Well just about any hard core fan of Dr. Seuss will have read this work, or at the very least know of it. Even those that are not big-time Seuss lovers will at least have heard of it.
In children's literature we have three authors that are almost universally know. First of course is the unequaled Beatrix Potter, then the Brothers Grimm, and right up there with them is Dr. Seuss. Stop and ask anyone, at random, on the street and the chances are pretty good that they will know who you're talking about.
This work, Mulberry Street, is Theodor Seuss Geisel's first published book for children. He, of course, went on to write over 60 others in a long and very, very fruitful career. The first thing that the reader must remember when first reading this work is that it was published in 1937 and as I said, it was his first work. Times were different in1937; different artistic standards, different attitudes. That being said though, the genius of Seuss shines through on every page and frame in this book.
Already, the author has used the odd meter which has become so familiar, the same propensity to draw the strange looking critters and creatures which have become so beloved, and the theme of starting simple and adding to the story as it progresses is quite evident and will be seen through the entire body of his life's work.
A young lad is walking down Mulberry Street and spots a horse and wagon. (Actually, in 1937 this was a very common sight). The boy notes that telling this story of just seeing a broken down wagon just won't to. So being like most little boys our hero starts adding and embellishing. Suddenly the old horse becomes a prancing zebra and then the wagon becomes a Roman chariot being driven by a charioteer. Each page finds our little story teller adding to and modifying his story until the end when we have an entire parade including a police escort, an airplane, brass band, the Mayor and city council and a whole cast of characters included.
In the end, when asked by his father what he saw on his way home from school, reality hits the youth. I loved the ending.
Is this the best Seuss book? That of course is in the eye and mind of the reader. I personally think not, but on the other hand I have not read a Dr. Seuss book that I did not like. I was able to relate to the young man quite well and as a matter of fact, he and I shared many of the same imaginative characteristics at that age. I suspect that most kids into day's world will be able to relate t to this also.
In children's literature we have three authors that are almost universally know. First of course is the unequaled Beatrix Potter, then the Brothers Grimm, and right up there with them is Dr. Seuss. Stop and ask anyone, at random, on the street and the chances are pretty good that they will know who you're talking about.
This work, Mulberry Street, is Theodor Seuss Geisel's first published book for children. He, of course, went on to write over 60 others in a long and very, very fruitful career. The first thing that the reader must remember when first reading this work is that it was published in 1937 and as I said, it was his first work. Times were different in1937; different artistic standards, different attitudes. That being said though, the genius of Seuss shines through on every page and frame in this book.
Already, the author has used the odd meter which has become so familiar, the same propensity to draw the strange looking critters and creatures which have become so beloved, and the theme of starting simple and adding to the story as it progresses is quite evident and will be seen through the entire body of his life's work.
A young lad is walking down Mulberry Street and spots a horse and wagon. (Actually, in 1937 this was a very common sight). The boy notes that telling this story of just seeing a broken down wagon just won't to. So being like most little boys our hero starts adding and embellishing. Suddenly the old horse becomes a prancing zebra and then the wagon becomes a Roman chariot being driven by a charioteer. Each page finds our little story teller adding to and modifying his story until the end when we have an entire parade including a police escort, an airplane, brass band, the Mayor and city council and a whole cast of characters included.
In the end, when asked by his father what he saw on his way home from school, reality hits the youth. I loved the ending.
Is this the best Seuss book? That of course is in the eye and mind of the reader. I personally think not, but on the other hand I have not read a Dr. Seuss book that I did not like. I was able to relate to the young man quite well and as a matter of fact, he and I shared many of the same imaginative characteristics at that age. I suspect that most kids into day's world will be able to relate t to this also.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
- Accelerated Reading level : 3.6
- Hardcover: 40 pages
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
- ISBN-10: 0394844947
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