National Read Across America Day & Fascinating Facts About Dr. Seuss
The National Education Association (NEA) launched Read Across America in 1998. The program was designed as a one-day festival to get kids excited about reading and to provide them with access to a wide variety of books. Originally, the date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
Fascinating Facts About Dr. Seuss
1. He Wasn’t Really A Doctor
Born Theodor Seuss Geisel, he began using the title while still in college in order to be taken more seriously and lend his writing more credit.
2. He Wrote “Green Eggs And Ham” On A Dare
Challenged by his publisher to write a book using only 50 different words, Dr. Seuss decided to tell the story of a picky eater (like many of the children reading his books) who continues to refuse the colorful food offerings laid before him.
3. He Produced Cartoons For The Army During WWII
As the commander of the Animation Department of the First Motion Picture Unit of the United States Army Air Forces, he produced propaganda and training films, including one about a bumbling soldier named Private Snafu.
4. “The Grinch” Movie Was A Flop At First
Now one of the most popular family holiday flicks, the movie was originally panned by critics at Variety despite Dr. Seuss teaming up with Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones for the animation.
5. He Thought Children’s Books Were Too Boring
The mischievous plot of The Cat in the Hat was inspired by what Dr. Seuss felt was a boring, overly simplistic Dick and Jane book series. Rather than attempting to enforce morality lessons, Dr. Seuss embraced chaos with his cat character.
6. He Was The First Person To Use The Word “Nerd”
He may have been first, although it meant something completely different in If I Ran the Zoo. Instead of referring to a brainiac, the “nerd” was described as a white-haired, red-and-yellow “sourpuss.”
8. He Started Out In Advertising
He was just as silly with his inventive drawings when his work originally appeared in clever ads for things like bug spray and motor oil, even depicting similar creatures to those that would later appear in his books.
9. He Had Imaginary Children
Dr. Seuss never had biological children: His first wife was unable to bear kids and his second already had two from a previous relationship. Ironically enough, he was actually wary of little ones due to their unpredictable nature.
However, he would also boast about his own make-believe children whenever he’d hear his friends bragging about theirs. Most notably, he referred to his fictional daughter “Chrysanthemum Pearl,” whom he claimed could make “the most delicious oyster stew with chocolate frosting and flaming Roman candles.”
10. He Had A Large Collection Of Hats
Like the cat in his most famous book, Dr. Seuss was a fan of hats and kept a rather large collection in a hidden area of his home. Reports claim that he had over 300 hats at one point during his life.