All about Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, was a famous writer and illustrator known for creating many beloved children's books. He was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts. As a child, he loved drawing and making up funny stories, which he continued to do throughout his life.

Dr. Seuss went to college, and after that, he started working in advertising and drawing cartoons for magazines. During World War II, he even made cartoons to help the U.S. Army. But what he loved most was writing and illustrating books for children.

His first book, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," was published in 1937, but it wasn't easy. Before it got published, many companies said "no" to his idea! However, he didn't give up, and soon, his books became very popular. Some of his most famous books include "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

Dr. Seuss used rhymes, funny characters, and colorful pictures to make reading fun for kids. He wrote more than 60 books in his lifetime! He passed away on September 24, 1991, but his stories continue to be loved by children all over the world.

1. What was Dr. Seuss's real name?
2. When was Dr. Seuss born?
3. What was the title of Dr. Seuss's first book?
4. Why do you think Dr. Seuss's books are still popular today?
5. What might have happened if Dr. Seuss had given up after many companies said "no" to his first book?

Symbols and Traditions

Hi everyone! My name is Liam and I am 8 years old. I want to tell you about my awesome trip to Springfield, Massachusetts. Did you know that Dr. Seuss, the guy who wrote all those cool books like "Green Eggs and Ham," was from Springfield? I got to visit a place called The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. It was super fun!

At the museum, I saw lots of Dr. Seuss’s drawings and even some of his old books. There was a room where everything was really colorful, just like in his books. I also got to see statues of some of his characters, like the Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant. They were so big! I even got to sit in a huge chair that looked like it belonged to Dr. Seuss himself. It made me feel like I was in one of his stories.

My favorite part was a place where we could make our own stories. They had papers and crayons and we could draw whatever we wanted. I made a picture of the Cat in the Hat playing soccer with Horton. It was the best day ever! If you love Dr. Seuss like I do, you should definitely visit Springfield.

1. What did Liam visit in Springfield, Massachusetts?
2. Who is Dr. Seuss and why is he important to Springfield?
3. Describe your favorite part of Liam’s visit. Why do you think he enjoyed it?
4. How do the colorful rooms and big statues help make the museum fun for kids?
5. Imagine you could visit The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. What would you want to see or do there and why?

Profile of Dr. Seuss

A Timeline of Dr. Seuss to another Festival

After learning all about Dr. Seuss, your job is to create a timeline of their life. You should add all the important events in their life but you can be inventive and add some interesting things that people might like to read about. You can make it as simply as you like with pen and paper or you can be very inventive and create a 3D diorama or hanging banner. The sky's the limit - go for it!

Slideshow - Dr. Seuss
A full set of teaching plans for Dr. Seussteaching.