arts & entertainment

By Steve Fisher

WHEN THE FOLKS at Random House, longtime publishers of the works of

Dr. Seuss, realized that

The Cat in the Hat is turning 50, they decided to release a commemorative edition—and concluded that a special celebration was in order.

To come up with a concept to propel the beloved children’s book into the future, they decided to look to the past.

Working with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House explored the origin of the famous book about a fantasy feline facilitating fun for two kids stuck in the house alone on a rainy day. The inspiration was an article that Pulitzer Prize–winning author John Hersey wrote for Life magazine in the mid-1950s, claiming American children couldn’t read because the boring and “antiseptic” primers they were using in the classroom could not compete with modern entertainment, explains Shanta Small, publicity manager for Random House Children’s Books.

In the article, Hersey, who won the Pulitzer for his novel A Bell for Adano, “challenged” Theodor Geisel, better known as

Dr. Seuss, to write something first graders wouldn’t be able to put down. Furthermore, Geisel would be able to use only 236 words, culled from an elementary school vocabulary list.

A year and a half later, The

Cat in the Hat was born. Filled with fanciful images and amusing rhymes, it went on to sell millions of copies worldwide, in 20 languages. It spawned four othe r books, including The Cat in the Hat

Comes Back and I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, a TV special, a movie, a Broadway musical, a theme-park ride, a plethora of products and a glut of imitators.

Happy birthday,

Cat in the Hat

At 50, you merit a rat-a-tat-tat

Because the original aim of the book was to promote child literacy, Random House Children’s Books and

Dr. Seuss Enterprises felt any celebration of its birth should focus on that issue, which remains a problem today. According to a recent study published in the Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2 (The Guilford Press, 2006), children in middle-income neighborhoods have about 13 books each. In contrast, for low-income children, the ratio is estimated to be one book for every 300 kids.

What better tribute to Dr. Seuss and his Cat in the Hat than to try to even the playing field?

A series of activities and events are planned to mark the milestone, all benefiting First Book ( www.firstbook.org), a nonprofit organization devoted to giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. For example, readers can go to a Web site ( www.seuss ville.com) where electronic birthday cards can be sent to the Cat at no charge, and each card will earn a free book for the organization.

Finally, 50 artists have been invited to pay tribute to Dr. Seuss—in songs, poems, paintings or autographed Cat hats—

by using the 236 words and his artwork. The items will be auctioned by Guernsey’s auction house, and all proceeds will benefit First Book.

Happy birthday, Cat. May you live long, educating and entertaining children for generations to come. C

An Ode to Dr. Seuss By T. Foster Jones

Writing a book for small children’s no cinch;

The effort can make one a bit of a Grinch.

The words must be simple, and yet they must rhyme;

They need to make sense (well, most of the time).

They might teach you to laugh, or teach you to think;

They might teach you to look for red fish in the sink.

There might be a lesson or no lesson at all;

What on earth can you learn from a Who, after all?

But putting these stories within a child’s reach,

And letting them learn all the lessons they teach

Must happen, for inside every one of us—each—

Is a Horton, a Mayzie, a Cat or a Sneetch.

Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss

Taught the lessons—he taught of the Cat who got loose;

He rhymed about Horton, who heard a small Who;

He wrote about green eggs, and Sam I Am too.

The Costco Connection A variety of titles by Dr. Seuss, including The Cat in the Hat, are available in Costco warehouses and at costco.com.

But the lesson he thought most important of all:

A person’s a person, no matter how small.