Dr. Seuss Movie Review: ***^The Cat in the Hat (2003)

 The best way to describe this movie is there is a whole lot of strange going on.  The Cat (Mike M
yers) comes to entertain two children, Sally and Conrad (Dakota Fanning and Spencer Breslin) who are home with the babysitter (Amy Hill) who sleeps through everything.  Mom (Kelly Preston) is away at work.  The neighbor (Alec Baldwin) wants to get Conrad sent to middle school so he can have more time with mom.  The Cats methods of entertaining are not really normal, and when Thing 1 and Thing 2 get out of the box things really go haywire.  A fun race by the Cat and the kids to beat the neighbor to the house so they can clean up--which seems impossible.  

Christmas Movie: ****^ Dr Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)

****^ Dr Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)  I think this is the best of the theater Christmas movies this year.  I especially like the character of Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seeley) who is determined to capture Santa Clause so she can make a special request for her mother for Christmas.  Her personality really shows in this animated format.  Of course The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) shows up for Christmas, taking the tree so he can repair it.  In truth he has taken everyone’s Christmas.  This was a very enjoyable remake.  There are bits with the reindeer that are fun, and the relationship between the Grinch and his neighbor.  

DR. SEUSS (THEO LESIEG): Ten Apples Up On Top

by Dr. Seuss writing as Theo. LeSieg, illustrated by Roy McKie, random House, New York, 1961.  This is a simple book of three animals balancing apples on top of their heads, a lion, a tiger and a dog.

The Big Brag by Dr. Seuss

The Big Brag tells us who we are when in our pride we brag and boast of our own greatness.  The rabbit says he is best because he can hear so far, and the bear because he can smell so far.  It takes a worm to set them both strait and provide some humility.

Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss

Here is a fascinating story.  Gertrud McFuzz is a bird, who envies the pretty tail feathers of other birds, as she does not have enough feathers.  Consequently, she overdoes on the feather growing pill, and gets so many feathers she can't fly, or even really walk.  Sometimes we need to be content with what we have, and not worry about what we don't have.  Gertrude learned that it is painful to have all those extra feathers pulled.

Picture Book: Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss

This story is included with three others in a Dr. Seuss Book.  This is the story of a turtle who decides he is ruler of all he sees.  The higher he gets the farther he sees, and so uses other turtles as stepping stones, and caring about the inconvenience he is causing for others; until one of the turtles at the bottom burps.  Sometimes if you use others, all you have influence over is the mud.  Dr. Seuss has great insight in this story, and it is well told, drawn and rhymed.

Picture Book Review: Horton Hatches the Egg, Dr. Seuss

This is classic Seuss.  In this story we see Horton the elephant again.  He is hatching an egg because the lazy bird Mayzie doesn't not want to sit her egg.  Horton's statement is classic, and can teach us all a lesson.  "I meant what I said, And I said what I meant....An elephant's faithful One hundred per cent!  So Horton endures.  He endures rain storms, snow storms, friends who tease him, hunters who capture him, being shipped across the ocean, being in a circus and on display all over the world, boredom, and being uncomfortable; yet he sits the egg, which hatches as an elephant bird.

Dr. Seuss's ABC

Dr. Seuss's ABC, Beginner Books, Random House, New York, 1963.
A Dr. Seuss ABC book is fun, because you get the Seuss illustrations.  The book has a rhyme on each page, but the highlight is Z where we see the Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz.

Picture Book: Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! Dr. Seuss

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss, A Bright and Early Reader, Random House, New York, 1972.
This book is delightful, but most delightful because of the Dr. Seuss pictures.  He is using simple words, and sometimes a picture can carry the story better than words.  Such is the case here, us you look and wonder at some of the things Marvin could use to leave.  So just to see these pictures, this book is tremendous.

Picture Book Review: Fox in Socks

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss, random House Beginner Books, New York, 1965.
This book come with a warning which should be headed, "Take it slowly; This book is dangerous!"  It is one tongue twister after another.  This makes it almost impossible to read.  It leaves your head spinning after every page as you try to imagine in your brain what you just read and make sense of it all.  I am sure it makes perfect sense, but it is the comprehension that comes slowly.  great fun if you take it stead and keep from getting frustrated.

Picture Book Review: Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss (The Simplest Seuss for Youngest Use) Random House, New York, 1963.
This book is a nightmare for every father.  You don't know how many times I have ben hopped upon.  I blame it all on Seuss.  "Hop Pop We like to hop.  We like to hop on top of Pop.  Stop  You must not hop on Pop."  Those few words have lead to many a smashed belly.  Hopping on Grand Pop is also a favorite activity of children.  This is one of the Seuss books for beginning readers.  It uses very few words, but has many rhyming words.  Even with so few words he draws they reader into the stories.  He tells of Mr. Brown, the thing that can sing, and Pat who sat on a hat.

Children's Book Review: I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! Dr. Seuss

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! by Dr. Seuss, Random House, New York, 1978.
The Cat in the Hat reads can ready with his eyes shut.  But it makes his head ache and his hat droop he tells a younger Cat in the Hat.  And so with so many places to see why would you want to?

Picture Book Review: Green Eggs and Ham: Dr. Seuss

Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss, random House, 1960.  This is a classic from Dr. Seuss.  I really love the emotion Dr. Seuss portrays in the faces of his furry people.  Sam wants his friend to try green eggs and green ham, but his friend will not budge.  The rhyming is classic.  One year, two camp staff at High Sierra read this book as a duet.  It was so fun.  This book is just fun, and tells us sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone.  This is one of the best children's rhyming books ever.

Picture Book Review: I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! Dr. Seuss

I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by James Stevenson, Random House Press, New York, 1987.
This is an interesting story about a boy whose bed is warm and his pillow is deep, and he is not getting up.  I have had such days and desires myself, but can't say I have ever slept all day.  The only issue is what to do with his egg, the hen will not take it back.
I love Dr. Seuss.  His stories are always well done.  I like the way the develop with run away imaginings.  However this is not one of my favorite.

Picture Book Review: Maybe you should fly a jet! Maybe you should be a vet! Dr. Suess

Maybe you should fly a jet!  Maybe you should be a vet!  Dr. Seuss as Theo. LeSieg, illustrated by Michael J. Smollin, Random House, New York, 1980.
This is a very simple exploration of different life-long paths which may be available to a young person.  There are 78 possibilities mentioned.  My favorite was the hammock tester.  I also like bring a voice, which is now a popular TV program.  I don't like the end, making up a rhyme for voice and choice.  Foice just doesn't cut it.  The illustrations are adequate, but there is nothing terribly memorable.  However their are four panoramic illustrations which are interesting with a glass blower, mushroom grower, fishbone boner and roller coaster owner.

Picture Book Review: I Wish that I Had Duck Feet, Dr. Seuss

I Wish that I Had Duck Feet, by Theo LeSeig (Dr. Seuss), illustrated by B Tobey, Random House, New York, 1965.
This is a clever tale, about different animal parts that could make life so interesting, a whale spout to keep cool, duck feet to swim, a tail to jump rope, antlers to wear many hats.  The problem is everything has a drawback.  Sometimes it is better to just be yourself.  I like the little play between the main character and Big Bill Brown.  Dr. Seuss also mixes in the boys parents, who don't want duck feet in the house, or who would make him work all day if he had a cool nose.

Picture Book Review: Wacky Wednesday, Dr. Seuss

Wacky Wednesday, Dr. Seuss as Theo LeSieg, illustrated by George Booth, Random House, New York, 1974.
This is admittedly not one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, but it is fun to look on every page for the things that are wrong, such as the alligator showing up in the baby carriage or on a leash, or people on top of the car, or driving from back.  There are plenty of wacky thinks gong on, and it is fun to find them, even for an old man like me.

Picture Book: Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?

Would You rather be a Bullfrog by Theo. LeSieg (Dr. Seuss), illustrated by Roy McKie, Random House, New York, 1975.
This book asks the all popular question of what do you want to be? but asks it in a rather peculiar way.  would you rather be a Dog or a Cat? A bullfrog or a Butterfly?  And it keeps on from there.  Great pictures and many different creatures represented.

Picture Book Review: Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss

Mr. Brown Can Moo!  Can You?  Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises, Dr. Seuss, Random House, New York, 1970
Mr. Brown can make all kinds of wonderful noises, moo, cocka doodle doo, tick tock and knock knock.  This book also gives a chance to practice the same noises.  This book again features the amazing art of Dr. Seuss.

Picture Book Review: The 500 hats of Batholomew Cubbins

The 500 Hats of Batholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss, Random House, New York, 2965,
This Dr. Seuss book has the illustrations Dr. Seuss is known for, but it does not have the rhyming style.  What it does have is a very intriguing story.  What if the King requires everyone to take off their hat when he comes by, and you take off your hat, and another appears, then another, then another.  Of course the king would have to order you to prison, or that your head be chopped off, or something.  That is the case here.  How can such a tell end for Batholomew, who takes off his hat and another appears.  It can't be good, or can it?