Nonfiction Book Review: THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS. Ill by: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN 0375822984

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Kathleen Krull’s picture book biography, gives any reader, child or adult, incite into the beloved author and illustrator Dr. Seuss. Chronicling his life growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts, Krull informs the reader of the happy childhood Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss) had playing in Forest Park with friends, going to work with his father, which happened to be a zoo, going to parades, and listening to the bedtime stories and ramblings of his mother. Though his childhood was happy Geisel’s life is not without adversity. Geisel grew up during World War I and faced taunts from children because of his German heritage. Teachers frowned upon his art, and he was even ushered off a stage at a Boy Scout rally for selling war bonds because former President Theodore Roosevelt ran out of metals before he was able to award him.

Through all this Ted never lost his flare for drawing or exaggerating. He eventually went to college at Dartmouth University, graduated and went to Oxford to study English Literature. He was never happy in school and instead preferred to draw. After a lady made a comment about one of his pictures, he went back home and was determined to make a career out of doing something he loved. After several years of perseverance Dr. Seuss succeeded and became one of the most popular children’s book authors/illustrators of all time.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Krull does an amazing job conveying the life of Dr. Seuss in a simple, easy to read manner that invites all kinds of readers to enjoy this wonderful picture book biography. For each page of text there is an illustration (painting) which captures beautifully, with its use of water colors and muted tones, what has been written on the adjacent page. Also included at the bottom of each page of text are selected illustrations from Dr. Seuss books. Including Dr. Seuss illustrations on each page helps to show the reader what a creative illustrator Dr. Seuss was and how he liked to exaggerate his drawings and “break the rules” of art.

The actual text chronicles his life from a young school boy to until the age of 22, when he finally moved out of his parents house and decided to focus is writing and illustrations to children. Though the story stops there, Krull includes a section entitled “On Beyond Fairfield Street” which picks up where the story left off and describes his life after he left home and started writing children’s books to his death in 1991. She also includes a list of written and illustrated works by Dr. Seuss in chronological order by publication date and gives suggestions for further reading and website addresses for places motioned in the book such as Forest Park, The Zoo in Forest Park, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Krull's work is a terrific look at the boyhood of one of the most beloved author/illustrators of the 20th century.”

BOOKLIST review: “Krull's pithy text is extended by full-page paintings that glow with the memory of yesteryear and capture the mix of humor and poignancy that comes with trying to fit in.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*The week leading up to Dr. Seuss’s birthday, read this book over several days. After the reading of the book, have several copies of Dr. Seuss’s books in the classroom for students to browse and read.
*After reading the book, have children browse and read through several of Dr. Seuss’s books paying close attention to Dr. Seuss’s illustrations. As a class discuss how Dr. Seuss “broke the rules” with his illustrations and why the students think his illustrations are so popular.
*Popular books written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss. GREEN EGGS AND HAM. ISBN: 9780394800165
Dr. Seuss. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. ISBN: 9780394800790
Dr. Seuss. THE CAT IN THE HAT. ISBN: 9780394800011
Dr. Seuss. THE 500 HATS OF BARTHOLOMEW CUBBINS.
ISBN: 9780394844848
Dr. Seuss. AND TO THNK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET. ISBN: 9780394844947