Dr.

Seuss books[edit]
The bulk of Theodor Seuss Geisel's books were published under the name of Dr. Seuss. The
exceptions include Great Day for Up!, My Book about ME, Gerald McBoing Boing, The Cat in the
Hat Beginner Book Dictionary (credited to the Cat himself), 13 books credited to Theo.
LeSeig, Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! and I Am Not Going to Get Up Today!, though all were
in fact illustrated and written by Geisel. Note only first edition information is given.
The rights to the books and related media (films, TV shows, stage productions, exhibitions, digital
media, licensed merchandise) and other strategic partnerships are owned by Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

Title Year Publisher

The Pocket Book of Boners 1931 Viking Press

This book is a collection of humorous anecdotes and illustrations representing some of the earliest
work credited to Dr. Seuss. The 1941 printing of The Pocket Book of Boners compiles four separate
books that were issued in 1931. The first book was illustrated by Dr. Seuss.

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Vanguard Press (original issue)/Random

1937
Street House (reissue)

Marco watches the sight and sounds of people and vehicles traveling along Mulberry Street and
dreams up an elaborate story to tell to his father at the end of his walk. The first book written, created
and originated by Dr. Seuss. Made into a Madcap Model Oscar-nominated short in 1944 in
the Paramount Pictures series.

Vanguard Press (original issue)/Random

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins 1938
House (reissue)

In the kingdom of Didd, King Derwin is riding through a street past Bartholomew Cubbins, a poor boy in
the market. Bartholomew removes his hat, according to the laws, but another hat mysteriously
appears; when he attempts to remove this one too, another one appears again, and this continues,
even as he removes more and more hats, each growing in extravagance and beauty. This is the first
book where Dr. Seuss did not write any words in rhyme. Made into a Madcap Model Oscar-
nominated short in 1943 in the Paramount Pictures series.

The King's Stilts 1939 Random House

The story of King Bertram of Binn, who dedicates himself to safeguarding his kingdom, which has a
 Title Year Publisher

precarious existence. It is surrounded by water, which is held back from flooding the land by a ring of
dike trees, which are in turn subject to attack from flocks of Nizzards. To protect the kingdom, a legion
of Patrol Cats is organized to keep the Nizzards at bay, and King Bertram sees to their care personally.

The Seven Lady Godivas 1939 Random House

The seven Lady Godivas each learn a moral while taking care of a horse.

Horton Hatches the Egg 1940 Random House

An elephant named Horton is convinced by an irresponsible bird named Mayzie to sit on her egg while
she takes a short break, which proves to last for months. Made into a Merrie Melodies cartoon in 1942.

McElligot's Pool 1947 Random House

A Caldecott Honor Book. A boy named Marco is ridiculed for fishing in a small, polluted pool, and tries
to justify himself by imagining the fish he might catch. It is one of the few books by Geisel to use
paintings as the medium for its illustrations, rather than his common use of pen and ink.

Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose 1948 Random House

Thidwick, a moose who lives in a herd of "about sixty or more", accepts a bug living on his antlers for
free, who tells a spider of the free housing, and both accept a "Zinn-a-zu" bird, and this leads to a
whole host of freeloaders taking up residence.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck 1949 Random House

A Caldecott Honor Book. Bartholomew must rescue the kingdom from a sticky substance called
Oobleck. The sequel to The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.

If I Ran the Zoo 1950 Random House

 Title Year Publisher

A Caldecott Honor Book. Gerald McGrew visits a zoo and finds that the animals are "not good enough"
and describes how he would run the zoo. He would let all of the current animals free and find new,
more bizarre and exotic ones.

Simon & Schuster/Random House (current

Gerald McBoing Boing 1952
reissue)/Golden Books (former reissue)

Based on the Academy Award-winning 1950 short film of the same name. First Dr. Seuss book not
illustrated by Geisel.

Scrambled Eggs Super! 1953 Random House

A young boy named Peter T. Hooper spins a tale of an incredible meal he created by harvesting the
eggs of fantastically exotic birds.

Horton Hears a Who! 1954 Random House

Horton the Elephant of the Jungle of Nool hears a speck of dust talking to him. The speck of dust is
actually a tiny planet, home to a city called Who-ville, inhabited by microscopic-sized inhabitants known
as Whos and led by a character known as the Mayor. The sequel to Horton Hatches the Egg. Adapted
into a 1970 television special and a 2008 feature length CGI film.

On Beyond Zebra! 1955 Random House

The young narrator, not content with the confines of the ordinary alphabet, invents additional letters
beyond Z, with a fantastic creature corresponding to each new letter.

If I Ran the Circus 1956 Random House

Behind Mr. Sneelock's ramshackle store, there is an empty lot. Little Morris McGurk is convinced that if
he could just clear out the rusty cans, the dead tree, and the old cars, nothing would prevent him from
using the lot for the amazing, world-beating, Circus McGurkus. The sequel to If I Ran the Zoo.
 Title Year Publisher

The Cat in the Hat 1957 Random House/Houghton Mifflin

The Cat in the Hat brings his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, to a household of two young
children one rainy day. Chaos ensues while the children wonder how they are going to explain what
happens to their mother. The first Beginner Books entry written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss and the
book that started the line. Adapted into a 1971 television special and a 2003 feature-length film.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1957 Random House

The Grinch, a bitter, cave-dwelling creature, tries to steal everything related to Christmas by
impersonating Santa Claus. Eventually, he realizes he has a heart for Christmas after all. Adapted into
a 1966 television special, a 2000 feature-length film, a 2018 feature length CGI film, and an annual
musical. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shut down the theater and the production created a free radio
drama show.[3]

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories 1958 Random House

Consists of three stories:

 Yertle the Turtle: Unsatisfied with the stone that serves as his throne, the king turtle commands the
other turtles to stack themselves beneath him so that he can see further and expand his kingdom.
 Gertrude McFuzz: The "girl-bird" Gertrude McFuzz has one small, plain tail feather and envies
Lolla-Lee-Lou, who has two fancy tail feathers.
 The Big Brag: A rabbit and a bear both boast that they are the "best of the beasts", because of the
range of their hearing and smelling abilities, respectively.
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back 1958 Random House
The Cat in the Hat returns, bringing along Little Cat A nested inside his hat. Little Cat A doffs his hat to
reveal Little Cat B, who in turn reveals Little Cat C, and so on down to the microscopic Little Cat Z.
Together they try to get rid of a pink ring that has spread from the bathtub to the dress, to the wall, into
some shoes, and finally out onto the snow where they work to get rid of it.
Happy Birthday to You! 1959 Random House
Deals with a fantastic land, called Katroo, where the Birthday Bird throws everyone an amazing party
on their special day.
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue
1960 Random House
Fish
A simple rhyming book for learner readers with a freewheeling plot about a boy and a girl and the many
amazing creatures they have for friends and as pets.
 Title Year Publisher

Green Eggs and Ham 1960 Random House

Sam-I-Am consistently pesters an unnamed character (who is also the narrator; later named Guy-Am-I
in the 2019 animated series) to try green eggs and ham. The unnamed character refuses to eat the
food, insisting that he would not like it until the end. Adapted into a 1973 television special and a
2019 animated series, both by Warner Bros. Animation.
The Sneetches and Other Stories 1961 Random House
Consists of four stories:

 The Sneetches: Because the Star-Bellied Sneetches are being prejudicial to the Plain-Bellied
Sneetches, a "fix-it-up chappie" named Sylvester McMonkey McBean appears and offers the
Sneetches without stars a chance to have them by going through his Star-On Machine. Adapted
into a 1973 television special.
 The Zax: A North-Going Zax and a South-Going Zax meet face to face in the Prairie of Prax. They
refuse to move out of the way for one another and end up staying there. Teaches the value of
compromise. Adapted into a 1973 television special.
 Too Many Daves: A mother, Mrs. McCave, who named all 23 of her sons Dave and has trouble
telling them apart.
 What Was I Scared Of?: The tale of a character who repeatedly meets up with an empty pair of
pale-green pants and has to learn to accept them.
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book 1962 Random House
A small bug yawn spreads contagiously and though various creatures, including two Foona Lagoona
Baboona, the Collapsable Frink, the Chippendale Mupp, two Offt, and the Curious Krandles.
Dr. Seuss's ABC 1963 Random House
An alphabet book which features many strange creatures from Aunt Annie's Alligator to the Zizzer-
Zazzer-Zuzz. In the 2008 American computer animated adventure comedy film Horton Hears a Who!,
Yaks (including Katie (voiced by Joey King[4]), which resembled the Yawning Yellow Yak) appear as
residents of The Jungle of Nool.[5]
Hop on Pop: The Simplest Seuss for
1963 Random House
Youngest Use
Hop on Pop provides simple rhymes to help beginner reading, such as a character named Pat who sits
on a hat, a cat, a bat and must not sit on that (which is a cactus). Shows a variety of characters and
teaches sentence composition.
The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book
1964 Random House
Dictionary
This dictionary book was written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman (and Peter Eastman in the additional
in 2007). This is the very first Beginner Books special written by Dr. Seuss (credited as the Cat
himself). The signature credit that said, "Dr. Seuss", was in the original and seen on the first page.
Fox in Socks 1965 Random House
A fox in socks challenges Mr. Knox with ever-more complex rhyming tongue-twisters, which begins to
get on Knox's nerves.
I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla
1965 Random House
Sollew
 Title Year Publisher

A tale of a young person who discovers the "troubles" of life and wishes to escape them.
The Cat in the Hat Song Book 1967 Random House
A book exploring a wide variety of Dr. Seuss songs. Piano score and guitar chords by Eugene
Poddany.
The Foot Book 1968 Random House
Introduces many different creatures with different feet. The first Bright and Early Books entry written
and illustrated by Dr. Seuss and the book that started the line.
I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other
1969 Random House
Stories
The title story concerns a boy who brags that he can fight 30 tigers and win. However, he makes
excuse after excuse, finally disqualifying all the tigers until he must fight no tigers at all. The
illustrations are notable for their use of gouache and brush strokes rather than the usual pen and ink.
Other stories include King Looie Katz, another warning against hierarchical society advocating self-
reliance, and The Glunk That Got Thunk about the power of run-away imagination.
My Book about ME 1969 Random House
This book is deliberately incomplete as there are blanks on every page where the child is meant to fill
in answers specific to them.
I Can Draw It Myself 1970 Random House
A coloring book featuring rhyming instructions to help children complete various pictures, culminating in
a challenge to the child to draw his or her own "Big Something". The full title of the book is I Can Draw
It Myself by Me, Myself.
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr.
1970 Random House
Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises!
The book shows the sounds "Mr. Brown" can make, such as a cow's "moo", a frying pan's "sizzle", and
a hippo's "grum". It was written so children would be able to learn about onomatopoeia and the sounds
that they hear every day.
The Lorax 1971 Random House
The Lorax chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax (a mossy, bossy man-like creature
resembling an emperor tamarin), who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler. Adapted into a
1972 television special, a 2012 feature length CGI film, and a 2018 musical.
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go
1972 Random House
Now!
Marvin K. Mooney is asked to leave in many ways.
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You
1973 Random House
Are?
Discusses an amusing litany of terrible predicaments which could befall a person, with the repeated
admonishment that "you're really quite lucky".
The Shape of Me and Other Stuff 1973 Random House
Explores the adventures of two kids and their journey to learn about all the shapes and sizes that make
up our world.
 Title Year Publisher

There's a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974 Random House

A little boy talks about the strange creatures that live in his house, such as the Yeps on the steps, the
Nooth Grush on his toothbrush, the Yottle in the bottle and the Jertain in the curtain. The last Bright
and Early Books entry illustrated by Dr. Seuss.
Great Day for Up! 1974 Random House
Every new day starts a new adventure. Illustrated by Quentin Blake.
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975 Random House
About the many amazing 'thinks' one can think and the endless possibilities and dreams that
imagination can create.
The Cat's Quizzer 1976 Random House
The Cat in the Hat asks many, sometimes ridiculous, questions of the reader. This is the only Beginner
Books reissue (B-75) written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss.
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! 1978 Random House
The Cat in the Hat shows a Young Cat the fun he can get out of reading. Also shows that reading is a
useful tool to acquire knowledge.
Oh Say Can You Say? 1979 Random House
A collection of 25 tongue-twisters such as "Oh my brothers! Oh my sisters! These are Terrible Tongue
Twisters!" The last Beginner Books entry illustrated by Dr. Seuss.
Hunches in Bunches 1982 Random House
A boy is approached by numerous strange creatures with enormous gloved hats on their heads. Each
"hunch" points out a different possible course of action, with some even contradicting themselves.
The Butter Battle Book 1984 Random House
The conflict between the Yooks and the Zooks over which side of bread to spread butter on leads to an
arms race, each competing to make bigger and nastier weapons to outdo the other, which results in
the threat of mutual assured destruction. Adapted into a 1989 television special.
You're Only Old Once! 1986 Random House
An old man journeys through a medical clinic and sees its inefficiency.
I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! 1987 Random House
A lazy boy chooses to stay in bed despite media coverage and the arrival of the U.S. Marines.
Illustrated by James Stevenson; the last Beginner Books entry written by Dr. Seuss.
The Tough Coughs as He Ploughs the
1987 Random House
Dough
A collection of Dr. Seuss' early writings and cartoons, edited by Richard Marschall.
Oh, the Places You'll Go! 1990 Random House
Dr. Seuss' last book published before his death, about life and its challenges.