(Reuters) — A funny thing happens when you open up a Dr. Seuss book — adults giggle and kids laugh.
It’s been that way forever and it was that way on Tuesday (July 28), when 24 years after the death of Theodor Geisel, a new Dr. Seuss book, “What Pet Should I Get?” was celebrated at the Geisel Library on the University of California San Diego campus.
“That is absolutely true the sense of imagination and whimsy, appeals to kids of all ages, even those of us who may be grown up kids,” explained Lynda Claassen, the director of special collections at the library.
The new book is the result of a lost find, when Geisel’s widow, Audrey Geisel found the manuscript in November 2013.
“Mrs. Geisel was remodeling the house and if you’ve ever done house remodels you know how things get put away and kind of lose track of them,” laughed Claassen. “In 2013 they were looking for some things and they happened too come across the papers and donated them to the library in 2013.”
About one hundred copies of the new, 48-page book, with a brother and sister who look much like those in One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish trying to choose a pet, sold within an hour. The buyers spanned three generations who had waited in line in the Geisel Collections area of the library.
“They are just fun books,” said Triscia Quinine, who celebrated the event with her granddaughter. “They’re a lot of fun for kids and adults. We read them a loud at elementary schools, they’re a favorite for everyone, just a lot of fun. Great presents, everyone loves Dr. Seuss. We can always have a lot of fun with the book.”
“I like his drawings and his rhymings are cool and I like the drawings the most,” added Nevaeh Blanchard-Jones, a lifelong Dr. Seuss fan, even though she’s still in elementary school.
Geisel began publishing children’s books as Dr. Seuss in 1931, and wrote more than 60 books, including the beloved Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Spam. Dr. Seuss sold more than 200 million books worldwide, according to Random House, and entire generations have grown up with the characters – some of whom have become dictionary words.
The books and Geisel’s odd characters spawned two dozen television specials, full-length movies, and Broadway musicals.
Three other books have been published since Geisel died, but this is the only the second where all the work was done by Geisel – except for the coloring the characters.
Publishers said it is expected to be followed by least two other books based on material left by the prolific and award-winning author Theodor Geisel, who wrote under the pen-name Dr. Seuss and who died in 1991.
