I’m pretty sure everyone at some point in their lives has read a Dr. Seuss book. Whether it be as a child yourself or reading to your own child, or both. When reading Dr. Seuss and his imaginative stories one can’t help but smile at the zany characters and off-the-wall story lines. Just read one of his many books and you’ll instantly realize why he is so beloved by children. He caters to their imaginations and creates characters that children are drawn to. Being the brilliant children’s author and illustrator that he is, he treats the child as an equal therefore encouraging them to want to read. That is why he is such an American Icon not only to children, but to their parents as well.

Dr. Seuss’ first children’s book that he wrote and illustrated “And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street” was published in 1937. The story follows a little boy named Marco, who watches the sight and sounds of people and vehicles traveling along Mulberry Street while walking home from school. When his father asks him what he saw on his walk, he dreams up an elaborate story but backs down in the end, unwilling to share his fantastic tale with his father. Dr. Seuss wrote the story as a commentary about how he felt adults stifled children’s imaginations. Today, many teachers use “And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street” as an activity lesson to discuss with their elementary students the importance of imagination, honesty and creativity.

Here are some interesting facts about the book:

• Mulberry Street is the name of a street in Springfield, Massachusetts not far from Dr. Seuss’ boyhood home.
• The memories of his happy childhood in Springfield can be seen throughout this book and many others.
• It’s filled with Springfield imagery including a look-alike Mayor Fordis Parker on the reviewing stand and police officers riding red motorcycles, the traditional color of Springfield’s famed Indian Motorcycles.
• In Dr. Seuss’ own words, “These are the first words I ever wrote in the field of writing for children.”
• The book was rejected twenty-eight times before being published by Vanguard Press.
• The main character in the book, Marco, is named after the son of Dr. Seuss’ former classmate and editor at Vanguard Press, Marshall “Mike” McClintock, and his wife Helene, for whom the book is dedicated.
• It was this publication that Theodor Seuss Geisel began using his pen name, Dr. Seuss.

As one of the most popular children's authors of all time, Dr. Seuss’ books have topped many bestseller lists, sold over 222 million copies, and have been translated into more than 15 languages. In addition many of his books have been made into movies and there are even Cat in the Hat costumes.

“A person’s a person no matter how small,” Dr. Seuss, would say. “Children want the same things we want: to laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and to be delighted.”

We thank you Dr. Seuss for giving four generations of families exactly that!