today’s birthday: Dr. Seuss (1904)

Dr. Seuss (1904)

Theodor Seuss Geisel, popularly known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, was a famous American writer and cartoonist. His outlandishly illustrated books captivate readers with their unique blend of whimsy, zany humor, and catchy verse. He is best known for his children’s books, which include enduring classics like The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. How has the pronunciation of “Seuss” changed since Geisel first adopted the pseudonym? More… Discuss

New Dr. Seuss Book to Hit Shelves in 2015

What Pet Should I Get, a new book by Dr. Seuss (AKA Theodor Geisel), is scheduled for a July 2015 release, 25 years after his last book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, was published. The new Seuss book is comprised of material that Geisel’s wife found shortly after his death in 1991 and then rediscovered in 2013. His art director dates these sketches back to the late 1950s or early ’60s, noting that they depict the same siblings as the 1960 Seussian smash One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. More… Discuss

Today’s Birthday: SHEL SILVERSTEIN (1932) A cartoonist

Shel Silverstein (1932)

Silverstein was an American cartoonist, children’s author, poet, songwriter, and playwright. Often compared to Dr. Seuss, he wrote and illustrated innovative books of verse for children, including Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree. His quirky verse, which touches on common childhood anxieties and wishes, is credited with helping youngsters develop an appreciation for poetry. What hit song, performed by Johnny Cash, was written by Silverstein? More… Discuss

Today’s Birthday: John Hersey (1914)

John Hersey (1914)

Born in China to missionary parents, Hersey worked as a journalist in East Asia, Italy, and the Soviet Union from 1937 to 1946, including as a war correspondent during WWII. In 1944, he won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel A Bell for Adano, which depicts the Allied occupation of a Sicilian town. He later combined fact and fiction in his most famous work, Hiroshima, about the experiences of atomic-blast survivors. How did Hersey inspire Dr. Seuss to write The Cat in the Hat? More… Discuss