Dr Seuss

"Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted."
Theodore Geisel

Perhaps one of the best-known and best-loved children's authors of all time, Dr Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel) is most famous for his delightful stories of The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, now successful movies - but there are so many more to enjoy! Make your reading of Dr Seuss even more memorable by trying some of these Dr Seuss activities or party ideas below.

Dr Seuss's Birthday

Also known as Dr Seuss Day, this is celebrated on 2nd March each year. It's a great time to get out all your favourite Dr Seuss stories and read them out loud! Then print out some of the activities below or try our craft ideas!

A Short Biography of Dr Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel, popularly known as Dr. Seuss, was a beloved American author of children's books (many of which were made into animated films). He was born on March 2nd, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts to Theodor Robert Geisel and Henrietta Seuss Geisel. As a child, he loved to draw, write and read, and continued to do so throughout his life.

He attended the prestigious Dartmouth College where he wrote for the college magazine under the pseudonym 'Seuss'. After graduating in 1925 with a degree in English Literature, he continued his studies in England, at Oxford University. During this time he met Helen Palmer, whom he later married.

Dr Seuss began writing children’s books while working as an illustrator for advertising agencies. His first published book, released in 1937, was "And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street". It became a great success among children and adults alike. He wrote and illustrated more than 40 books in the years that followed, many of which are childhood favourites to this day. Perhaps the most well known are The Cat In The Hat (1957), Green Eggs And Ham (1960) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966).

Dr Seuss was a master of using limited, repetitive vocabulary. This not only helped children read the books themselves, but, together with his easy rhyme and scansion, also made them fun for younger pre-readers to listen to and anticipate. He understood the importance of providing meaningful stories with simple words that would engage and delight young readers. Dr Seuss kept his vocabulary simple, often repeating words throughout the book to emphasise their importance. For example, in Green Eggs and Ham, he uses just fifty different words but stills tells a lively story with an important message.

Dr Seuss won many awards. In 1957 his book "The Cat In The Hat" won him the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for imaginative fiction for children aged 6–12 years old. Later, in 1984 he was awarded an honourary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College. Other awards and recognition included the Caldecott Medal (for Horton Hears A Who! in 1954), The Pulitzer Prize Special Citation (for lifetime achievement) and three Academy Awards nominations (for Gerald McBoing-Boing in 1950, The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T in 1953 and How The Grinch Stole Christmas in 1966).

Dr Seuss was also a major influence in the realm of animation, writing scripts for many television specials like Horton Hears A Who!, How The Grinch Stole Christmas! And Daisy-Head Mayzie. He also directed two full length motion picture films: “The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr T” (1953) and “The Lorax” (1972). He passed away at age 87 in 1991. His works still live on, inspiring young readers all over the world with the power of imagination and creativity!

Our Dr Seuss Activities