We Tip Our Hats to You, Dr. Seuss!!

This Friday, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' birthday and many places will be celebrating with Read Across America. Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel, changed the face of children's books and sent out messages with real heart. From the environmental awareness of The Lorax to the reminder that even the "littlest" things are important in Horton Hears a Who, there was a clear message. From the encouragement to try new things in Green Eggs and Ham to the warning against commercialism in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss made us sit up and take notice. 


When there wasn't a word that rhymed, he simply made up a new one, and boy, could he make them up. From rhyming to alliteration we find ourselves almost singing along with the rhythm to tying our tongues in knots trying to get the words out.


"Like Norman Rockwell, Ted Geisel personally created every rough sketch, preliminary drawing, final line drawing, and finished work for each page of every project he illustrated.


Despite the technical and budgetary limitations of color printing during the early and mid-twentieth century, Dr. Seuss the artist was meticulous about color selection. He created specially numbered color charts and elaborate color call-outs to precisely accomplish his vision for each. Saturated reds and blues, for example, were carefully chosen for The Cat in the Hat to attract and maintain the visual attention of a six-year-old audience." -The Art of Dr. Seuss booklet 


Today I visited Turtle Bay Museum, a local treasure that is temporarily housing the traveling exhibit "The Art of Dr. Seuss: A Retrospective and International Touring Exhibition". As you left the gallery of the museum and entered the Seuss doors, you were transported into the magical world of Dr. Seuss. Below are some of the images we were able to view.

From the Unorthodox Taxidermy collection:
In the early 1930's he evolved from two-dimensional artworks
to three-dimensional sculptures. What was most unusual for
these mixed media sculptures was the use of real animal parts
including beaks, antlers, and horns from deceased Springfield
Zoo animals where Geisel's father was superintendent.

From One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

From Yertle the Turtle

Green Eggs and Ham is the fourth best -selling
children's book  in the English language.

"I meant what i said and i said what i meant.
 An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!"

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!