Dr.+Seuss

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Brian R., Hale, Jimmy Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel on Howard Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1925, he went to Oxford University, intending to acquire a doctorate in literature. At Oxford, Geisel met Helen Palmer, whom he wed in 1927. Upon his return to America later that year, Geisel published cartoons and humorous articles for //Judge//, the leading humor magazine in America at the time. His cartoons also appeared in major magazines such as //Life//, //Vanity Fair//, and //Liberty//. Geisel gained national exposure when he won an advertising contract for an insecticide called Flit. He coined the phrase, "Quick, Henry, the Flit!" which became a popular expression.

Geisel developed the idea for his first children's book in 1936 while on a vacation cruise. The rhythm of the ship's engine drove the cadence to //And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street//. He has been the author and illustrator of 44 childrens books.

During World War II, Geisel joined the Army and was sent to Hollywood where he wrote documentaries for the military. During this time, he also created a cartoon called //Gerald McBoing-Boing// which won him an Oscar.

The Seuss family pronounced their family name as //Soice//, to rhyme with //voice//, in line with the German pronunciation of //eu// (Geisel's maternal grandparents had emigrated from Germany).

His mother often chanted rhymes about pies to her children to make them fall asleep at night!

Dr. Seuss used the pen name "Theo. Lesieg" (Geisel spelled backwards) for books he wrote but others illustrated.