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One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Day 2 of November of my Author Celebrations!!



Today I bring you the rhythmic mastery of Theodore Geisel better known as Dr. Seuss.



If a vernacular love affair existed in my childhood, it was with Dr. Seuss. From the anapestic tetrameter of "Fox in socks, on box, on Knox." To the declarative vernacular of, "I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am." I was devoted to Dr. Seuss. His words and graphics healed all wounds. What I didn't know then was that his road to literary success hadn't come easily.


He was smart enough to be accepted into Dartmouth college but returned home in 1927 without a degree. He had always dabbled in humorous writing through various avenues like his college paper and a local magazine. However, publishing his own work stalled. He was rejected 27 times for his submission of his first book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street. He struggled to have his work published for two decades. Then in 1954, he was challenged to write a book with 250 words first graders should be able to read and recognize. But more than read and recognize it also had "to be a book children would not put down." The result was The Cat in the Hat. That book opened the door to abundant success.


"The sun did not shine.

It was too wet to play.

So we sat in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day.


I sat there with Sally.

We sat there, we two.

And I said, "How I wish

We had something to do!"



As I moved into mom-hood, I passed along my love of his books, and of other authors who copied his style, to my children. Today we still own some favorites. Occasionally, such as this very rainy day outside today, I will flip through and read them soaking in the sweet memories of the golden age of my childhood.


For the record we have a family favorite? How the Grinch Stole Christmas.


Not a holiday season goes by that we don't slip into PJs, snuggle up with blankets and treats, and quote along with Boris Karloff.


"Every Who down in Whoville

Liked Christmas a lot.

But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville

Did not."


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEGoZ3wfI_bZLN0fT7AMnZtfaQ4-F7Vn8


Did you read Dr. Seuss? Which book was your favorite?


See you tomorrow for Day 3,

Carrie


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