happy birthday, dr. seuss!

As I dropped off the kid at school today the librarian greeted each child at the door and gave them a sticker and said, "Happy Dr. Seuss Day!" How cool is that? I think some of the first Seuss books I read were also from the second grade school library. My favorite has always been The Sneetches, but I really love them all.

Tomorrow a friend is taking her to see the new Lorax movie as a belated birthday gift. I have had a love/hate relationship with the Seuss adaptations that his widow, Audrey Geisel, has approved since his death in 1991. I think she intends well, but I really can't stand any of the live-action versions and the animated ones have just been O.K. I do really love the older cartoon versions of his books, most of them from the '60s and '70s — the Grinch of course, but also The Cat in the Hat, The Sneetches and Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who, and an excellent animated version of The Lorax from 1972.

Horton Hatches the Egg, 1942

Horton Hears a Who, 1970

I'm sure she'll love the movie. I'm just happy that I don't have to see it until it eventually shows up on television. But any excuse to read some Seuss is good.

Happy 108th birthday Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel.

in the land of the lorax

Still feeling a little surreal. My stuff is supposed to arrive next week. Still trying to make room. Baby steps . . .

Related articles by Zemanta

• I Am the Lorax, I Speak for the Trees. And for Coal Gasification. [Dr. Seuss] (gawker.com)