In 1954, Dr. Seuss had already published nine books, including If I Ran the Zoo, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and Thidwick the Big-Hearted-Moose. They were funny and meant for kids.
Dr. Seuss & friends
However, in schools, there were no books for children that taught them how to read. And so, Dr. Seuss, as a writer for children, was asked to write a beginning reader using only the words on the “No-Nonsense” list.
When Seuss was stumped, he wore a collection of different and unusual hats while thinking up new ideas. Seuss, who loved making up nonsensical words, wanted write something using the words “zebra” and “queen,” but none of those were on the list. “Bird” wasn’t even on the list. However, words such as “cat” and “hat” and “thing,” “one,” and “two” were available for use. And so, pulling out his pencil, he started to sketch.
A cat wearing a hat who could juggle a book and a fan–all words that were on the “No-Nonsense” list. And so, only using 236 words, he wrote The Cat in the Hat, which was received really well across America. And then, he received a challenge to write a book using only 50 words. Can you guess what that might be? If you guessed Green Eggs and Ham, you are correct!
To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2) a little early, Lemuria will be hosting the Dr. Seuss’s Super-Dee-Dooper Bus Tour on Saturday, February 24. The Cat in the Hat himself will be rolling into Jackson on a bus with an interactive Dr. Seuss exhibit for kids. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Dr. Seuss will be parked in front of Banner Hall at 4465 I-55 N and open to the public. This is a free and family-friendly event!
Find out more about how the Cat in the Hat came to be in the book Imagine That! How Dr. Seuss Wrote the Cat in the Hat by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.
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