Dr. Seus on the couch
Philip Nel has made a career of showing that complexities abound within the pages of children’s books. A professor of English at Kansas State University and director of the graduate program in children’s literature, Nel used a NEH Summer Stipend to write Dr. Seuss: American Icon, one of the first scholarly explorations of Theodor Geisel’s work. He has also written about J. K. Rowling and coedited, with Julia Mickenberg, Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children’s Literature. Nel is currently working on a book about Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss, the creators of Harold and the Purple Crayon. IQ asked Nel to share his insights on what makes
Dr. Seuss hop and pop.
How did Theodor Geisel acquire the pseudonym Dr. Seuss?
Theodor Seuss Geisel liked to say that he adopted “Seuss” because he was saving his real name for the Great American Novel he would one day write. But that’s probably not true. When talking to the press, Geisel was more interested in telling a good story than he was in telling an accurate story. Another story he told about his name is true: In the spring of 1925, Geisel was editor of and contributor to Jack-o-lantern, Dartmouth’s humor magazine. Geisel and nine friends were caught drinking gin in his room. The dean put them all on probation for violating Prohibition, and stripped Geisel of his editorship. To evade punishment, Geisel published cartoons under other names—L. Pasteur, L. Burbank, D. G. Rossetti, T. Seuss, and Seuss. This was the first time he signed his work “Seuss” (his middle name and his mother’s maiden name). Two years later, he gave himself the mock-scholarly title of “Dr. Theophrastus Seuss.” In May 1928, he shortened that to “Dr. Seuss.”
What book was Geisel proudest of?
The Cat in the Hat. As he said, “It’s the book I’m proudest of because it had something to do with the death of the Dick and Jane primers.”
What made Dr. Seuss books different from other children’s books?
Seuss was an artist, a poet, a provocateur, and a marketing genius—that’s an unusual combination of talents.
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Green Eggs and Ham and Sesame Street taught me to read—so, Green Eggs and Ham will always be a sentimental favorite.
Read entire article at Humanities (magazine of the NEH) March/April
Dr. Seuss hop and pop.
How did Theodor Geisel acquire the pseudonym Dr. Seuss?
Theodor Seuss Geisel liked to say that he adopted “Seuss” because he was saving his real name for the Great American Novel he would one day write. But that’s probably not true. When talking to the press, Geisel was more interested in telling a good story than he was in telling an accurate story. Another story he told about his name is true: In the spring of 1925, Geisel was editor of and contributor to Jack-o-lantern, Dartmouth’s humor magazine. Geisel and nine friends were caught drinking gin in his room. The dean put them all on probation for violating Prohibition, and stripped Geisel of his editorship. To evade punishment, Geisel published cartoons under other names—L. Pasteur, L. Burbank, D. G. Rossetti, T. Seuss, and Seuss. This was the first time he signed his work “Seuss” (his middle name and his mother’s maiden name). Two years later, he gave himself the mock-scholarly title of “Dr. Theophrastus Seuss.” In May 1928, he shortened that to “Dr. Seuss.”
What book was Geisel proudest of?
The Cat in the Hat. As he said, “It’s the book I’m proudest of because it had something to do with the death of the Dick and Jane primers.”
What made Dr. Seuss books different from other children’s books?
Seuss was an artist, a poet, a provocateur, and a marketing genius—that’s an unusual combination of talents.
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Green Eggs and Ham and Sesame Street taught me to read—so, Green Eggs and Ham will always be a sentimental favorite.