Dr. Seuss's Little Life Lessons

On December 22, 1957, Random House and Dr. Seuss unleashed a mischievous cat wearing a bowtie and a tall red and white striped hat on an unsuspecting world of children's books. Dr. Seuss, already a successful and respected writer/illustrator, used a vocabulary of only two-hundred-thirty-eight words, catchy verse rhythms, and unbridled imagination to turn the stodgy "See Spot run" world of Dick and Jane upside down. Such was the genius of Theodor Seuss Geisel.

For over sixty years, Dr. Seuss' breezy rhythm and rhyme schemes have drawn children into his fantasy universe. His characteristic easy style is part of the brilliance of Dr. Seuss, who made his meticulously crafted verse (most often written in strict anapestic tetrameter) appear as off-the-cuff silliness.

But Dr. Seuss' books contained more than entertaining verse and fantastical drawings. Dr. Seuss imparted small life lessons to children through characters such as The Sneetches, Horton the Elephant, Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, and other creatures of his imagination.

Though much has been written about the political themes running through many of Dr. Seuss' stories, he always maintained that he never started a story with a moral in mind. That is good because most kids are more interested in what sort of sandwich mom packed for them today than in large philosophical issues. It is the little lessons that find their way into the hearts of children and stay there forever. Here are just a few:

1. Indulge your imagination and don't limit yourself: "Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up, if only you try" (Oh, the Thinks You Can Think) says it in perfect Seussian verse, as does "There's no limit to how much you'll know, depending upon how far beyond zebra you go" (On Beyond Zebra) which challenges the reader to imagine an alphabet beyond "z"

2. Be flexible and willing to compromise when necessary. Witness the North-Going Zax and the South-Going Zax, (The Sneetches and other Stories) who refused to budge an inch out of their chosen paths as the world passed them by.

3. Be loyal and faithful and honest. "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful, one hundred percent" (Horton Hears a Who). In the end, Horton saves the day. How can you not like that?

4. Don't give all your kids the same name. Okay, it seems to work for George Foreman, but unless you are a former world heavyweight champion boxer, now making a fortune selling a Lean-Mean-Grilling Machine, it is probably best to give each child a different name. If you have any doubts consider the plight of "Mrs. McCave, who had twenty-three sons and named them all Dave" (Too Many Daves). Also, if you ever have the opportunity to name a son Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate, please do. Pretty please.

5. Everybody counts and everybody is important. "A person's a person, no matter how small." (Horton Hears a Who) There is not to be added to that sentiment.

6. Don't run away from the unknown, run to it. The poor little guy was afraid of the "pale green pants with no one inside 'em". While it is true that pale green pants are in and of themselves rather scary, do not be afraid of the being that is not in them. (What Was I Scared Of?)

7. Read and learn. Reading and education makes your life a more interesting place. "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go"

This is just a small sample of the small but important lessons I learned from Dr. Seuss. His books are filled with dozens more, how many do you remember? If you have kids, read these remarkable books with them, perhaps you will learn something.