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My Many Colored Days
Accompanying a manuscript Dr. Seuss wrote in 1973, was a letter outlining his hopes of finding "a great color artist who will not be dominated by me."
The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about feelings and moods as part of the "first book ever to be based on beautiful illustrations and sensational color." The quest for an artist finally ended—after the manuscript languished for more than two decades—at the paint brushes of husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher whose stunning, expressive paintings reveal such striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf.
Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what Oh, the Places You'll Go! does for the human life cycle.
Here is a wonderful way for parents to talk with children about their feelings. With Johnson and Fancher's atmospheric, large-scale paintings bursting off the pages, Dr. Seuss's vision is brought to life. This rare and beautiful book is bound to appeal to both the innocent young and the most sophisticated seniors.
The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about feelings and moods as part of the "first book ever to be based on beautiful illustrations and sensational color." The quest for an artist finally ended—after the manuscript languished for more than two decades—at the paint brushes of husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher whose stunning, expressive paintings reveal such striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf.
Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what Oh, the Places You'll Go! does for the human life cycle.
Here is a wonderful way for parents to talk with children about their feelings. With Johnson and Fancher's atmospheric, large-scale paintings bursting off the pages, Dr. Seuss's vision is brought to life. This rare and beautiful book is bound to appeal to both the innocent young and the most sophisticated seniors.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 1996
26 people are currently reading
3103 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 619 reviews
February 9, 2014
This book actually rhymes, but it is not the whimsical, silly rhymes you are used to from Dr. Seuss. It has a more serious, nurturing tone, which quite surprised me. I really liked the dynamic interaction of colors, animals, and emotions, although I wasn't sure I liked tying emotions to certain colors. For example, if your favorite color is purple, sorry, but that is the sad and alone color. And brown and black are, of course, depressed and angry. But I am probably overthinking it. If you take them as just examples of what the colors might be, it does seem to be a good way to normalize they way we feel different emotions at different times.
December 17, 2010
I love the idea of this book; that different colors express our moods. I know some days I feel happy hot-pink, some days a deep blue... I'm not sure I totally loved the illustrations but they are very vibrant and fun.
February 14, 2015
this should have been called, "Dr. Seuss discusses multiple personalities." He must have been depressed when he wrote this one.
June 24, 2016
A standalone story about the colors that reflect one's feelings that will appeal to children and adults. And one to which I wish I could give a "7"!
My Take
Wow, the colors start immediately you open the book with the distressed bright green, the calmer orange, and the quieter purple which offsets the white background for the title page. It's a rich palette of color and texture as the artists provide a sumptuous background for their figures with successive pages becoming more complex in the use of color.
The blurb says it's about emotions and colors that we experience, and the next page confirms this with the primitive "snow angel"-like figures in red, blue, and green.
I did enjoy the multi-colored pages as the artists acknowledge how people's moods change throughout one day. They continue on to pair up the emotion with an animal.
It's a sophisticated palette with evolved, more adult-like rhymes that will appeal to adults as well as children. And provide good jumping-off points to discuss feelings with the kids.
If you're struggling with your child, this book may be quite useful for him or her to explain his or her moods without feeling bad about them. It may even help to play with your child to be that critter for the day…or a shorter time. Explore the feeling/animal at different times during the day. S/he may have an easier time explaining how they feel with this.
I must confess to wanting my very own long, lon-n-g purple tail for my purple days! I could wear it and walk around my neighbors and make them laugh. And it would make me laugh as well.
The Story
It's a case of the days and the color of your mood.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background, all the better to focus our attention on the bright colors. There's a big red circle with the black title and the white for the author's name. There's a biggish yellow and orange square with a primitive round face and gradually descending squares in blues, greens and purples fluttering around the circle. Each square is sunk into the cover with a shadow around two sides.
The title is the truth, My Many Colored Days that describe my emotions.
My Take
Wow, the colors start immediately you open the book with the distressed bright green, the calmer orange, and the quieter purple which offsets the white background for the title page. It's a rich palette of color and texture as the artists provide a sumptuous background for their figures with successive pages becoming more complex in the use of color.
The blurb says it's about emotions and colors that we experience, and the next page confirms this with the primitive "snow angel"-like figures in red, blue, and green.
I did enjoy the multi-colored pages as the artists acknowledge how people's moods change throughout one day. They continue on to pair up the emotion with an animal.
It's a sophisticated palette with evolved, more adult-like rhymes that will appeal to adults as well as children. And provide good jumping-off points to discuss feelings with the kids.
If you're struggling with your child, this book may be quite useful for him or her to explain his or her moods without feeling bad about them. It may even help to play with your child to be that critter for the day…or a shorter time. Explore the feeling/animal at different times during the day. S/he may have an easier time explaining how they feel with this.
I must confess to wanting my very own long, lon-n-g purple tail for my purple days! I could wear it and walk around my neighbors and make them laugh. And it would make me laugh as well.
The Story
It's a case of the days and the color of your mood.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background, all the better to focus our attention on the bright colors. There's a big red circle with the black title and the white for the author's name. There's a biggish yellow and orange square with a primitive round face and gradually descending squares in blues, greens and purples fluttering around the circle. Each square is sunk into the cover with a shadow around two sides.
The title is the truth, My Many Colored Days that describe my emotions.
March 13, 2014
My nearly two-year-old daughter loves Dr. Seuss books. So when I told her I got a new one out of the library, she was very excited (READ IT DADDY DR. SEUUUUUS!).
But then I opened the book and started reading and she stopped me cold. NO READ DR. SEUSS! NO DR. SEUSS!
I have to say, I side with her. The artists behind this one are no Dr. Seuss.
But then I opened the book and started reading and she stopped me cold. NO READ DR. SEUSS! NO DR. SEUSS!
I have to say, I side with her. The artists behind this one are no Dr. Seuss.
November 17, 2014
Our English teacher read this book for us today and It was really very beautiful and made me feel good about life, I loved its idea. I wish I had read it before.
September 30, 2020
This is a brilliant picture book which could be used in primary school and has lots of cross curricular links. The style of art and bright colours is very effective and it could be used to talk about feelings and emotions in PSHE, which everyone experiences at some point. With younger children, it might help them to express their feelings more. This could lead to looking at metaphors in English with the different colours representing emotions and sometimes animals such as the buzzing bees for yellow and this could be used to develop their descriptive and emotive writing. It could also be used in music as different instruments could be used to portray how the feelings could be shown through music, making the contrasting feelings everyone experiences clearer. There are so many opportunities to use this book and I think it would be a great addition to any primary classroom.
April 24, 2008
makes me feel better about myself, especially when i am feeling "many colored"
June 14, 2008
So simple, yet so poignant. I love the illustrations, even though they are not Seuss'.
March 24, 2013
I love this book as a way to teach about both colors and feelings.
March 23, 2015
Not my favorite, but I'll always enjoy a new Dr. Seuss.
November 9, 2021
I'm sure I've encountered this book before. Obviously, it's a book about colors, but it's also about emotions. Nice rhyme scheme.
November 16, 2025
I liked this book. It teaches about emotions, and how they change from day to day. The pictures weren’t my favourite though. Some of them kinda freaked me out 😬
February 10, 2019
A baby board book that was amusing enough to me as an adult with no children of my own to request it on Bookmooch so I could own a copy, My Many Colored Days can be read almost as meditative reflection and psychological metaphor for naming the quality of one's days. I loved this concept of not just blue days, but red and yellow, purple and brown. The complex idea of moods and feelings rising and falling, of the changing nature of emotions is presented in a way that is accessible to children, but can appeal to adults for the reminder that some days are just mixed up colors and will "turn out all right" as one "goes back to being me". Do note that in stereotypical fashion, brown and black get associated with negative moods and emotions (as does grey and, somewhat perplexing, purple). I think the book still has value for the concepts conveyed, but I would have a conversation with kids and prompt them to come up with positive associations and good things about these colors and discuss how different colors can mean different things to us at different times and aren't inherently good or bad (grey mood or my pretty grey dress, brown as slow bear or the beautiful and long-lived tree).
The simplicity of most color concept books is intended as a teaching tool for colors to be matched with objects that are associated with that color and as a result, the pictures in most tend to be fairly simple drawn and colored objects in graphical style. Here instead, Steve Johnson and Lou Pancher, use the Seussical text to soften animals, objects and a rounded gingerbread like figure in more modern art style paintings awash in the represented color in predominantly double spread pages that stylistically represent emotion as well as convey color. It is as much an art book as feelings or color book. Both a regular, full-size version of this picture book exists as well as the smaller version of the baby board book I reviewed. I'm imagining that I'd like the full size version even better for my own use, but even as board book, it is well worth seeking out.
The simplicity of most color concept books is intended as a teaching tool for colors to be matched with objects that are associated with that color and as a result, the pictures in most tend to be fairly simple drawn and colored objects in graphical style. Here instead, Steve Johnson and Lou Pancher, use the Seussical text to soften animals, objects and a rounded gingerbread like figure in more modern art style paintings awash in the represented color in predominantly double spread pages that stylistically represent emotion as well as convey color. It is as much an art book as feelings or color book. Both a regular, full-size version of this picture book exists as well as the smaller version of the baby board book I reviewed. I'm imagining that I'd like the full size version even better for my own use, but even as board book, it is well worth seeking out.
April 24, 2012
Dr Seuss is better known for classics like ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and books that have been turned into movies like ‘how the Grinch stole Christmas’ and ‘Horton Hears a Who’
This is a gentler offering, that was recommended to me by a colleague who swore by its lyrical quality – it is in Dr Seuss’s trademark rhyme – but is unusual in that it doesn’t contain a usual ‘story’. Instead, it charts a short journey through different feelings, associating them with colours. The illustrations are bright and vivid, really helping the expression of the different feelings they are linked to.
I first used this book when fostering children – it offers a way for children to express how they are feeling in a simple and gentle way , using colours and analogy that they are able to pick up from an early age, such as ‘then comes a Yellow Day. And, I am a busy, buzzy bee.’
As a classroom resource, it could be used to help any child who has difficulty in expressing their feelings or as a stimulus for circle time or PSHE work. I would recommend it from year one onwards. It could also be used as a trigger book that can help support expression through artistic work either directly through drawing and painting or through drama and dance where the children could be any one of the animals depicted, from a ‘busy bee’ to a lonely dinosaur or howling wolf. An excellent, short, versatile book.
This is a gentler offering, that was recommended to me by a colleague who swore by its lyrical quality – it is in Dr Seuss’s trademark rhyme – but is unusual in that it doesn’t contain a usual ‘story’. Instead, it charts a short journey through different feelings, associating them with colours. The illustrations are bright and vivid, really helping the expression of the different feelings they are linked to.
I first used this book when fostering children – it offers a way for children to express how they are feeling in a simple and gentle way , using colours and analogy that they are able to pick up from an early age, such as ‘then comes a Yellow Day. And, I am a busy, buzzy bee.’
As a classroom resource, it could be used to help any child who has difficulty in expressing their feelings or as a stimulus for circle time or PSHE work. I would recommend it from year one onwards. It could also be used as a trigger book that can help support expression through artistic work either directly through drawing and painting or through drama and dance where the children could be any one of the animals depicted, from a ‘busy bee’ to a lonely dinosaur or howling wolf. An excellent, short, versatile book.
October 18, 2016
Synthesis: In this book, Dr. Seuss uses bright illustrations with animals and colors to address the different types of moods that people go through. It begins by saying that not everyday is the same. Then, after taking the audience through different emotions that come with each mood, he concludes by reminding the readers that as long as you are only temporarily in these different moods and “go back to being...me,” then that is perfectly fine.
Teaching Connections: This book is a great way for students to get in touch with their feelings. At a young age, feelings and emotions are difficult for students to express, so reading this book is a great way to show children that this is something everyone experiences. It is also a good tool to use for inferencing. The book never explicitly says what the mood being described is, so through the pictures and text, children can infer what mood someone would be in if they felt as the page describes.
Why this is a WOW Book: I loved that Dr. Seuss used a playful type design to make the words come to life for the reader. As each page is read, the audience is able to get a slight glimpse of some of the emotions that come with the specific mood just by the illustrations and text format.
Teaching Connections: This book is a great way for students to get in touch with their feelings. At a young age, feelings and emotions are difficult for students to express, so reading this book is a great way to show children that this is something everyone experiences. It is also a good tool to use for inferencing. The book never explicitly says what the mood being described is, so through the pictures and text, children can infer what mood someone would be in if they felt as the page describes.
Why this is a WOW Book: I loved that Dr. Seuss used a playful type design to make the words come to life for the reader. As each page is read, the audience is able to get a slight glimpse of some of the emotions that come with the specific mood just by the illustrations and text format.
September 27, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book and believe that it has many great teaching opportunities - from looking at the illustrations and the style that has been used (Art), to talking about feelings and emotions (maybe in a PSCHE) lesson as well as many more. You could also pair each colour to a tune in music (e.g. buzzing sound for yellow as that is linked to being a buzzy bee in the book).
I really like how the illustrations match the text and the way in which the different fonts have been used (e.g. 'groan' has been stretched out and put in italics on the purple day page). The different fonts linked to the emotions of the page and I found myself putting on a lower voice or a higher voice dependent on the fonts and the emotions of the pages when reading to myself.
Finally, I liked the message at the end of the book where it says that even though we feel the emotions and the different colours, everything turns out all right. Would 100% recommend reading and will ensure i have a copy of this in my classroom to use in future lessons.
I really like how the illustrations match the text and the way in which the different fonts have been used (e.g. 'groan' has been stretched out and put in italics on the purple day page). The different fonts linked to the emotions of the page and I found myself putting on a lower voice or a higher voice dependent on the fonts and the emotions of the pages when reading to myself.
Finally, I liked the message at the end of the book where it says that even though we feel the emotions and the different colours, everything turns out all right. Would 100% recommend reading and will ensure i have a copy of this in my classroom to use in future lessons.
February 2, 2019
I thought this book was brilliant. The illustrations are lovely, they’re painted and are gentle. The images also compliment the words, e.g. “Then comes a yellow day and, weeeeee. I am a busy, buzzy bee”. The image is yellow and shows bees. The fonts in the book change and make it clear for the reader to adapt their reading style to how the writer wants phrases to be said. I think this book could be used in lots of different ways. In art - to explore colours. In PSHE to explore feelings - I think this book would link well into explaining mental health to children. In English to explore the presentation of the writing and how text can be presented. In science to explore different animals and ask lots of questions, such as “why don’t we change colour when we feel different ways?”. A very cross curricular story with lots of different meanings.
July 31, 2020
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Seuss’ My Many Colored Days. It is simple enough to be read to babies and toddlers and complex enough to keep in the reading repertoire as those children become preschoolers and beyond. The different feelings Dr. Seuss discusses with such flow and ease are universal and therefore this book will be highly relatable to any kiddo. Love the rhymes, love the metaphors, and love the illustrations!! For the younger children, it is fun to have the act like the animal/creature on each page. For the older kids, reading this book can open up discussions about feelings and how it’s ok to not always feel exactly like your usual self. Good for both individual and group reading sessions. Like I said, I can’t praise this one enough!
March 20, 2012
Amazingly good book. Excellent way to teach children about emotions. It shows that colors are not only describe or belong to certain object but also to feelings. They will look at colors a different way. I enjoyed the rhyming very much, and the illustrations, although a bit abstract, were great. This is just another amazing way for children to not only express their own feeling but also to understand everybody else's feelings.
An activity I would do with this book, is that i will give each child a piece of paper and they will color it, depending on how they feel that day. Pink- happy, Blue- sad, etc.
An activity I would do with this book, is that i will give each child a piece of paper and they will color it, depending on how they feel that day. Pink- happy, Blue- sad, etc.
Read
December 7, 2017Text-to-Teaching Connection
This is a great book with wonderful illustrations. On the first page of the book, the main character is a cookie cutter shape and throughout the book we see this character in different colors. The colors represent different moods that we go through and feel. By the end of the book, we see the colors come together and describes the character altogether of being “me” and happy. This book would be good to teach your students about different moods and how to handle them. You could have your students roll play out different moods and talk together about how the person feels and how to express and handle different moods.
This is a great book with wonderful illustrations. On the first page of the book, the main character is a cookie cutter shape and throughout the book we see this character in different colors. The colors represent different moods that we go through and feel. By the end of the book, we see the colors come together and describes the character altogether of being “me” and happy. This book would be good to teach your students about different moods and how to handle them. You could have your students roll play out different moods and talk together about how the person feels and how to express and handle different moods.
July 1, 2014
I thought this book was a great tool to help children learn their colors. The title alone embodies what the book is basically about, which drew me in as an aspiring teacher. I loved how this book also conveyed emotions through every color by using an animal or object. It was very creative. It also rhymed which I liked, because this can help children learn words that sound the same. It overall touches on many different learning skills that would be beneficial for children to know and that's why I like it.
February 1, 2016
I absolutely love this book! It is one of my favorites by Dr. Seuss. It taught me as a child that we all have feelings, many different feelings. It showed that being sad is ok, and being happy is ok. That each feeling is a part of the human makeup. It is human to feel.
March 10, 2018
The book is about feeling and moods. Dr. Seuss used different colors to express different feelings, different sizes of fonts, different animals, and different rhyming words to keep the readers' attention. It is a good book to introduce to toddlers and above.
March 16, 2020
Storytime
Ages: toddler
Theme: Colors/painting
No hate please, but I am not a Dr. Seuss fan. I was surprised when this one was picked for me to read at a storytime and I genuinely enjoyed it.
Each color has something associated with it. Simple and not too silly, not too many made up words.
Ages: toddler
Theme: Colors/painting
No hate please, but I am not a Dr. Seuss fan. I was surprised when this one was picked for me to read at a storytime and I genuinely enjoyed it.
Each color has something associated with it. Simple and not too silly, not too many made up words.
December 9, 2014
Perfect illustrations.
May 19, 2017
I love colors, so I love the book. It perfectly describes me how I feel on different colored days ;)
Here's the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUQHP...
Here's the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUQHP...
March 8, 2020
Always happy to see newly discovered works by the good doctor.
November 11, 2020
This is possibly my favorite Dr. Seuss, which is weird since it is so unlike his other stuff. I just love the metaphor of colors and feelings, and the art fits wonderfully. Just beautiful.
March 6, 2022
This book addresses how kids are feeling all across the board. This book does a great job helping students find a way to discuss their emotions and learn how to talk about the way they are feeling. This is important towards making students feel comfortable with communicating. It does a great job of reiterating that all emotions are valid and they all come in phases.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews