Book Summary
Ted Geisel was not born being Dr. Seuss. He developed his interesting perspectives even as a child. He read voraciously and was just as voraciously interested in people. When he was in school, he doodled instead of paying attention. His mother and father were disappointed because his sister was such a good student. In the atmosphere of World War I, people in his town looked suspiciously on his family because they spoke German and their father owned a brewery. When he was seventeen, an English teacher (hurray! I am an English teacher) encouraged his to apply to Dartmouth and he was accepted. At Dartmouth, Ted came into his own as a wit and a writer. It is during this time Geisel began using the name "Seuss", his mother's maiden name. Ted spent time at Oxford and began experimenting with drawing fantastical animals and other creatures. His parents did not think he would ever amount to anything until his pictures were published in various magazines and newspapers. Geisel finally moved out on his own, away from Fairfield Street to Greenwich Village in New York City. And the rest is history.
My Impressions
At first glance, it would seem that Ted Geisel led an ideal life on Fairfield Street, but nothing is ideal if you don't think you fit in. In addition to his speaking German, Geisel realized at an early age that he looked at things differently than most people. He continuously suffered comparisons with his studious sister. There is no way he could escape knowing how disappointed his parents were in him. But like other gifted individuals, he found his voice as an artist and then as a writer. He didn't fit the mold on Fairfield Street, and he still doesn't. Much to the world's delight, he left Fairfield Street and gave us characters such as Cat in the Hat, Sneetches, Horton, and Barnaby Muggins, etc...He is a hero because he has drawn so many children into reading.
Professional Review
Manczuk, S. (2004) The boy on Fairfield Street: how Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss. Library Media Connection, 23(2), 73.
Kathleen Krull presents a touching view of the life of Ted Geisel from early childhood visiting the zoo to his young adult years at Dartmouth College, as well as the poignant events that shaped his life. Geisel's unique view of the world while growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts marked him by many members of the community as a dreamer, but his imagination and supportive German-immigrant parents enabled him to create fanciful creatures that reflected positive and negative human behaviors. Although most teachers and peers considered him a mediocre student, he proved to his detractors that he could be a successful author and illustrator, which encouraged children to read. The book is liberally peppered with illustrations of the whimsical characters found in many of his children's books, as well as beautifully soft images portraying Geisel's personal life. At the book's conclusion, and addenda includes a biographic sketch providing additional information for older readers who want more detail about Seuss' life. A list of books by Dr. Seuss is provided as well as a brief bibliography and six pertinent Web sites featuring this beloved author. This book would be a wonderful addition to a library celebrating the "Seussentennial" and beyond.
Library Uses
1. Use the book when celebrating Seuss' birthday in March.
2. Take pictures of students with their favorite Seuss books and display them in the library.
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