The Best Five Books by Dr Seuss

This has to be my favourite Dr Seuss book. As a child I loved the ridiculous situations in which Sam-I-am attempts to get his victim to try Green Eggs and Ham in. The excellent rhyming text and bizarre illustrations go to complete a wonderful book; one that every fussy eater should read.

My parents used to read this to me when I was being "difficult" and refusing to eat something and I still quote it to people who are unadventurous eaters (which is quite often as I lead birdwatching trips in Thailand). My favorite illustration from the book is towards the end where everyone ends up in the sea and waits for the Sceptic to try the food; the look on the goat's face is hilarious.

I still love Green Eggs and Ham!

The Sneetches is a brilliant story of weird yellow creatures who have a highly divided society where a "star-upon-thars" makes one part of privileged society and allows one to attend exclusive marshmallow toasts and other such social events on the beach. These ridiculous creatures are then provided with a populist quick fix by the devious Sylvester McMonkey McBean who runs off with all their cash, leaving the Sneetches unable to know who is who.

As a child I loved the weird Sneetches and the funny illustrations of them partying on the beach and looking forlorn and downtrodden. I still love this story for its forever pertinent message.

This is a brilliant story with an obvious message and delightful illustrations.

This is one of the zaniest books you could ever dream of with a strange behatted cat providing manic entertainment for two children who have been left at home alone on a rainy day. Rainy days can be frustrating and dull for kids but the cat has the solution to that with all sorts of silly tricks and capers to impress the kids with. However, when he releases Thing 1 and Thing 2 it looks like mother will come back to a wrecked house but the children get together to trap the Things and the Cat helps them clean up the house just in time.

I had some rainy days like this when I was a youngster but the mess I made was all my own doing and unfortunately I did not have the Cat's machines to help me clear up.

This is an absolutely mad book which children and adults of all ages love.

This story is a funny parody of the commercialism which continues to creep into Christmas in which the grumpy old Grinch tires of hearing the happy Whos of Whoville enjoying Christmas. He attempts to stop Christmas by stealing all the presents and trimmings on Christmas Eve but even though he succeeds in this plan Christmas arrives anyway. After much grouching and moaning there is a happy ending for everyone.

I never actually read this Dr Seuss book when I was young, but I did see the cartoon. I was prompted to read this story after watching the Hollywood adaptation with some children that I was teaching and it quickly became one of my favorites.

I love the miserable old Grinch, there aren't enough lovable old moaners in children's books.

This is a splendid story which has lots of strange characters as is normal for Seuss and it focuses on the fact that Horton the elephant is ridiculed by other animals for talking to the tiny Whos of Whoville who no one else is able to see. After being imprisoned for his beliefs the Whos eventually manage to make enough noise to convince all that they exist and Horton is finally released from his cage.

As a child I loved Horton because he was cute and looked after those who needed his help. As an adult I love poor old Horton for sticking to what he believes in spite of his beliefs being unfashionable; a standpoint that few in the public eye seem to hold these days.