Whose childhood was not impacted in some way by the work of Theodor Geisel, or Dr. Seuss? I loved going to my grandmother’s house because she had a small collection of his books on a shelf upstairs and I would just sit on her soft carpet and read book after book while the adults were doing who-knows-what downstairs. I loved how silly they were, with creative nonsensical words that rhymed with words I already knew how to read. I loved the whimsical illustrations that looked like something I might actually be able to draw. And I loved the way his own imagination inspired mine.
Side Bonus: Green Eggs and Ham is entirely responsible for my willingness to at least try foods I think I’m not going to like. Even to this day, the refrain “You may like them, you will see,” still rings in my ears.
My Favorite Dr. Seuss Biography
Author Judy Sierra wrote my favorite picture book biography about Dr. Seuss: 👉 Imagine That! How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat (©2017)
She begins with the year 1954:
1954 was a great year to be a kid. There were five-cent doughnuts and one-cent lollipops. Rock and roll had just hit record shops. Bookstores brimmed with exciting new books, like Charlotte’s Web, The Lord of the Rings, and Horton Hears a Who!
1954 was a great year to be a kid, unless you were trying to learn how to read. For some reason, first graders weren’t making the leap from reading a few words to reading a whole book. Grown-ups were stumped. What could the problem be? Kids knew the answer: School readers were just plain boring.
What kids needed was a beginning reader so exciting that they couldn’t stop turning the pages. Who could write a book like that? Only the funniest children’s author in the land…
Enter Dr. Seuss.
The rest of the book goes on to tell how Theodor Geisel wrote not only The Cat in the Hat, but the funny challenge set before him that resulted in Green Eggs and Ham. Both projects came with specific limits that young readers will find interesting, especially if they are a fan of Dr. Seuss or are identifying as authors themselves.
Book Jacket Words of Wisdom
“…sometimes limitations can be the best inspiration of all!”
Dr. Seuss Biography Project
Each year, my students and I make these biographical flip book projects about Dr. Seuss. It’s one of our go-to activities for celebrating the life and work of one of our favorite authors. As a teacher paying attention to the reading standards, I also like how the activity ties into what my students are learning about nonfiction text features by highlighting timelines, captions, and facts related to Dr. Seuss’ life.
Children will need scissors, glue, and markers to help bring the illustrations to life. They won’t need to engage in research to complete the flip books … I’ve already done that part. What they will need to do is read the information and then find the image or key word that supports the part they’re reading.
⭐️ However, I will say, this project always inspires further questions from my students. If time permits, and I always try to make sure it permits, we keep a running chart of their inquiries and then break up into small research teams later and try to uncover the answers to our questions. I love the organic feel of their curiosity and how it extends this lesson. Those are the moments I feel passionate about honoring when they happen.
If you’re interested in seeing more about this activity, you can check it out HERE. It’s best suited for children in grades 1 and 2, but would also work in kindergarten with a little extra guided support.
DR. SEUSS BIOGRAPHY PROJECT👇
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE👇
Happy teaching!
