One of many great things about being a mom is that I get to share all the books, games, and toys that I loved as a child with my children. Before my son was born my husband and I went to a local book store and bought every single Dr. Seuss book they had.
I love Seuss for so many reasons, but mostly I love him becasue they were the only books my father would read to me.
My dad is master of voice inflection, he memorized major poems like "The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner" and he would practice his recitals on us. I still remember being six or seven and feeling chills as repeated the line "Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink."
Anyway, my dad would get so into Dr. Seuss, that for a long time I thought he was the author. He would go around saying the lines from the books every time we asked him questions and he holds the same type of humor Seuss does.
I'm not sure when I figured out that my dad wasn't Dr. Seuss, but I remember thinking that they had to at least be friends.
My favorite Seuss book, the one that I love to read to my kids is "Oh the Places You'll Go!"
The message is poignant and powerful, especially as writers. There have been so many times when I feel like I've ended up in 'a slump' and come down from that slump with unpleasant bump.
I love that the story doesn't end there, that life takes us through so many paths (and all too often to the waiting place) but in the end, the hard work is worth it.
"And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! 98 & 3/4% guaranteed. Kid, you'll move mountains!"
That's what I want my children to know more than anything, that with hard work, any mountain can be moved.
What is your favorite children's book?
9 comments:
Oh my gosh, we really MUST be twins! I guess great minds think alike, right?! This is too awesome. I love this post! Your dad sounds so awesome, it actually makes me emotional! What a great post and what great memories! Thanks for doing the Kids-Fest with me!
Great stories about your dad reciting poetry and Dr. Seuss:) I didn't have too much exposure to children's books growing up, but I really liked my first "I Can Read Book" about Sam the Minuteman. It's still one of my favorites:)
I loved this post! My fave kid book was a Dr. Seuss, as well. But it was the Cat in the Hat. That's so cute that you thought your dad and Dr. Suess were one and the same. He sounds like an amazing father. :) No wonder you turned out to be a writer.
Green Eggs and Ham - by Suess of course :)
I also have a book called Fritz something. And I remember a book of poetry my grandmother gave me called My Grandmothers House is Shrinking.
Anyway, those are my favorites. Oh wait - one more. Are You My Mother? - I don't remember who it is by but it is the cutest story about a baby bird trying to find its mother.
@Abby - Happy to! I thought it was a great idea!
@Mark - I've never heard of that one, I'll have to check it out :)
@Anita - He was pretty darn good, still is ;)
@Krista - Are you my mother! That's one I need to get for the munchkins. Green Eggs and Ham was my favorite until I read it my kids one billion times, maybe someday I'll like it again, lol!
I think it's wonderful that you thought your dad was Dr. Seuss. Even better that when you realised he wasn't, you still associated the two of them :-)
@Sarah - the crazy thing is, I still do. I CANNOT read Seuss without his voice in my head, lol.
As a kid, my favorite was Horses of Dreamland. Anything about horses really.
I received a copy of Oh the Places You'll Go! when I graduated high school. It's a nice comfort sometimes when the world is going to hell to just open it(I take it with me whenever I move) and sit down for a nice read.
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