Making memories, one Dr. Seuss book at a time

From time to time, I will write on topics other than fashion and style.  These subjects may deal with health, friendship, or other things that I’m passionate about.  This posting is one of those times.

Last week, on March 2, was Dr. Seuss’ birthday; he would have celebrated his 113th birthday if he were still alive.  National Read Across America Day is celebrated on his birthday as a tribute to his positive influence and impact on literacy.

Theodor Seuss Geisel enjoyed sketching and while he attended school was able to support himself by selling his drawings.  While he was attending Oxford to earn his Ph.D., he was encouraged to pursue his love of drawing. He quit school, returned to the U.S. where he began doing freelance work in magazines such as Life and Vanity Fair.  His career took a detour as a result of a report that appeared in Life Magazine in 1954 on the subject of literacy.  The article emphasized the poor reading skills that young school-aged children possessed and that students thought books were “boring”.

With the encouragement of others and assistance from the Chairman of the Education deptartment of a publishing house, Theodor began his writing adventure and published The Cat in the Hat the following year using words that first-grade students were expected to know.  His writing style was clever and included rhyming, oftentimes silly, made-up words and children gravitated to his books  His drawings were often whimsical, cartoon-like characters that captivated the young readers’ eyes.

In 1956, Dartmouth College awarded Theodor with an Honorary Doctorate, and, as a result, he became known as Dr. Seuss. His goal of writing books for beginner readers was successful and he continued writing an additional 40+ books written in rhyme and alliteration (repetition of initial sound of words).  As a teacher, I know the importance of rhyming in young children, as it serves as a foundation in future phonemic skills.  Every March I would encourage my students to bring their Dr. Seuss books to class and we would share and read them.  How much fun we had reading these funny books!   So even though the words seem extremely silly to adults, Dr. Seuss books are exposing our young ones to this very critical skill. Some of his other books are: The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? and Hop On Pop, just to name a few.

Many of my favorite memories of motherhood include Dr. Seuss books.  Nathan, my oldest son,  would sit on my lap, or what was left of it as I was carrying twins, and we would read for an hour at a time. He loved books and would memorize the words to an entire book (an important step to reading), and then pick out another one for us to read.  Once Collin and Darren were born, Nathan took it upon himself to read to them.  I have several pictures taken over a couple years, where he is reading his favorite books, oftentimes Dr

. Seuss, to his young brothers.   Now Nathan is a father and he is making memories as he reads Dr. Seuss books to his daughters.

If you’re a grandmother, mom or aunt, start a Dr. Seuss library of your own so when your precious babies come to visit, you can begin making wonderful memories around Dr. Seuss books, too!

Happy reading!

Until next time,

Judy