By Mandy Feder
Last week I had the opportunity and honor to read one of my favorite books aloud to a group. I don”t typically embrace public speaking with enthusiasm. But this was different.
The librarian at Burns Valley Elementary School, Sue Betz, graciously invited me to participate in a celebration of Dr. Seuss week.
I brought my own copy of “The Lorax,” one that my brother, Steve, gave me for my birthday. We loved the book as children, and he gave it to me so I could read it with my own children.
As I was reading, a first-grade boy raised his hand and said, “I like the way he rhymes.” I told him that I did, too. Dr. Seuss always drew me in to his books by using alliteration. He had the ability to introduce complex subject matter, such as environmental awareness, to readers of all ages. He was quite a genius.
The children were quickly able to relate environmental issues to those of Clear Lake. The illustrations look like a child”s imagination, colorful and animated.
According to School Library Journal, “Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth”s natural beauty. The big, colorful pictures and the fun images, word plays and rhymes make this an amusing exposition of the ecology crisis.”
Here”s a bit about the man behind the books: According to seussville.com, “If you want to pronounce the name the way his family did, say Zoice, not Soose. Seuss is a Bavarian name and was his mother”s maiden name: Henrietta Seuss”s parents emigrated from Bavaria (part of modern-day Germany) in the 19th century. Seuss was also his middle name. Theodor Seuss Geisel — known as “Ted” to family and friends — liked to say that he adopted the name “Dr. Seuss” because he was saving his real name for the great American novel he would one day write. But that”s probably not true. When talking to the media, Geisel was more interested in telling a good story than he was in telling a true story.”
Geisel attended Dartmouth College. While in college he published cartoons under aliases: L. Pasteur, D.G. Rossetti ”25, T. Seuss, and Seuss. That was the first time he signed his work “Seuss.” As a cartoonist, he signed his work as Dr. Theophrastus Seuss. He later shortened it to Dr. Seuss.
Even my father has a Dr. Seuss book on his bookshelf, “You”re Only Old Once,” a birthday gift from his younger sister. I think it”s fair to say that a tiny streak of playful sarcasm runs in our family.
I have given countless copies of “Oh, The Places You”ll Go,” to graduates.
It is challenging to write to a large audience, to inform and entertain all at the same time.
Cheers to Ted and those impacted by his craft. And thank you to Burns Valley Elementary School for allowing me to be a part of your celebration.
“Unless someone like you … cares a whole awful lot … nothing is going to get better … It”s not.” ? Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32.
