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The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories
What’s better than a lost treasure? Seven lost treasures!
These rarely seen Dr. Seuss stories were published in magazines in the early 1950s and are finally available in book form.
They include:
- Introduction - By Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen.
- The Bippolo Seed - In which a scheming feline leads a duck toward a bad decision.
- The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga - About a rabbit who is saved from a bear by a single eyelash.
- Gustav, the Goldfish - An early rhymed version of the Beginner Book A Fish Out of Water .
- Tadd and Todd - A story about a twin who is striving to be an individual.
- Steak for Supper - In which fantastic creatures follow a boy home in anticipation of a steak dinner.
- The Strange Shirt Spot - The inspiration for the bathtub-ring scene in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back .
- The Great Henry McBride - About a boy whose far-flung career fantasies are bested only by those of Dr. Seuss himself.
An introduction by Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen traces the history of the stories, which demonstrate an intentional move toward the writing style we now associate with Dr. Seuss. Cohen also explores the themes that recur in well-known Seuss stories (like the importance of the imagination or the perils of greed). With a color palette enhanced beyond the limitations of the original magazines, this is a collection that no Seuss fan (whether scholar or second grader) will want to miss.
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic 'Cat in the Hat', and ranked among the world's top children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
These rarely seen Dr. Seuss stories were published in magazines in the early 1950s and are finally available in book form.
They include:
- Introduction - By Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen.
- The Bippolo Seed - In which a scheming feline leads a duck toward a bad decision.
- The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga - About a rabbit who is saved from a bear by a single eyelash.
- Gustav, the Goldfish - An early rhymed version of the Beginner Book A Fish Out of Water .
- Tadd and Todd - A story about a twin who is striving to be an individual.
- Steak for Supper - In which fantastic creatures follow a boy home in anticipation of a steak dinner.
- The Strange Shirt Spot - The inspiration for the bathtub-ring scene in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back .
- The Great Henry McBride - About a boy whose far-flung career fantasies are bested only by those of Dr. Seuss himself.
An introduction by Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen traces the history of the stories, which demonstrate an intentional move toward the writing style we now associate with Dr. Seuss. Cohen also explores the themes that recur in well-known Seuss stories (like the importance of the imagination or the perils of greed). With a color palette enhanced beyond the limitations of the original magazines, this is a collection that no Seuss fan (whether scholar or second grader) will want to miss.
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic 'Cat in the Hat', and ranked among the world's top children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
69 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2011
45 people are currently reading
1729 people want to read
About the author
Dr. Seuss
967 books18.3k followersAlso wrote as Theodore Seuss Geisel, see https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
December 16, 2021
Why I wanted to read this book:
Goodreads friend, Book2Dragon Warnen, recommended that I read Dr. Seuss's story, "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga". When I went to sign it out from my local library, I found that this story was part of a collection of seven little-known Seuss stories!
Why I enjoyed it so much!
1. An enlightening introduction by Charles D. Cohen discusses how he "found" these stories that were originally published from 1948 to 1959 in various magazines (notably Redbook) but were never published individually into separate books. He compiled these "treasures" into this one book with a blurb about each story, and a quote from Ted Geisel himself explaining his philosophy for auditory appeal. Cohen also had the illustrations enhanced from the limitations posed by the magazine reproductions.
2. These hidden gems include:
- "The Bippolo Seed", "Gustav, the Goldfish", "Steak for Supper", "The Strange Shirt Spot" (my personal favorite!), and "The Great Henry McBride" are all fun stories with morals; and,
- "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga" and "Tadd and Todd" are excellent examples of Seuss's signature rhythm and rhyming style.
A MUST READ for Dr. Seuss fans!
Thank you, Nancy, for bringing this book to my attention!
Goodreads friend, Book2Dragon Warnen, recommended that I read Dr. Seuss's story, "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga". When I went to sign it out from my local library, I found that this story was part of a collection of seven little-known Seuss stories!
Why I enjoyed it so much!
1. An enlightening introduction by Charles D. Cohen discusses how he "found" these stories that were originally published from 1948 to 1959 in various magazines (notably Redbook) but were never published individually into separate books. He compiled these "treasures" into this one book with a blurb about each story, and a quote from Ted Geisel himself explaining his philosophy for auditory appeal. Cohen also had the illustrations enhanced from the limitations posed by the magazine reproductions.
2. These hidden gems include:
- "The Bippolo Seed", "Gustav, the Goldfish", "Steak for Supper", "The Strange Shirt Spot" (my personal favorite!), and "The Great Henry McBride" are all fun stories with morals; and,
- "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga" and "Tadd and Todd" are excellent examples of Seuss's signature rhythm and rhyming style.
A MUST READ for Dr. Seuss fans!
Thank you, Nancy, for bringing this book to my attention!
August 22, 2019
When I discovered this collection, I had to share it with Neo and the rest of the GR community. While Dr. Seuss has written many books that have attracted much fame, there is a collection of lesser-known pieces that are just as fun. From a duck who is led down a path of greed to a set of twins who want to differentiate themselves from one another... Seuss uses his wonderful way with words and rhymes to offer the reader something fun. There are morals embedded into each piece and I was happy that Neo got them without needing to have each explained. With just the right amount of silliness and some mouth twisting character names, this is one collection that will keep adults and children alike wanting to dive right in. Neo asked that I let you know that the pictures are just like the other books and the characters get into the same amount of trouble... but you will have to read the collection to find out more.
July 7, 2018
This book was a recently published book of the late Dr. Seuss. The short stories were published in magazines back in the 50s and lucky someone found them. They are short on illustrations. It's mostly words with sparse pictures, but you can tell it's Dr. Seuss.
His voice rings out clear through the stories and some of them were used in later stories and expanded upon.
Short Stories:
The Bippolo Seed
The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga
Gustav, the Goldfish
Tadd and Todd
Steak for Supper
The Strange Shirt Spot
The Great Henry McBride
I think my favorite story was either the Bippolo Seed or Tadd and Todd. The stories were fun and I really have fun reading his stuff. No one can come close to Dr. Seuss. He was one of a kind.
The kids had fun with this. They liked the Zinniga-Zanniga and Gustav. This was a hit in our house.
His voice rings out clear through the stories and some of them were used in later stories and expanded upon.
Short Stories:
The Bippolo Seed
The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga
Gustav, the Goldfish
Tadd and Todd
Steak for Supper
The Strange Shirt Spot
The Great Henry McBride
I think my favorite story was either the Bippolo Seed or Tadd and Todd. The stories were fun and I really have fun reading his stuff. No one can come close to Dr. Seuss. He was one of a kind.
The kids had fun with this. They liked the Zinniga-Zanniga and Gustav. This was a hit in our house.
October 21, 2016
Beginning to explore Dr Seuss stories. Started with some of his lost stories, which after being found and in retrospect are said to be prototypes for his other well-known stories. It's tough to gauge the appeal of short story collections and still tougher if it's children's. Liked some stories for their story value, some for rhyme, rhythm and auditory appeal, some for the strange menagerie of creatures that they sport, and some for their illustrations. 3.5*.
June 24, 2019
A Fabulous collection of Dr Seuss stories! What's not to love about his stories! Full of wild and wacky characters, rhyming verse and insightful tales!
December 20, 2011
I think this book is best enjoyed on audio with wonderful narrators!! I'm always a bit nervous about "lost" stories, but I enjoyed this collection for the most part, especially after hearing about how they were short works originally published in magazines and newspapers. I thought I'd share a breakdown of what I liked or disliked about each story:
The Bippolo Seed narrated by Neil Patrick Harris-I loved this story and I really thought it was the strongest of the book. It had the classic Seuss feel to it of silliness and a lesson in the end. I also liked the rhymes and felt they all worked well in this story. Plus, add in Neil Patrick Harris's fabulous narration and you've got a great read/listen. (Really, he needs to narrate more audiobooks! Please-more NPH on audio!)
The Rabbit, The Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga-narrated by Angelica Houston-This one was just OK. I think part of it was the narration-it was good, but not great. I also felt the story was a bit weak. It's still fun, but wasn't a stand out for me.
Gustav the Goldfish-narrated by Jason Lee-Jason Lee, I like you, I really do! But I disliked your narration of this story! Just because you're reading for kids doesn't mean you have to be overly excited all the time! I wasn't a fan of this story, mostly because I felt the ending fell flat and the narration was annoying. When I got the book, I liked the illustrations for this story, so maybe I would have liked it better if I had read it with the pictures instead of listening to it.
Tadd and Todd narrated by Joan Cusack-I liked this story and the narration is good. I did feel a bit sad in the end though. I felt like Tadd and Todd wanted to be unique and instead resigned to the fact that they were twins and had to be like each other. I would have liked to see them be able to embrace their originality instead of accepting they are the same. Maybe this was me projecting my adult-self onto the story. I think kids will find it fun and maybe find comfort in the fact that siblings are there with you as "peas in a pod".
Steak for Supper narrated by Edward Hermann-This story made me laugh and it was another strong classic Dr. Seuss. Filled with a menagerie of Seuss creatures, this one has lots of humor and silliness. It also has a nice twist to add to the humor. The narration helped make this one of the stand out stories of the book for me.
The Strange Shirt Spot narrated by William H. Macy-A great story with great narration! This is somewhat of an adventure story as a young boy can't get a dirty spot off anything! The trials of cleaning make for some laugh out loud fun and the end is sure to have parents and kids giggling with it's "oh so true" statement. This was another favorite story.
The Great Henry McBride narrated by Peter Dinklage-I enjoyed this story of a dreamer. The narration is fantastic and makes it a likable story. I also liked the idea of the story-that you can dream anything and no goal is too lofty. Peter Dinklage is another narrator that I would love to have narrate more audiobooks. One of the stand out stories and one of my favorites.
If you do listen to the audio, make sure you listen to the commentary at the end (which is the introduction in the book). It adds a lot to the book to examine each story and learn where they came from. The whole audio is about an hour long and worth every minute!! Great for readers of all ages, this would be a great audiobook for families and to introduce young listeners to the audio format.
The Bippolo Seed narrated by Neil Patrick Harris-I loved this story and I really thought it was the strongest of the book. It had the classic Seuss feel to it of silliness and a lesson in the end. I also liked the rhymes and felt they all worked well in this story. Plus, add in Neil Patrick Harris's fabulous narration and you've got a great read/listen. (Really, he needs to narrate more audiobooks! Please-more NPH on audio!)
The Rabbit, The Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga-narrated by Angelica Houston-This one was just OK. I think part of it was the narration-it was good, but not great. I also felt the story was a bit weak. It's still fun, but wasn't a stand out for me.
Gustav the Goldfish-narrated by Jason Lee-Jason Lee, I like you, I really do! But I disliked your narration of this story! Just because you're reading for kids doesn't mean you have to be overly excited all the time! I wasn't a fan of this story, mostly because I felt the ending fell flat and the narration was annoying. When I got the book, I liked the illustrations for this story, so maybe I would have liked it better if I had read it with the pictures instead of listening to it.
Tadd and Todd narrated by Joan Cusack-I liked this story and the narration is good. I did feel a bit sad in the end though. I felt like Tadd and Todd wanted to be unique and instead resigned to the fact that they were twins and had to be like each other. I would have liked to see them be able to embrace their originality instead of accepting they are the same. Maybe this was me projecting my adult-self onto the story. I think kids will find it fun and maybe find comfort in the fact that siblings are there with you as "peas in a pod".
Steak for Supper narrated by Edward Hermann-This story made me laugh and it was another strong classic Dr. Seuss. Filled with a menagerie of Seuss creatures, this one has lots of humor and silliness. It also has a nice twist to add to the humor. The narration helped make this one of the stand out stories of the book for me.
The Strange Shirt Spot narrated by William H. Macy-A great story with great narration! This is somewhat of an adventure story as a young boy can't get a dirty spot off anything! The trials of cleaning make for some laugh out loud fun and the end is sure to have parents and kids giggling with it's "oh so true" statement. This was another favorite story.
The Great Henry McBride narrated by Peter Dinklage-I enjoyed this story of a dreamer. The narration is fantastic and makes it a likable story. I also liked the idea of the story-that you can dream anything and no goal is too lofty. Peter Dinklage is another narrator that I would love to have narrate more audiobooks. One of the stand out stories and one of my favorites.
If you do listen to the audio, make sure you listen to the commentary at the end (which is the introduction in the book). It adds a lot to the book to examine each story and learn where they came from. The whole audio is about an hour long and worth every minute!! Great for readers of all ages, this would be a great audiobook for families and to introduce young listeners to the audio format.
November 4, 2021
What's not to love about a Dr. Seuss story? These are those which had not been previously published except in magazines (ie., Redbook) back in the 1950s. The Seuss 'animals' are there though, teaching without preaching, giving all a good look at how we live our lives.
Of course, they are written for children (right?), but when the world is stressful and mean, Dr. Seuss is the go-to friend.
When is enough, enough? How many eyelashes should a bear have, and do they match over both eyes? Warning: do not feed more than recommended. Who would you take home for a steak dinner? How to clean a spot that won't go away. Career-planning. It's all here in this marvelous book.
Illustrations by Dr. Seuss are the original, and quickly recognizable as his imagination. What an imagination it is.
Of course, they are written for children (right?), but when the world is stressful and mean, Dr. Seuss is the go-to friend.
When is enough, enough? How many eyelashes should a bear have, and do they match over both eyes? Warning: do not feed more than recommended. Who would you take home for a steak dinner? How to clean a spot that won't go away. Career-planning. It's all here in this marvelous book.
Illustrations by Dr. Seuss are the original, and quickly recognizable as his imagination. What an imagination it is.
March 1, 2022
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Well, was this ever fun to read! These were ALL super fun to read aloud, so I won’t repeat that at every time, just give a quick review of each poem.
The Bippolo Seed
When a young duck finds a rare seed that can grant any wish, a sly cat sees a chance for a profit… but what will greed cost the duck? Excellent moral.
The Rabbit, the Bear, & the Zinniga-Zanniga
Oh, this was just absolutely hilarious! Good moral—a rabbit must use his wits to escape a bear—but really, the fun was in the reading, even if I suppose the rabbit was lying… I hadn’t considered that at the time ;P
Gustav the Goldfish
Short and a little predictable, pure nonsense, but with a good moral (ask for help with problems are too big + follow instructions/rules, because they’re there for a reason!).
Tadd & Todd
I was a little surprised with this one—expected a theme of “it’s okay to be different”—but I liked the message of finding contentment!
Steak for Supper
What happens when you don’t keep your lips “buttoned” and more and more people queue after you, repeating their own versions of your words? Again, an excellent moral and great fun.
The Strange Shirt Spot
I was delighted by how the little boy owned up to his mistake! A good moral of “be sure your sins will always find you out.”
The Great Henry McBride
Aw, this was just cute and funny and sweet all at once. ;)
Content: euphemisms
The Bippolo Seed
When a young duck finds a rare seed that can grant any wish, a sly cat sees a chance for a profit… but what will greed cost the duck? Excellent moral.
The Rabbit, the Bear, & the Zinniga-Zanniga
Oh, this was just absolutely hilarious! Good moral—a rabbit must use his wits to escape a bear—but really, the fun was in the reading, even if I suppose the rabbit was lying… I hadn’t considered that at the time ;P
Gustav the Goldfish
Short and a little predictable, pure nonsense, but with a good moral (ask for help with problems are too big + follow instructions/rules, because they’re there for a reason!).
Tadd & Todd
I was a little surprised with this one—expected a theme of “it’s okay to be different”—but I liked the message of finding contentment!
Steak for Supper
What happens when you don’t keep your lips “buttoned” and more and more people queue after you, repeating their own versions of your words? Again, an excellent moral and great fun.
The Strange Shirt Spot
I was delighted by how the little boy owned up to his mistake! A good moral of “be sure your sins will always find you out.”
The Great Henry McBride
Aw, this was just cute and funny and sweet all at once. ;)
Content: euphemisms
February 23, 2019
5 Stars for the short stories read by famous actors/actresses.
3 stars for Mr. Cohen’s introduction.
3 stars for Mr. Cohen’s introduction.
October 19, 2011
I was really excited when I heard about a new Dr. Suess book because like many I grew up reading ‘One Fish Blue Fish, The Cat in the Hat’ etc. The Sneetches is my favourite story of all, and I often think of it still as it captures so many issues of exclusion and consumerism pertinent today.
I was also really worried that I would be disappointed. When Hooray for Diffendoofer Day was published in 1998 it was a collective creation by Jack Prelutsky & Lane Smith – based on verses & sketches written by Suess before his death in 1991. The story captured the feel of Suess and I loved Smith’s illustrations but it wasn’t a ‘pure’ Suess.
This is not the case luckily with The Bippolo Seed and other Lost Stories. This new collection of stories is just that – lost stories of Suess. Stories lost in magazine publications of the 1940s and 1950s and discovered by a self-confessed Suessologist, Charles D. Cohen. In a YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=... Cohen explains that this collection shows “ the point where Dr. Suess is becoming Dr. Suess”. Cathy Goldsmith, an art director who had worked with Suess, now a senior publisher at Random House, was very excited when she bought the magazines from Cohen saying,
“It’s not like these were stories someone found in a drawer that Dr. Suess didn’t publish because he didn’t think they were good enough”
Goldsmith worked hard to take the stories from the magazine layout where written text and illustrations are packed into three or four pages and lay them out in picture book format. They have done a wonderful job but I do agree with David Elzey when he writes,
As much as any master in the field, Seuss knew how to pace a
story and set-up those page turns, and it's that touch that is missing
here. The words sit in their little blocks, and the illustrations have been expertly reproduced and colored, but that sense of flow, those layouts
that force the eye across the page, back and forth between word and image, that's missing here in The Bippolo Seed.”
http://excelsiorfile.blogspot.com/201...
Apart from that though there is lots to love with this new collection, great characters and stories and messages (some are new, some are the beginnings of characters and plots we know well) with Suess’s unmistakable illustrations.
Q: Do the publishers know why the pencil linework in Gustave the Goldfish is slightly more textured and ‘sketchy’ than in the other stories?
A man ahead of his times in many ways:
• Hated the boredom of the Dick & Jane ‘readers’ for children learning how to read
• Understood the importance of rhyme and rhythm for children when they’re learning to read
• Has been called the Edward Lear of his times because of his return to nonsensical characters and plotlines
• Environmental sustainability 40 years before everyone else was writing about it
• Many of his stories were anti-fascist (eg. Sneetches & Horton Hears a Who) – he’s considered to be the first American anti-fascist illustrator for children
• Zany and subversive storylines with mad-cap illustrations to go with them
“And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was a poem inspired by the rhythm of an ocean liner's engine during an Atlantic crossing. It was rejected 27 times before being published in 1937. His books have now sold 600 million copies in 95 countries, and been translated into 17 languages.”
http://www.independent.ie/entertainme...
I was also really worried that I would be disappointed. When Hooray for Diffendoofer Day was published in 1998 it was a collective creation by Jack Prelutsky & Lane Smith – based on verses & sketches written by Suess before his death in 1991. The story captured the feel of Suess and I loved Smith’s illustrations but it wasn’t a ‘pure’ Suess.
This is not the case luckily with The Bippolo Seed and other Lost Stories. This new collection of stories is just that – lost stories of Suess. Stories lost in magazine publications of the 1940s and 1950s and discovered by a self-confessed Suessologist, Charles D. Cohen. In a YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=... Cohen explains that this collection shows “ the point where Dr. Suess is becoming Dr. Suess”. Cathy Goldsmith, an art director who had worked with Suess, now a senior publisher at Random House, was very excited when she bought the magazines from Cohen saying,
“It’s not like these were stories someone found in a drawer that Dr. Suess didn’t publish because he didn’t think they were good enough”
Goldsmith worked hard to take the stories from the magazine layout where written text and illustrations are packed into three or four pages and lay them out in picture book format. They have done a wonderful job but I do agree with David Elzey when he writes,
As much as any master in the field, Seuss knew how to pace a
story and set-up those page turns, and it's that touch that is missing
here. The words sit in their little blocks, and the illustrations have been expertly reproduced and colored, but that sense of flow, those layouts
that force the eye across the page, back and forth between word and image, that's missing here in The Bippolo Seed.”
http://excelsiorfile.blogspot.com/201...
Apart from that though there is lots to love with this new collection, great characters and stories and messages (some are new, some are the beginnings of characters and plots we know well) with Suess’s unmistakable illustrations.
Q: Do the publishers know why the pencil linework in Gustave the Goldfish is slightly more textured and ‘sketchy’ than in the other stories?
A man ahead of his times in many ways:
• Hated the boredom of the Dick & Jane ‘readers’ for children learning how to read
• Understood the importance of rhyme and rhythm for children when they’re learning to read
• Has been called the Edward Lear of his times because of his return to nonsensical characters and plotlines
• Environmental sustainability 40 years before everyone else was writing about it
• Many of his stories were anti-fascist (eg. Sneetches & Horton Hears a Who) – he’s considered to be the first American anti-fascist illustrator for children
• Zany and subversive storylines with mad-cap illustrations to go with them
“And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was a poem inspired by the rhythm of an ocean liner's engine during an Atlantic crossing. It was rejected 27 times before being published in 1937. His books have now sold 600 million copies in 95 countries, and been translated into 17 languages.”
http://www.independent.ie/entertainme...
January 20, 2016
An omnibus of seven early Dr. Seuss stories that had gotten lost. The illustrations in all the stories are great fun with that typical Dr. Seuss flair.
My Take
If you're a children's writer (or wanna be *grin*), do read the introduction by Charles D. Cohen to learn more about why Ted Geisel wrote as he did, what influenced him. That bit about three-year-old Brad having memorized a Dr. Seuss story is, as Cohen states, "a pivotal point in Dr. Seuss's writing career".
The Stories
"The Bippolo Seed" finds McKluck the duck being influenced into greed. And, oh, boy, you can have some fun with your child reading the long, long list of McKluck's wishes and how silly they are.
"The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga" is quite funny as the rabbit proves that "It's always the same when you fight with Big Guys…A bit of Quick-Thinking counts much more than size".
Definitely a great topic to address with your kids about thinking being better than fighting. There's also that great laugh over scamming that hypochondriacal bear.
"Gustav, the Goldfish" definitely appeals to me. I always feel bad that my kittens don't get the variety or amount of food I feed myself, especially when they turn those great big eyes on me and plead with me to f-e-e-d them. They're starving…
This could turn into a chat about responsibility to their pets and themselves.
"Tadd and Todd"
And, it seems, there is an inevitability about being a twin, lol.
"The Strange Shirt Spot" makes me wonder if Dr. Seuss isn't telling us that we can't hide anything from our parents.
"The Great Henry McBride" is caught up in all the possibilities of a future career. Cohen does mention that Ted Geisel is the original Henry McBride with all the careers he pursued. I know there are quite a few of us who have explored different vocations, and Dr. Seuss explores them with all the gusto of youth.
That ending line cracks me up: "The best job is dreaming, with no work at all."
The Cover and Title
The cover has a slightly grayed-out colonial blue background with a quick sketch of the characters in each of the stories. With McKluck the duck as he finds the bippolo seed, to Henry McBride dreaming under a tree, Tadd and Todd truckin' along, the boy trying to clean out that spot, Gustav outgrowing his bowl, the blabbing young boy with his trailing line, and the bear and the rabbit. All in pure Dr. Seuss style.
The title is what it is, The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories.
My Take
If you're a children's writer (or wanna be *grin*), do read the introduction by Charles D. Cohen to learn more about why Ted Geisel wrote as he did, what influenced him. That bit about three-year-old Brad having memorized a Dr. Seuss story is, as Cohen states, "a pivotal point in Dr. Seuss's writing career".
The Stories
"The Bippolo Seed" finds McKluck the duck being influenced into greed. And, oh, boy, you can have some fun with your child reading the long, long list of McKluck's wishes and how silly they are.
"The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga" is quite funny as the rabbit proves that "It's always the same when you fight with Big Guys…A bit of Quick-Thinking counts much more than size".
Definitely a great topic to address with your kids about thinking being better than fighting. There's also that great laugh over scamming that hypochondriacal bear.
"Gustav, the Goldfish" definitely appeals to me. I always feel bad that my kittens don't get the variety or amount of food I feed myself, especially when they turn those great big eyes on me and plead with me to f-e-e-d them. They're starving…
This could turn into a chat about responsibility to their pets and themselves.
"Tadd and Todd"
"Which one was what one, and what one was who."A story about twins with one who wants to be an individual, unique while the other likes being part of pair whom no one can tell apart. It's all the things Tadd does, trying to be different, that provide a great opportunity to talk with your kids about being different and coming up with more and more sillier and sillier ideas. Although…how you could get sillier than Dr. Seuss…?
And, it seems, there is an inevitability about being a twin, lol.
"That I am just I, and that I am not he.""Steak for Supper" finds a little boy in great distress, for he had been bragging and manages to escape by the skin of the stew.
"The Strange Shirt Spot" makes me wonder if Dr. Seuss isn't telling us that we can't hide anything from our parents.
"The Great Henry McBride" is caught up in all the possibilities of a future career. Cohen does mention that Ted Geisel is the original Henry McBride with all the careers he pursued. I know there are quite a few of us who have explored different vocations, and Dr. Seuss explores them with all the gusto of youth.
That ending line cracks me up: "The best job is dreaming, with no work at all."
The Cover and Title
The cover has a slightly grayed-out colonial blue background with a quick sketch of the characters in each of the stories. With McKluck the duck as he finds the bippolo seed, to Henry McBride dreaming under a tree, Tadd and Todd truckin' along, the boy trying to clean out that spot, Gustav outgrowing his bowl, the blabbing young boy with his trailing line, and the bear and the rabbit. All in pure Dr. Seuss style.
The title is what it is, The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories.
December 27, 2011
Ted Geisel (a. k. a. Dr. Seuss) may come to be known throughout Literary History on a par with the Brothers’ Grimm and Aesop (of Fable fame). His ability to speak directly to a salient point, give smiles to children (irrespective of their age) and create memorable characters tell of his talent as a poet, ability as a story teller and his gift of imagination. When these seven stories were “discovered” (actually gathered after decades), a treasure of his talents and a reminder of a world gone by was made available to an era 60 years removed from Dr. Seuss’ pen but whose words are as welcome as welcome as “Christmas roast Beast.”
These seven poems, the first time they have been presented in book form, have not been published since 1950 & 1951. Charles D. Cohen, “the world’s foremost Seuss scholar” (p.8) has gathered and introduces these poetry-as-prose. Each poem teaches, instructs, entertains and challenges the reader to use his/her imagination as they enter the realm of Dr. Seuss.
The title is that of the first poem and Shel Silverstein probably read it, as he later developed a poem with similar images and ending. “The rabbit, the bear and the Zinniga-Zanniga” would be at home in The Tales of Uncle Remus. “Gustav, the Goldfish” reminded me that there are reasons for directions and it is a smart move to follow their wisdom. “Tadd and Todd” are the forerunners of “Thing One and Thing Two” found in The Cat in the Hat. “Steak for Supper” introduces six characters from the mind of Dr. Seuss and a reminder to watch what is said and where one chooses to speak. “The Strange Shirt Spot” was the precursor to The Cat in the Hat. “The Great Henry McBride” is my favorite, as it reminded me of the daydreams I had while walking in the woods as a child (and still have, just not in the woods).
This gathering will become as ubiquitous as One Fish, Two Fish; Red Fish, Blue Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I enjoyed all the poems (and I am not a poetry man) my son (a Seuss aficionado at 22) inhaled them and I am looking forward, greatly, to reading them to a child. When Mr. Geisel died, the world lost a voice that children can hear with the most clarity. I am grateful to hear a new whisper of that dear voice once again.
June 25, 2016
This is a collection of little-known stories by Theodor Geisel a/k/a Dr. Seuss. As explained by Charles D Cohen in the introduction to this book, the “buried treasure” of these lost stories had been hidden for decades. They were all published between 1948 through 1959 as short works in a variety of magazines. Cohen, a Seuss scholar, tracked them down and arranged to have them published in this collection.
The stories are from a time period when Seuss was experimenting with what would become his signature style. Rhyming words (including a fair number of those he made up), fantastical illustrations, and a clear message – warning against greed, celebrating intelligence, or encouraging young dreams. There is a lot more text and fewer illustrations in these stories than in some of his most famous books (e.g. The Cat in the Hat), but they are intended to be read to children by their parents.
I’m glad that these stories are no longer “lost.”
The stories are from a time period when Seuss was experimenting with what would become his signature style. Rhyming words (including a fair number of those he made up), fantastical illustrations, and a clear message – warning against greed, celebrating intelligence, or encouraging young dreams. There is a lot more text and fewer illustrations in these stories than in some of his most famous books (e.g. The Cat in the Hat), but they are intended to be read to children by their parents.
I’m glad that these stories are no longer “lost.”
February 4, 2012
This is an interesting collection of short stories by Dr. Seuss. I was so excited and surprised to see a new book of tales and we just had to read them right away. The introduction mentions that this was a selection of "lost" stories that had been published separately in magazines in the early 1950s, but subsequently forgotten. Some of the stories seemed somewhat familiar, but I cannot say for sure if or where I'd read them before. Otherwise, these "lost" stories were new to me and I was so happy that this book was published. Even though Ted Geisel passed away over twenty years ago, generation after generation of children will happily discover this man's literary genius. And for that, I am grateful.
January 19, 2013
I have been so excited to read this book to my girls since it was first disclosed that these stories were being published and was so chuffed when I was able to find a copy to give them for Christmas. My girls (8 and 5) are enthralled with Dr Seuss. They were actually looking forward to going to bed so we could read the next story.
I think what gets them in is the funny and quirky rhyming. It's just so easy to read but just sucks you into the story so easily.
And what I love most is the moral at the end of the story, in particular, in "The Bippolo Seed" itself, relating to greed and what you can lose if you ask for too much.
It's sure to be asked to be read again and again, just like our whole collection of Dr Seuss books!
I think what gets them in is the funny and quirky rhyming. It's just so easy to read but just sucks you into the story so easily.
And what I love most is the moral at the end of the story, in particular, in "The Bippolo Seed" itself, relating to greed and what you can lose if you ask for too much.
It's sure to be asked to be read again and again, just like our whole collection of Dr Seuss books!
January 3, 2015
Who doesn't love Dr Seuss? (Well, maybe Republicans and other Grinches.)
I was so excited when I saw that there were new stories out there that I got the audiobook from Audible. (The different celebrity narrators didn't hurt either.)
The stories had all the elements you came to expect in a Dr. Seuss story. The delightful rhymes, the peculiar situations, the strange animals, and the wonderful endings.
The commentary by the "finder" of the stories was also a treat. His description of what educators thought about how children learn words was so ludicrous I found it hard to think anyone felt that way.
I was so excited when I saw that there were new stories out there that I got the audiobook from Audible. (The different celebrity narrators didn't hurt either.)
The stories had all the elements you came to expect in a Dr. Seuss story. The delightful rhymes, the peculiar situations, the strange animals, and the wonderful endings.
The commentary by the "finder" of the stories was also a treat. His description of what educators thought about how children learn words was so ludicrous I found it hard to think anyone felt that way.
September 7, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date: The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories/Dr. Seuss/2010
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: Presents seven Dr. Seuss stories first published in magazines between 1948 and 1959, with an introduction and commentary on each.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: None
Review citation: Dickerson, C. (2012). The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss (Book Review). School Library Journal, 58(1), 59.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection, Most Highly Recommended
Recommended age: 6 and up
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: Presents seven Dr. Seuss stories first published in magazines between 1948 and 1959, with an introduction and commentary on each.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: None
Review citation: Dickerson, C. (2012). The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss (Book Review). School Library Journal, 58(1), 59.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection, Most Highly Recommended
Recommended age: 6 and up
July 10, 2016
What a treat to have new Dr. Seuss stories to enjoy. My favorite in this volume was "Tadd and Todd." Growing up as a twin myself I can appreciate Tadd's desire to break out and create his own identity rather than be one of "the twins." Yet there is still an appreciation for his unique situation and the ability to enjoy being part of a set.
August 9, 2016
After spending years as a high school forensics coach, it is pretty stunning to discover that there is a book of Seuss that I have not read. What a delight! These stories offer great reminders for life and how to live it. Vintage Seuss!
October 19, 2011
Not Seuss's best work but insightful in showing how these stories were expanded later into better known works. Best story is "The Bippolo Seed."
March 29, 2019
3.5/5
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories is a collection of short (and rare) Dr. Seuss stories that were originally published in obscure magazine back in the 1950’s. Charles D. Cohen, a dentist and Dr. Seuss collector, spent years searching and acquiring these stories which ultimately led to their re-publication in a book format.
The first two stories, The Bippolo Seed and The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga were my favourite.
The Bippolo Seed is a great story about greed. It is about a duck who finds a magical seed that will grant any wish. At first, the duck makes a reasonable wish for enough food for the week but a cat comes a long and convinces the duck to make grander wishes. Afterall, the possibilities are limitless. 5 stars
The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga was about a bear who tries to eat a rabbit. The rabbit uses it’s quick thinking to escape death by convincing the bear that it has a rare disease because he doesn’t have the same number of eyelashes for each eye! 4.5 stars
Gustav, the Goldfish is about a boy who overfed his fish. As a result, his fish couldn’t stop growing! 3 stars
Tadd and Todd are identical twins.Todd loved being a twin and looking like Tadd but Tadd didn’t like looking like Todd. He wanted people to be able to tell them apart so he proceeds to do whatever he can to look different from Todd. 4 stars
Steak for Supper was about a boy who tells everyone he’s having steak for dinner. So various creatures end up following him home hoping they’ll be able to have some too. 2 stars
The Strange Shirt Spot is about a boy he has a stain on his shirt. As he tries to clean it off, the stain transfers to other objects, which later inspired the story of The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. 2.5 stars
The Great Henry McBride has a hard time deciding what he wants to be when he grows up. So he figures he could probably grow up to have 2 jobs! Or better yet, why not 3? Or 4?
While I did enjoy this story, I’m not sure I like the lesson - it’s no good to just dream, you have to work towards them! 4 stars
*** #13 of my 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book published posthumously ***
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories is a collection of short (and rare) Dr. Seuss stories that were originally published in obscure magazine back in the 1950’s. Charles D. Cohen, a dentist and Dr. Seuss collector, spent years searching and acquiring these stories which ultimately led to their re-publication in a book format.
The first two stories, The Bippolo Seed and The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga were my favourite.
The Bippolo Seed is a great story about greed. It is about a duck who finds a magical seed that will grant any wish. At first, the duck makes a reasonable wish for enough food for the week but a cat comes a long and convinces the duck to make grander wishes. Afterall, the possibilities are limitless. 5 stars
The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga was about a bear who tries to eat a rabbit. The rabbit uses it’s quick thinking to escape death by convincing the bear that it has a rare disease because he doesn’t have the same number of eyelashes for each eye! 4.5 stars
Gustav, the Goldfish is about a boy who overfed his fish. As a result, his fish couldn’t stop growing! 3 stars
Tadd and Todd are identical twins.Todd loved being a twin and looking like Tadd but Tadd didn’t like looking like Todd. He wanted people to be able to tell them apart so he proceeds to do whatever he can to look different from Todd. 4 stars
Steak for Supper was about a boy who tells everyone he’s having steak for dinner. So various creatures end up following him home hoping they’ll be able to have some too. 2 stars
The Strange Shirt Spot is about a boy he has a stain on his shirt. As he tries to clean it off, the stain transfers to other objects, which later inspired the story of The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. 2.5 stars
The Great Henry McBride has a hard time deciding what he wants to be when he grows up. So he figures he could probably grow up to have 2 jobs! Or better yet, why not 3? Or 4?
“Yep! I’ll pick the very best job that I can
When I finally grow up and turn into a man.
But now… well, right now when I’m still sort of small,
The best job is dreaming, with no work at all.”
While I did enjoy this story, I’m not sure I like the lesson - it’s no good to just dream, you have to work towards them! 4 stars
*** #13 of my 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book published posthumously ***
Read
November 9, 2019Dr. Seuss is a genius and I won’t entertain any arguments to the contrary. This quick collection was so super fantastic on audio (Neil Patrick Harris! Edward Hermann! Joan Cusak! Jason Lee! Peter Dinklage! William H. Macy! Angelica Houston!) that I wanted to start it over as soon as it ended. (My kids were also like, “That’s it? We want more!” Now I just need to get the hard copy so we can see the illustrations too.
January 18, 2020
This was such a fun read!!!
This actually is my first Dr. Seuss book and although I've seen some movie adaptations, books are always better! :)
I listened to the audiobook and they added some sound effects in the story and it felt like a really good cartoon!
I loved it!
Yay!! 💖💖
This actually is my first Dr. Seuss book and although I've seen some movie adaptations, books are always better! :)
I listened to the audiobook and they added some sound effects in the story and it felt like a really good cartoon!
I loved it!
Yay!! 💖💖
December 13, 2022
Well this was super fun 🥰
January 7, 2024
Pleasant precursors to the Dr. Seuss we know and love.
March 15, 2025
Lost Dr. Seuss stories? Yes, please!
October 13, 2018
Great read!
Audio book
Audio book
March 4, 2021
Steak for Supper my favorite;)
April 10, 2021
This book of stories is fun to read if you do it one at a time. With all the nonsense, more than that will bore a child (or even yourself!!).
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