Bay Library celebrates Dr. Seuss

The Bay Village Branch Library is celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Theodor Geisel aka “Dr. Seuss” to millions of children and adults all over the world. Families with children ages 3-8 years can join the party on Saturday, March 2, for an hour of stories, songs and stations with fun activities and crafts starting at 11 a.m.

Theodor Seuss Geisel grew up in Springfield, Mass. As a magazine cartoonist in his 20s, he began signing his work under the mock-scholarly title of “Dr. Theophrastus Seuss” which he shortened to “Dr. Seuss” in 1928. After his first children’s book was turned down by many publishers, he got an idea for another book while aboard a ship, crossing the Atlantic. Geisel kept himself entertained by putting words to the rhythms of the ship’s engines: “And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street.” When Geisel arrived back home, he revised the text, added illustrations, and created a picture book.

But this book was also rejected by many publishers. Geisel’s luck changed when he was walking down Madison Avenue in New York City, about to throw the book away. He ran into former classmate Mike McClintock, who had just been appointed juvenile editor of a publishing company. McClintock promptly took him up to his office  where they signed a contract for "Mulberry Street."

In 1957, his editor challenged him to “Write me a story that first-graders can’t put down!” He asked that Seuss limit the book’s vocabulary to no more than 225 different words.

As his editor Michael Frith once remarked, “The Cat in the Hat and Ted Geisel were inseparable and the same. I think there’s no question about it. This is someone who delighted in the chaos of life, who delighted in the seeming insanity of the world around him.” 

From chaos and insanity came one of the most creative and beloved authors in the history of children’s books.
 
Registration is required to attend "Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!" Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. to noon.