Dr. Seuss 

By Ethan Clawson 

Dr. Seuss, the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel, born March 2, 1904, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.—died September 24, 1991, La Jolla, California, he was an American writer and illustrator of immensely popular children’s books, which were noted for their nonsense words, playful rhymes, and unusual creatures. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1925, he did postgraduate studies at Lincoln College, Oxford, and the Sorbonne. He began working for Life, Vanity Fair, and other publications as an illustrator and humorist and found success in advertising, providing illustrations for several campaigns. After illustrating a series of humor books, Geisel decided to write a children’s book, which was reportedly rejected by nearly 30 publishers. After he got a chance to meet with a friend that worked at Vanguard Press as an editor, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” was finally released in 1937. His first book for adults, “The Seven Lady Godiva’s,” released in 1939 fared poorly, and thereafter he focused on children’s books, which he preferred. According to Geisel, “Adults are obsolete children, and the hell with them.” Later in 1940 he released another book called “Horton Hatches an Egg” which is about an elephant tricked into sitting on a bird’s egg while he goes on vacation. During World War II Geisel’s focus shifted to politics. In the early 1940s he was an editorial cartoonist at PM magazine in New York City. He then served (1942–46) in the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the documentary division. In 1945 he wrote “Your Job in Germany”, which was directed by Frank Capra; it was later remade as the Academy Award-winning Hitler Lives (1945), though Geisel was not credited. After his service ended, he continued to make films. With his first wife, Helen Palmer Geisel, he wrote the Oscar-winning documentary feature “Design for Death” (1947). His animated cartoon “Gerald McBoing-Boing” (1950) also won an Academy Award. In 1947 Geisel returned to children’s books with “McElligot’s Pool”, about a boy who imagines a fantastical marine world while fishing. The work was especially noted for Geisel’s inventive creatures, which would come to populate his later stories. In addition, he continued to use his whimsical rhymes to convey important life lessons. In “Horton Hears a Who!” (1954)