Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), known as Dr. Seuss, is the most popular and influential name in children’s literature. He endured no less than 27 rejections before his first book was published. His 60 books have been translated into more than 15 languages and have sold more than 222 million copies. Sixteen of them are among the top 100 best-selling children’s hardcover books of all time. His lifelong war on illiteracy earned him two Emmys®, a Peabody Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. Eleven children’s television specials, a Broadway musical, and several feature-length movies have sprung from his books. He was a painfully shy, lighthearted defender of children’s rights who revolutionized the way children can learn to read. He demonstrated that words are fun and reading is joyful.
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.—Theodore Seuss Geisel
Dr. Seuss
(By Jonathan Sprout and Jimmy Hammer)
There once was a man ofremarkable wit
Who could find words that rhymed and then make them all fit
Into stories that tantalized, tickled, and teased
With fantabulous pictures that playfully pleased.
He wrote about ooblecks and wockets and zoos
And Hunches in Bunches and Horton and Whos.
His style was whimsical, wacky, and wild,
And now he’s a hero to every child.
He made a lot of books we will never outgrow.
Now we know oh, the places we’ll go!
Refrain: A! B! C!
Dr. Seuss! Wrote the story of Mulberry Street.
Dr. Seuss! Green eggs and ham that no one would eat.
Dr. Seuss! Gave an account of Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.
We love Dr. Seuss. Introduced the Cat in the Hat.
Dr. Seuss! A tree-top nest where an elephant sat.
Dr. Seuss! Created dozens of creatures and set them loose.
Tell me, whatwas the tree that the Lorax could save?
And why did the Onceler refuse to behave?
Do you know what is there in McElligot’s pool?
Have you read of the Yookwith the Kick-a-Poo tool?
Would you dance to the beat of the Butter-Up Band?
Do you feel for the Grinch in that faraway land?
Can you see what was wrong with the Star-Bellied Sneech?
Do you get that each book has a lesson to teach?
With Hop on Pop and Fox in Socks, we stand and shout!
He made us laugh, so we have to sing about…
Refrain
Bridge: One, two, three, four,
Who’s the writer we adore?
Theodore Geisel, he’s the one!
He made reading so much fun!
A, B, C, D,
Who’s the man who set us free?
Theodore Geisel, he’s the one!
He made reading so much fun!
He made a lot of books we will never outgrow.
Now we know oh, the places we’ll go!
Refrain
©2014 Kanukatunes (ASCAP) and Sync Track (ASCAP)
Lead vocal, cockney vocals, and character vocals: Jonathan Sprout
Drum programming, percussion, and bass harmonica: Jimmy Hammer
Tuba, toy saxophone, slide whistle, krummhorn, kazoo, blockflöte, ocarina, Eb euphonium, banjo, trumpet, trombone, and clarinet: Joe Mennonna
Steam calliope sample and patch programming: Jimmy Hammer and Joe Mennonna
Background vocals: Jimmy Hammer, Susie Stevens, Randy Crenshaw, and Ellie Baer
Key Words:
Illiteracy ~ not able to read or write. Theodore Geisel’s books helped many children learn to read. His book The Cat in the Hat was written using 225 words that had been identified as words first graders needed to know to be able to read. The book Green Eggs and Ham used only 50 words.
Emmys, Peabody Award, & Pulitzer Prize ~ Dr. Seuss was recognized for his work in many ways. An Emmy is a television production award. A Peabody Award is given for excellence in radio and television broadcasting. The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievement in American literature, music, or journalism. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from seven universities.
Broadway Musical ~ a live performance presented in the theater district of New York City. Seussical the Musical debuted on Broadway in 2000, and it was based on many of Dr. Seuss’s most popular books.
Tantalized ~ shown something desirable that is out of reach. Dr. Seuss’s stories, full of imagination and fantasy, “tantalized, tickled, and teased” all of his readers.
Fantabulous ~ marvelously excellent; a blend of fantastic and fabulous. With their creative shapes and bright colors, Dr. Seuss’s pictures were “fantabulous”!
Whimsical ~ spontaneously fanciful and playful; unpredictable. Dr. Seuss’s books were full of whimsy, and each one always included many unexpected surprises!
