March 2 marked Dr. Seuss’ hundred and sixth birthday. He was a man who played an integral part in many children’s lives. The name alone may bring back fond memories for many, for me it reawakens an old belief in a mythical figure.
Some kids grow up believing in Santa Claus, I believed in Dr. Seuss. I was sure that he was a man who was a children’s physician by day and a superhero by night, a Batman-esque figure. I assumed that Dr Seuss was the best doctor in the world and that his purpose in life was to make children happy. I also thought that he really did know people resembling those in his books.
The truth is that Dr Seuss, or the man who used that pen name, was not a doctor and as far as anyone can tell, not a superhero either. His real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel and he was just a regular man who had a remarkable knack for rhyming and weaving morals into his wild stories.
Still, Dr. Seuss and his wacky characters have had a hand in helping millions of children learn to read. My four year old nephew is already running around quoting “Green Eggs and Ham”, except in the end he wants the goat not the ham Sam-I-Am.
Dr. Seuss’ ability to engage children in reading has caused the National Education Association (NEA) to sponsor a Read Across America program on his birthday and in his honor.
According to www.seussville.com, 200 million copies of Dr Seuss’ books had been sold before he passed away in 1991. Furthermore, at that point, his books had already been published in 15 different languages.
His most popular books have inspired the movie industry to make several major motion pictures, including renditions of “Horton Hears a Who,” “The Cat in the Hat,” and two of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” Now there are even songs inspired by Dr Seuss’ books.
Dr. Seuss was not an actual doctor or a caped and masked superhero, but thanks to his books he has helped millions learn to read and allowed them to enjoy the learning process. He has brought joy and laughter into homes around the world and has usually managed to slip in a good lesson while he was at it. Maybe he did not need the cape to be a hero.