I ran across this in our local Wal-Mart the other day and was captivated. At my advanced age — I can remember the day JFK was shot, if you're wondering — it still grabs and holds me. Tight. I found myself reading it aloud (quietly) and enjoying it with all my heart. All the way through.
All the way through. It's a wonderful, wonderful book. So is The Cat in the Hat. Yes, I read that one all the way through as well. Also out loud. How well I remembered, while reading, the little things I wondered about, while I read these books as a child! Questions that have still not been answered, strangely enough. Questions to which experience has brought no light. Questions like: how did he do that? What kind of poetry is this?
If anything, I have more questions now. Why is it still so powerful? How did such a simple book come to mean so much? Was he really a poet? Or am I really an idiot?
Por que no los dos, eh?
by Bulawayoland
1 Comment
I think the simplest explanation is that many of his books are just fun to read aloud. It’s almost like building a Lego set. The pieces and instructions are all there, you just have to follow them. But when you finish, the feeling of accomplishment is real. With Seuss, it’s more like besting a little verbal obstacle course or roller coaster. The sounds are fun to make with your mouth, and many of them are words or sounds you wouldn’t otherwise say. Often the rhymes happen in a cadence that is almost surprising in its satisfaction.
It’s a playground for your eyes and mouth!