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From here
to there, adults remember funny things everywhere
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Jamie
Parsell —
“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!,” written in 1990 by the legendary Dr. Seuss is one
of Crystal White Kieloch’s favorite Dr. Seuss books. Never mind, the book is in
the children’s section at libraries and bookstores, Kieloch, who lives in
Princeton, believes everyone could benefit from reading the book, which encourages
kids to believe in their abilities.
Seuss, whose birthday is tomorrow, tells his readers they can move mountains
each and every day. An idea that is appealing to working adults, college
students, parents and, finally, beginning readers who face the daunting task of
learning vocabulary words.
“This is so important to me as I face each day and now particularly in my job
as I encourage students to do their best in whatever task they undertake,”
Kieloch said.
Anne Hess, of Hearthside Books in Bluefield,
also enjoys the more grown up book, but says the best-selling book at the store
is probably “The Cat in the Hat.” Teachers tend to buy up different Seuss
books, but parents look for titles from their own childhood, she said.
“Right now, ‘The Lorax’ is popular because of the environment and save the
earth campaigns,” Wilma Bury said. Bury, also of Hearthside Books, prefers
“Green Eggs and Ham.”
“I think they are all great. I just like that goofy one,” she said.
Around the country, libraries and schools will celebrate the literary life of
Theodor Seuss Geisel — the publisher of more than 60 children’s books — who is
responsible for the best-selling books “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Cat in the
Hat” and “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.” During his birthday month,
children will revel in “The Cat and The Hat” and laugh about the combination of
green eggs and ham. Events are scheduled for tomorrow evening at the Princeton
Public Library at 6 p.m. The Craft Memorial Library will celebrate on March 5
at 3:30 p.m.
But what about adults? For many around the two Virginias, Dr. Seuss is a pop culture icon —
a literary part of childhood full of rhymes and rhythms. Adults remember the
light bulb that flickered with understanding, head bent over a book. The growing
vocabulary, the colorful illustrations and then the Hollywood
adaptations that brought the books to life.
“I have to say that I am still partial to ‘Green Eggs and Ham’,” said Tasha
Hicks of Bluefield. “I love the idea of something so nasty sounding being
delicious in the end. I love how Dr. Seuss could use the alliterations to teach
something such as try new things.”
Among adults “Green Eggs and Ham” is one of the most popular of Dr. Seuss’
books. Angela White Neal, a third grade teacher at Mercer Elementary, likes
using the books in the classroom.
“They are timeless and easy for children to read because of the rhyme and
repetition all throughout the books,” she said.
Of course, her personal favorite is “Green Eggs and Ham.”
“It always sticks out in my mind because I remember a teacher I had in
elementary school who actually cooked us green eggs and ham on Dr. Seuss’
birthday.”
In Buchanan County, Va., Barbara Woods will help celebrate Dr.
Seuss’ birthday at Russell Prater Elementary.
“We are having the kids write their own book,” Woods said. The teacher aide has
read more Dr. Seuss books as an adult — not a child.
“I like the ‘The Cat in the Hat’ even if it is the most popular. My grandkids
like it too,” she said.
Adults are more familiar with Dr. Seuss, thanks to Hollywood’s adaptation of
2000’s “The Grinch,” 2003’s “The Cat in the Hat,” and last years “Horton Hears
a Who.” Some adults fondly remember the 1966 television special “How the Grinch
Stole Christmas.”
“My earliest memory is not reading a Seuss book but that of anticipating every
year the best Christmas special on television with ‘The Grinch that Stole
Christmas.’ This animated special was my all time favorite because the Grinch
had a change of heart ... just as we all need,” Kieloch said.
In 2008, “Horton Hears a Who” passed the $100 million mark at the box office,
proving Seuss — on the page or big screen — is entertainment for all ages.
Greg Camden, of Bluefield,
believes Horton is one of the best Dr. Seuss characters of all time. But he
admits he likes the story because it wasn’t required reading by his elementary
teachers. Horton, a more obscure character, didn’t receive as much attention
compared to Seuss’ other books.
The first book about Horton titled “Horton Lays an Egg” was written in 1940.
The second book, written in 1954, finds Horton listening to a speck of dust,
which is really a planet filled with tiny Who’s.
However, it is also Tazewell resident Leslee Atkins’ favorite book.
“I love elephants,” Atkins said. “I remember growing up in Kansas and celebrating Dr. Seuss day. I got
to pick the book that the Cat would read and I picked ‘Horton Hears a Who.’”
But many adults like Seuss’ books because of the political undertones. Chris
Lyons of Princeton likes “One Fish Two Fish
Red Fish Blue Fish.”
“It is a totally different book when you read it as an adult,” he said. “It
makes for a completely different story.”
The book, written in 1960, deals with Democrats and Republicans, an issue that
children would never understand, but one that makes adults appreciate Seuss’
political humor. As for other political books, “The Lorax” deals with
environmentalism and anti-consumerism, “The Butter Battle Book” is about the
arms race of the ’80s, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” stands up against
materialism and “Horton Hears a Who” speaks out about anti-isolationism and
internationalism. And during the Watergate scandal, Seuss converted the title
“Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!” to “Richard M. Nixon, Will You
Please Go Now” for a major newspaper cartoon.
Regardless of his stand on social issues, his greatest achievement is using 236
vocabulary words to create “The Cat in the Hat.” Written in 1954, it is the
book that influenced the rest of his career — and the lives of millions of
children.
In the opening page of “The Cat in the Hat,” Seuss writes, “The sun did not
shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house All that cold, cold, wet
day.” The perfect day — a grand opportunity — to read a book, learn a line and get
carried away by the magic of Seuss’ rhythm and rhyme.
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