Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss by Sylva Fae

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

by Sylva Fae

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

March the 2nd is Dr Seuss’s birthday and is a US reading celebration day. Although a US celebration, the quirky stories of Dr Seuss are celebrated by children the world over. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geissel was an American writer and illustrator of immensely popular books. His illustration style is instantly recognisable, and his books are known for their nonsense words, tongue-twister rhymes and unusual characters. Forty-five of his books were published, and many went on to become best-sellers, TV series and feature films. 7) The Cat in the Hat was written because Seuss found the ‘Dick and Jane’ stories of the time to be boring and uninspiring. He rightly believed that if the children were not engaged, they would not be compelled to repeat the words as they learnt to read.

Ten Fun Facts

1) He often came up with ideas by doodling. 2) Seuss attributes his love of rhyme to his mother, because when he was little, she would make up rhymes based on pie flavours to entertain him.

3) ‘Zoyce’ is the German pronunciation of ‘Seuss’ but readers would always pronounce it, ‘Soose’.

Despite the error, Seuss liked that it rhymed with Mother Goose, so adopted the pronunciation. 8) Seuss’s editor made him a $50 bet that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 words. Not wanting to back down from a challenge, Seuss came up with ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, which uses exactly 50 words. 9) Seuss’s phone number was only one digit different from a local fish shop. Seuss would sometimes send the caller a picture of the fish they ordered, rather than explain their error.

10) In 2010, Life Books added Dr Seuss to their list of 100 People Who Changed the World.

4) Seuss kept a closet full of wacky hats and whenever he had writers block, he would put on a hat and the words would flow. 5) Seuss is known for inventing words. He is credited with inventing the word, ‘nerd’. It first appeared in, ‘If I Ran The Zoo’, in 1950. 6) Seuss’s licence plate was, ‘GRINCH’.

Memories of Seuss Praise for Dr Seuss:

Our house is overflowing with children’s books, but as my girls have grown, many picture books have been passed on to younger children, to be replaced with chapter books. Just one shelf of favourite picture books remains, and of course there are some ragged, well-read copies of Dr Seuss books amongst them. It would spark a mixture of amusement and dread when my girls chose a Seuss for bedtime stories. Amusement, because I knew we’d all end up giggling together, but also the dread of tackling the tongue-twister rhymes after a long day – and heaven forbid I should get it wrong, or miss a bit out… my girls know every weird and wacky rhyme off by heart. My favourite to read aloud was Fox in Socks, and by the time I got to the Tweetle Beetles Battle, I had found my inner Seuss and become word perfect. My children’s favourite was The Cat In The Hat, loved for his naughtiness and his ability to clear up his messes just in the nick of time – I wish my Things 1, 2 and 3 possessed the same magical tidying abilities. ‘I used to read Dr Seuss to my daughter when she was little. I think I loved it as much as she did. The man was a genius.’

– Anthony Randall, author of Tales of Tucson

‘My siblings and I always loved “Hop on Pop”. We’d giggle every time we read it. At least we didn’t go hop on our pop, but I think that’s what made us giggle – the thought of doing that.’

– Ronesa Aveela, children’s author

‘My Dr Seuss memory was reading The Cat in The Hat over and over to my friend’s kids when I babysat. It's one of my favourite books. I was also delighted to eat at the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe in Dr Seuss Land at Universal Islands of Adventure in Florida.’

– Wendy H Jones, multi-genre author

Celebrating Reading

As Dr Seuss’s birthday is also a national day of celebrating reading, it seems only fitting to celebrate some of Mom’s fabulous children’s authors. It’s difficult, but we have picked our favourite from the books we’ve written, and hope you enjoy them too. Sylva Fae – Bea & Bee

Bea loves tending the flowers in her little back yard but what she’d really like is a pet to care for. The yard is too small for a pet, or is it? When Bea finds Little Bee, she finds the perfect pet for her tiny garden. Can Bea convince Mummy to let her keep a pet bee?

Ronesa Aveela – The Miracle Stork Rada knows little about her Bulgarian heritage because her family doesn't practice their customs. That changes when her grandmother comes to visit. On a trip to the zoo, Rada discovers more than animals. She learns that diversity is not something to be ashamed of. Her grandmother tells her about the traditions of their ancestors and the meaning of the martenitsi that she makes every spring. The Miracle Stork is a story about creating and maintaining traditions and customs to embrace who you are. In the tradition of family togetherness, Baba Treasure Chest stories are geared toward the entire family: Adults reading stories to children, families participating in activities, and children working together on coloring pages. Wendy H Jones – Bertie the Buffalo Bertie the Buffalo is based on a true story of when a Water Buffalo escaped from a Buffalo Park in Fife, near Dundee, Scotland. A rhyming book about the adventures Bertie got up to and how he safely returned home, demonstrating how important each of us is no matter how insignificant we feel. Bertie felt that no one noticed him. But he didn't need to think that as we are all special. We are all a part of one big family.

Adrian Czarnecki – Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness This, the second book in the Adventures of Hot Rod Todd children's picture story books sees Hot Rod Todd and the pack getting an invitation to visit the UK to race. So, they decided to make it a family vacation with Wild Child Rock Star Merc taking them in his revolutionary eco friendly Tour Jet piloted by Captain Chinook. The pack decided to visit Loch Ness in Scotland and oh my, what ensues on that trip is 'out of this world'. As always with the pups there are thrills and spills, ups and downs, twists and turns but always, ALWAYS, the message is all about friends and friendship, caring about others without question, values and morals. Beautifully illustrated by Cameo Anderson, 'Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness is a children's picture-story book comprising full page colored illustrations with text that parents can read to their youngsters or, if at reading age or learning to read, youngsters can read and enjoy themselves.

Millie Slavidou – Sparky

Sparky is a newly-hatched dragon with a problem: he can't breathe fire. Not wanting to stand out from all the other dragons, he leaves the nest and sets off on an adventurous journey to solve his problem. Finally, he meets Nicky, who is determined to help him on his quest to find the secret of fire.Will Sparky ever discover how to breathe fire? Penny Luker – Desdemona

Desdemona is a lonely dragon, who lives by the sea, near the town of Wrex. She can be kind or mischievous, but when the hungry green dragon wants to eat her humans she finds the courage to stand up to him. In return she finds friendship. Silviya Rankova – Fay the Maple Fairy and the Tree Doctor

Alex was sleepily rubbing his eyes, reaching for his glasses, when he looked through the window and suddenly saw her again. The little maple fairy who was going to reveal very important news about the maple tree in the front yard. Alex was going to learn many new things about saving trees and their inhabitants.

Mike Passafiume – Chunk-A-Monk The Big Black Skunk

Splitter the skunk was different from all his little classmates. See how he deals with those differences and how you can too.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/