Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

In a lot of ways, I think he was BRILLIANT and way before his time!

For example, The Lorax, written in 1971. The lesson about saving the environment is still SO significant today.

I also LOVE Horton Hatches the Egg, written in 1940,(better than Horton Hears a WHO), because "I said what I meant, I meant what I said, an elephant's faithful one hundred percent"! :)

BUT, my all-time FAVORITE Dr. Seuss book has got to be The Sneetches (written in 1961).
I used it as teaching tool (to learn about friendship and prejudice/tolerance) for my second graders. After reading the book we'd act out how the Star-bellied Sneetches would shut out the Sneetches with "none upon thars". And every single kid wanted to play the part of Sylvester McMonkey McBean with his star on and off machine. It was GREAT!

And what about those illustrations? Fabulous!

(photos: Random House and Amazon)


DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

P.S. CONGRATS to Ms. Neira for winning my necklace giveaway from last week!

15 comments:

Sharlene T. said...

I'm a great "Sneetches" fan, too! He really made learning values fun. I'm a member of a group called the Pickle Jar Players and we visit elementary schools reading stories and playing the parts. One of the kids' favorites is Gertrude McFuzz. And, Horton -- well, they're all great. Thanks for sharing and reminding us of this wonderful man.

Cassie said...

I hate to admit it but I have never really been a big Seuss fan. I mean I get that his writing style was cool and that he was ahead of his time for his story ideas, but he just didn't do it for me. The Cat in the Hat made my head hurt. But of all the characters I loved Horton the best :o)
For the record and to make myself a total outcast. I didn't like Mr Rogers either. He weird-ed me out as a kid.

Unknown said...

My favorite is Oh Say Can You Say... always gets a laugh! I love the tongue twisters. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. My daughter is wearing her Dr. Seuss hat in his honor.

Andrea said...

I love Horton hatches the egg. My niece played Maisy (not sure how to spell it) in a play! Oh it was great!

Maddy said...

My favorite has to be "Oh the Places You'll Go"! I hope to read that to my kids someday :)

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
You'll never grow out of style!

mel said...

i love all of them. the lorax is a fave, as is The Butter Battle Book - about the nuclear arms race during the cold war. impressive suess, impressive. oh, and the grinch, minus jim carrey. :P
such a brilliantly creative man.

Janet said...

I love the Lorax, "I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees." I had a huge (like door size) poster of that in my classroom when I taught. I also love Oh the Places You'll Go.

Pamela Gold said...

I just read "The Lorax" for the first time ever a few weeks ago. Where have I been? Such a great message in that book. My favorite though is "The Butter Battle Book". My word!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday indeed! He was brilliant. I love Oh the Places We'll Go. Really, it is very profound. We get to choose. I love that theme.

Lourie said...

I love The Sneetches! But I think my all time fave has to be How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I read it every year to the kids. I will be sad the day they think they are too old for it!

Daisy Whitney said...

My preschooler was making birthday cards for Dr. Seuss today. So fun!

K.Line said...

The Lorax is my all time fave. Living with a total eco-nut, it has a particular resonance. I remember crying when I read it to my daughter because it is so poignant and such a cautionary tale we seem to be ignoring as a culture.

Alexis AKA MOM said...

OMGosh love them all! My fav is Green Eggs and Ham. I actually had it in a marketing class. Who knew it could teach you lessons on how to sale? :)

Crystal Escobar said...

I love Dr. Suess, my favorite is the Cat in the Hat.

Writing Without Periods! said...

When I was teaching junior high I used to read these to the kids all the time. They loved them. What a great author. Congrats to the winner, although I wanted to be that person :-(
Love your stuff.
Mary