The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss

Author: Kathleen Krull
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2004
Genre: Biography
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Ages 6 to 12 (Barnes and Noble)
Summary: Ted Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904. His grandparents were German immigrants. Ted's father ran the local zoo. Ted's favorite things were books and animals! He lived in a house on Fairfield Street which was just the right place because it was close to the library and the zoo. Ted's mother, Henrietta Seuss Geisel, wanted her children to go to college so they could be called doctor. She would read them verse and nonsense before going to bed at night and he would listen to her while he curled up with his stuffed dog that his mother gave him, who he named Theophrastus. He had fun playing and exploring the park with the neighbor boys and loved going to the Springfield parades. However, Ted started noticing ways that he didn't fit in. In school he got teased for being German he often got beat up. This was his first realization of injustice. The only thing he really enjoyed and that no one seemed to be as good at as he was, was drawing. He doodled in class and at home. He even drew on his bedroom walls but his mother didn't mind. He loved to draw animals and nonsensical creatures. Once he won first place in a drawing contest that his parents helped him enter. His teachers gave him a hard time in school because he was always doodling and the one art class he took, he dropped out of because the teacher told him he broke the rules and would never be a successful artist. The only teacher he ever liked was one English teacher who liked his work and encouraged him to apply for Dartmouth College, his old school. Ted did apply and got in but he soon left after being voted "least likely to succeed." He later went to Oxford college in England. He continued to doodle and write verse and once, as he was doodling, a classmate that he had a crush on leaned over and whispered in his ear, "That is a very good flying cow." With more encouragement from her he left Oxford and went back home to seek a career doing what he loved. He saturated the mailrooms with his drawings and verses sent to magazines and journals. He got turned down a lot by people who said his work was nonsense and ridiculous. But he never gave up. His first published drawing was accepted by the Saturday Evening Post. From there he just continued forward. He married the classmate from Oxford and she continued to encourage him. He found true happiness when he realized that his work could be great for children. He felt that would be a good place to share his love of nonsense, animals, books and justice. And so he did! He continued to publish using his pen name Dr. Seuss and became one of the most beloved authors and illustrators of all time!
Who would you recommend this book to? This would be a great book for all kids but especially ones with a love of Dr. Seuss's books!
Potential problems or conflicts: I don't see any potential problems or conflicts with this book.
My reaction: This is one of my new favorites! I love this book. The pictures are great, the story is great and it has wonderful messages for both children and adults. I think this book is a must read for everyone! Especially anyone with a love of Dr. Seuss's works!