Boston's Book Nook Blog~ Springfield's Influence on Dr. Seuss's Successes

"The Places We Will Go" was not only one of Dr. Seuss's most beloved children's books but also a perfect description of his captivating capabilities upon his adoring audiences.   From "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" to "Cat in the Hat", there was just no telling where the ingenuity of the author would take you once you flipped open the cover.  Interestingly, many New Englanders are unaware that the two time Academy, Emmy, Peabody and Pulitzer Prize winner "inherited" many of his story lines, caricatures and fantasy lands from his hometown of Springfield, Mass.   

Originally named Theodor Seuss Geisel, the author notoriously included tidbits of affects from his childhood where he would someday pen in a collection that would exceed 44 zany and entertainingly delicious tales.   Although he relocated to La Jolla, California as a young adult, there is no denying the impression that the western state town of Massachusetts carried upon the infamous works of Dr. Seuss.

Born on Howard Street in 1904 as an articulate and fun loving boy, Seuss accredited his combination of imaginative illustrating and poetic writing skills to his two parents.  Due to his father being commissioner of Springfield's Forest Park Zoo, he spent hours adventuring through exhibits of animals that would one day be used in his series.  Both the elephant and The Jungle of Nool  of "Horton Hears a Who" were created from one of the boy's favorite park attractions. 

His mother was responsible for his "lyric learning" as she repeatedly chanted rhymes for bedtime stories.  Taking this early education with him, Theodor attended Dartmouth College where he became editor and chief of the campus magazine, "Jack-O-Lantern." Although he was excused from this position after being caught throwing a drinking party during the prohibition, he continuously contributed pieces under the name "Seuss" to evade the publication staff.   

Years later, he supported himself by writing ads for Standard Oil Co. until the United States Army invited him to make training movies for the troops during World War II.  It was during this exercise where he perfected and prioritized his love for animation.

Dr. Seuss's first book was "To Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street" which was rejected 27 times before accepted by Vanguard Press.  Including familiar symbols of red motorcycles (Springfield Indian Motorcycles) and a character resembling the city's past Mayor Fordis Parker, this manuscript eventually gave way to the story "Cat in the Hat", putting the author on the literary map forever.   

Today, there are hundreds of erected sites paying homage to both the rich ideas and morals the Seuss books have always exhibited.  One in particular is the "Dr. Seuss Memorial" located in Springfield which was sculpted by his stepdaughter, Lark Grey Diamond.   Replica pieces  of her father's most popular figures stand in memory or his work including "Thing One and Thing Two", "Yertle The Turtle", "The Lorax" and many more.  These pieces were not only designed to immortalize the characters of Seuss's poems, but to also inspire children to continue to explore the intricate depths of their imaginations.  "Oh, the things that you can find if you don't stay behind..." (On Beyond Zebra, Seuss of course!)