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Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” — Dr. Seuss

Like his quote says, Dr. Seuss seemed like a very nonsensical kind of man. His books have made a lasting impression on every generation since he began publishing them in 1937. His name is as common as a household appliance throughout the United States. But where did he get his ideas? How did he start writing? His life is as fascinating as his wonderful books.

As a young man, he worked for an oil company writing ads that consisted of cartoon drawings of people. This began his love for writing and drawing. In 1937, while on a trip, he was inspired to write his first book, To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. He used the name Dr. Seuss, because he wanted to use his real name for more serious books. Seuss was his middle name, and he put Dr. in front of it because his father always wanted him to be a doctor.

In 1954, Dr. Seuss read an article that said children were having trouble learning how to read in schools across the country. The article mentioned that the reason for this was because children found the books boring. This inspired Dr. Seuss to try to write for beginner readers. He took a list of 250 words that schools were teaching kids, and incorporated all of them into one book called The Cat in the Hat. The book was an instant success of course!

In 1960, a friend of Dr. Seuss bet him $50 that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 words. Dr. Seuss won the bet by writing Green Eggs and Ham. He never did get his 50 dollars, but he created a fun book for children.

In total, Dr. Seuss has written and illustrated 44 children’s books, has won the Pulitzer Prize and has won 3 Academy Awards. On September 24, 1991, at the age of 87, Theodor Seuss Geisel passed away. However, his books are still enjoyed by children and adults alike, and he’s sure to be an author that is never forgotten!