Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade brings captivating figure of Dr. Seuss who became an illustrator and author and changed children’s books forever.
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He loved to hang around the zoo. He was also known for exaggerating when telling stories. He liked writing jokes for the school paper. At Dartmouth College, he became editor-in-chief as the students loved his stories and drawings.
After college, he got a job as an illustrator. And later, started writing for Judge magazine. He introduced his strange and playful creatures. He signed the column, “Dr. Seuss.” Doctor because he didn’t get the doctorate degree and disappointed his father.
He became very successful as an illustrator. It led him to illustrating children’s books. And later to also write and illustrate stories. The Cat in the Hat was published in 1957, and became one of his most popular stories.
With time, in his writings, he touched on subjects of environment and on not taking action when wars broke out in Europe. There was some opposition to it, but he stood up for what he believed in. He was writing for humanity. He received a Pulitzer Prize, which was never given to a children’s book writer before.
In 1990, he published his last book, Oh the Places You’ll Go, describing all the challenges and adventures facing a young person starting out on the road of life.
He died in 1991, at the age of eighty-seven.
The story illustrates a man who never took himself too seriously, stayed true to his heart, and spoke up when he felt it was right.
This
illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 7-10, is presented in a
relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts.
Published
in 2011 by Penguin Workshop
TRENDING
INSPIRATION: Be Child-like (fresh and curious)
(Child-like
doesn’t mean childish - immature)
Traits:
·
From childhood, he had a natural instinct for
telling stories, some of them exaggerated, some with great humor.
·
His love for stories led him to writing and
illustrating, and he stayed on the path that felt right for him.
·
He became successful with writing children’s
stories which later developed into writing about more serious issues which some
of his followers didn’t like, but he stood by what he believed in.
·
He never took himself too seriously, stayed
true to his heart, and spoke up when he felt it was right.
“Be
who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and
those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
