Relating to Seuss

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Yesterday was Dr. Seuss' birthday! Our family looks forward to this day every year. Sometimes we create Seuss-themed crafts, most times we make green eggs and ham, and every time we spend the day in a reading marathon. Seuss published over 60 books, and we own the majority of them. I love his writing style. It's a combination of silly and whimsical with made-up words and animals off-set by deep concepts that are written for the littlest learners to comprehend. 

My kids love reading the Who Was Dr. Seuss? book and sharing details of his life that they've learned. Do you know which book was written because of a bet from his editor? Or which one was in reference to the Cold War? Or do you know which book and character were fashioned after Adolf Hitler? Many of this writings have more meaning than simple rhyming words like hop on pop for early readers. 

Nine years ago, I listed some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books and quotes. I also attributed a story to each of my kiddos. Of course, the kids are older now, and we've also added a couple to our family. It's time to relate a story to each of them again!  

The book I choose for Jake is The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga. It is a forgotten tale found in The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories. In it, a little rabbit is about to become a big bear's dinner when he uses his quick thinking to outsmart the beast. It starts with a simple missing eyelash and swiftly escalates to a crooked head, a sore throat, a broken backbone, and more. The bear becomes terrified of dying from this missing eyelash ailment and eagerly obeys the rabbit's medical advice, leaving the wily creature free to escape with his life. 

"Unless I think terribly, terribly fast . . . I've got to be smart! Got to think of some trick! And that little old rabbit, he thought mighty quick!"

Jake is my quick-witted, philosopher, clever child. He is able to choose his words to manipulate situations, both to get his way and just for fun. When he tries it with me though, I often remind him that he came by that thinking naturally and can usually anticipate what is swirling around in his head. His mental ingenuity has the ability to frustrate yet impress me at the same time.

Alyssa's book is easily I can Read with My Eyes Shut! She is my bibliophile and is often found deep in a book. In this story, the Cat in the Hat explains just how much you can learn by reading. Bees. Hoses. Anchors. Wishbones. Foo-Foo the Snoo. Ice. Glad. And much more, too. 

And when I keep them open I can read with much more speed. You have to be a speedy reader 'cause there's so, so much to read!

That perfectly describes my girl who reads stacks of books each week.

Anyone who knows my Zachary knows that he is a loving, compassionate child. Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose is my book for him.  Thidwick is a moose who allowed a tiny Bingle Bug to hitch a ride on his antlers. As he traveled the countryside eating moose moss, more and more creatures took advantage of his hospitality. A spider, many birds, a family of squirrels, a bobcat and turtle, a fox, mice, fleas, and a bear all made their residence in his roomy antlers. The burden was cumbersome and cost him much, yet he continued to show kindness.   

"Of course not!" Smiled Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose. "I'm happy my antlers can be of some use. There's room there to spare, and I'm happy to share! Be my guest and I hope that you're comfortable there!"

Just like the moose, Zac lives a life of benevolence. He is always thinking of others and going out of his way to bless people, even when it comes at a cost to him. He is a people-pleaser and a problem-solver whose big heart can be hurt when people take advantage of him, but ultimately is full when he demonstrates his generosity. 

If this would have been a few years ago, I wouldn't hesitate to say that The Cat in the Hat was absolutely Tyler. The antics of the Cat--always getting into mischief, always causing trouble, always doing what he shouldn't and always with a smile--was Tyler as a toddler. I could write a book on the shenanigans he caused, but he has since outgrown that stage. Mostly. 

Instead, I decided on If I Ran the Circus. The book relates Morris McGurk's dream of creating a circus. His plans include acrobats and jugglers and clowns, of course, but also horn-tooting apes, the Remarkable Foon who eats sizzling pebbles that fall off the moon, a Blindfolded Bowman from Brigger-ba-Root, a Jott who juggles 22 question marks and 44 commas and 1 dot, a Flummox, a Harp-Twanging Snarp, and 5 layers of To-an-Fro Marchers. Page after page, the Circus McGurkus gets bigger and better with "wild ruckus-ing."

"But that's just my Side Show. A start. A beginning. This way to the Big Tent! You'll find your head spinning."

Tyler is my inventor. He loves to create elaborate designs--on paper, with Lego, using odds and ends from around the house. He draws detailed doughnut machines where the treats follow conveyor belts to be drizzled with chocolate or glaze or sprinkled just right. He builds all sorts of Rube Goldberg-type of machines where one feature triggers something new. His mind is filled with complicated feats, but then he creates and designs and constructs them into existence. In fact, he showed me his latest fabrication as I was typing this. If he ever decides to create "The World's Greatest Show on the face of the earth," you can be sure he'll bring it to life.  

Nick's book is Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? This was probably my favorite Seuss book growing up. I loved all the silly sounds and melodious rhymes. It's such a fun book to read to little ones.

Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do! Moo Moo Buzz Buzz Pop Pop Pop Eek Eek Hoo Hoo Klopp Klopp Klopp Dibble Dibble Dopp Dopp Cock-a-doodle-doo Mr. Brown can do it. How about you?

Nick is my performer. He loves to be in the spotlight and often calls for my attention as he lip syncs and dances along with songs, complete with dramatic faces and mannerisms. He spends his days singing--literally all day long--and makes silly sounds. Maybe one day he'll follow Mr. Brown's example and become a voice actor.  

I had originally planned to choose books for only the kids, but when I saw Oh, the Places You'll Go!, I immediately thought of Leighton. The book is a popular choice for gifting to graduates because it talks about possibilities. The chance to see great things, accomplish worthy tasks, and go amazing places. Sometimes, hard times will come and you'll make mistakes. That's life. Pick yourself up, work hard, and you'll succeed.

You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Many people know that Leighton had a difficult childhood. He experienced things that no child should ever have to, yet he didn't let those circumstances break him. He is an intelligent man with many talents. I often say that there is nothing he can't do. He seized the opportunities he came across and has been successful in many ways. He used those brains in his head and decided where to go. And he chose wisely.

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is my book. It describes example after example of someone whose life is worse than the next. Be thankful that you don't have to work on the Bunglebung Bridge or that you didn't take your Throm-dim-bu-lator apart or that you're not like Mr. Bix who has every day his Borfin to fix. Be glad that you haven't spent 32 years trying to teach Irish ducks to read Jivvanese  or that you can produce a shadow because nothing is wrong with your Gizz and that you don't live in France by the pants-eating-plants. Each situation is crazy and impossible and depressing (though humorously told).

When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad . . . you should do what I do! . . . Don't grumble! Don't stew! Some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you! 

Did I ever tell you how lucky I am? I truly have nothing to complain about. God has blessed my life abundantly. And when situations happen that don't align with my personal plan, God is still good. He loves and provides and protects. He's given me so much. And to top it all off, I know I'll never have to worry about having a tail that is filled with unsolvable knots like the Crumple-horn, Web-footed, Green-bearded Schlottz!

And that's our family through Dr. Seuss!

Do you love Dr. Seuss like we do? What is your favorite book?

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