love Sam-I-Am and the nameless boy who refuses to try green eggs and ham.
Horton Hatches the Egg
Horton keeps his promise to keep an egg warm, even when it means staying put for months instead of minutes.
The Lorax
Did you ever think Dr. Seuss would be banned from schools? This tale of environmental destruction has been banned in states that depend on the logging industry.
Hop on Pop
Hop on Pop has been a favorite for teaching toddlers to read since it was first published in 1963. The wacky illustrations and silly rhymes were a wild departure from the traditional, controlled vocabulary for beginning readers.
Cat in the Hat Comes Back
Most of us remember the Cat in the Hat, but did you know there was a sequel? The Cat comes back on a snowy day when there is work to be done.
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