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What Was I Scared Of?
"Well...
I was walking in the night
And I saw nothing scary.
For I have never been afraid
Of anything. Not very."
What's a pair of empty green trousers doing standing by itself in the woods? Or riding a bike in Grin-itch? Or fishing on Roover River? The narrator certainly doesn't want to find out but wherever he goes, he's haunted by the spooky empty pants. Finally, when the two find themselves hiding from each other in a Snide bush, the terrified narrator realizes, "I was just as strange to him as he was strange to me."
This story, published as a standalone book but first issued and often read within The Sneetches and Other Stories, is a little Seussian gem that delivers a timeless message about fear and tolerance.
Here, Dr. Seuss once again reminds us of the futility of holding pointless fears over senseless concerns. In What Was I Scared Of we find Seuss at his best, with wacky illustrations and tongue-twisting rhymes like only he can.
I was walking in the night
And I saw nothing scary.
For I have never been afraid
Of anything. Not very."
What's a pair of empty green trousers doing standing by itself in the woods? Or riding a bike in Grin-itch? Or fishing on Roover River? The narrator certainly doesn't want to find out but wherever he goes, he's haunted by the spooky empty pants. Finally, when the two find themselves hiding from each other in a Snide bush, the terrified narrator realizes, "I was just as strange to him as he was strange to me."
This story, published as a standalone book but first issued and often read within The Sneetches and Other Stories, is a little Seussian gem that delivers a timeless message about fear and tolerance.
Here, Dr. Seuss once again reminds us of the futility of holding pointless fears over senseless concerns. In What Was I Scared Of we find Seuss at his best, with wacky illustrations and tongue-twisting rhymes like only he can.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 1997
17 people are currently reading
1787 people want to read
About the author
Dr. Seuss
974 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 312 reviews
March 22, 2021
"I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them.
I said, and said, and said those words.
I said them but I lied them."
I, as most who read my reviews notice very quickly, am a horror fan. Horror novels are generally my go to picks when I'm not in the mood for a certain style of book. I read "good" horror (classics, influential works and such) as well as "bad" horror (80s paperback and the extreme stuff) but despite my love for the genre I obviously don't share it with my three year old daughter… in fact I'm very careful to keep most of those books far from her height on the book shelf so that the covers don't scare her (especially after she saw one once and hid it so it "would not bother us anymore"… which resulted in a stressful week of hunting for it)
As such I love it when I find a book that is spooky (but not too spooky) that can be shared with my daughter in a fun, non-traumatic way. As she recently discovered a love of silly wordplay and phrases, Dr. Seuss's tale of a pair of walking ghostly trousers seemed a natural choice to give it a try (especially with its lesson about not judging others and also trying to teach that you shouldn't let your imagination scare you just because it is dark). Much to my great delight this one was a hit, with three requests of "read it again" after the first reading.
Me? I also love this one. It's honestly one of Seuss's tales I don't remember reading as a child but discovered as I got older. In fact, I know for sure I never read it as a kid as it would have been my favorite had I known of it given my love of horror related material even at a young age, and it is a delight to read this one to my daughter. The wordplay is clever, the morals nice, the artwork fun and the glow in the dark aspect of the pants a charming bonus. The perfect read for those who want to share a horror (but not too scary) story with their younger readers. 5/5 stars.
I said, and said, and said those words.
I said them but I lied them."
I, as most who read my reviews notice very quickly, am a horror fan. Horror novels are generally my go to picks when I'm not in the mood for a certain style of book. I read "good" horror (classics, influential works and such) as well as "bad" horror (80s paperback and the extreme stuff) but despite my love for the genre I obviously don't share it with my three year old daughter… in fact I'm very careful to keep most of those books far from her height on the book shelf so that the covers don't scare her (especially after she saw one once and hid it so it "would not bother us anymore"… which resulted in a stressful week of hunting for it)
As such I love it when I find a book that is spooky (but not too spooky) that can be shared with my daughter in a fun, non-traumatic way. As she recently discovered a love of silly wordplay and phrases, Dr. Seuss's tale of a pair of walking ghostly trousers seemed a natural choice to give it a try (especially with its lesson about not judging others and also trying to teach that you shouldn't let your imagination scare you just because it is dark). Much to my great delight this one was a hit, with three requests of "read it again" after the first reading.
Me? I also love this one. It's honestly one of Seuss's tales I don't remember reading as a child but discovered as I got older. In fact, I know for sure I never read it as a kid as it would have been my favorite had I known of it given my love of horror related material even at a young age, and it is a delight to read this one to my daughter. The wordplay is clever, the morals nice, the artwork fun and the glow in the dark aspect of the pants a charming bonus. The perfect read for those who want to share a horror (but not too scary) story with their younger readers. 5/5 stars.
October 30, 2018
I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them.
I said, and said, and said those words.
I said them but I lied them.
Amazing book! Only for the bravest and most open-minded little readers 🎃
One of my favourite by Dr. Seuss
I said, and said, and said those words.
I said them but I lied them.
Amazing book! Only for the bravest and most open-minded little readers 🎃
One of my favourite by Dr. Seuss
September 28, 2020
Having just read another book about some floating trousers, my mind was jogged by a goodreads friends review and I realised this was the story I remembered from childhood about some trousers with nobody in them.
A lovely story, all set at night with a pair of floating trousers. At first the little creature is scared of these ghostly trousers but eventually they realise that the scary trousers are A lovely and not too scary story, this would make a great Halloween read for small children and Dr Seuss fans.
Read on open library.
A lovely story, all set at night with a pair of floating trousers. At first the little creature is scared of these ghostly trousers but eventually they realise that the scary trousers are A lovely and not too scary story, this would make a great Halloween read for small children and Dr Seuss fans.
Read on open library.
February 18, 2019
4 Dr. Seuss no defrauda STARS
Uno de mis propósitos para este año, es ya no comprarle libros a mi hija, hasta que terminemos de leer los que ya tenemos en casa, pero como buena madre lectora, al ver este libro no me pude resistir.
La historia es simple, donde el protagonista ve unos pantalones flotando, y les tiene miedo, pero afronta su miedo y se da cuenta de lo inimaginable.
Una historia muy divertida, que nos enseña a superar nuestros miedos.
Uno de mis propósitos para este año, es ya no comprarle libros a mi hija, hasta que terminemos de leer los que ya tenemos en casa, pero como buena madre lectora, al ver este libro no me pude resistir.
La historia es simple, donde el protagonista ve unos pantalones flotando, y les tiene miedo, pero afronta su miedo y se da cuenta de lo inimaginable.
Una historia muy divertida, que nos enseña a superar nuestros miedos.
October 28, 2020
Dr. Seuss can always be relied to deliver a great entertaining rhyme and the fact that this edition had a glow in the dark cover madecus enjoy it even more!
The story is fun spooky tale as the narrator is scared by a pair of pale green floating trousers, only to discover that they are just as scared of him.
It's a nice message that something that might appear odd and strange at first probably isn't that scary at all.
The story is fun spooky tale as the narrator is scared by a pair of pale green floating trousers, only to discover that they are just as scared of him.
It's a nice message that something that might appear odd and strange at first probably isn't that scary at all.
October 15, 2010
This book TERRIFIED me to no end as a child. Well into my 20s, I remember shuddering at the illustrations of the empty pants, framed in the eerie blue of twilight, jumping off a clothesline and chasing a little boy through the woods. If ever Dr. Seuss came up in conversation I would ask a friend, "Do you remember such and such a book about the pants?" Sure enough I would meet a fellow traveler who was also terrified of this book. Who cares about the payoff, the setup is enough to strike life-long fear into the hearts of unsuspecting young readers.
July 16, 2019
Even better with the glow-in-the-dark aspect!
December 30, 2018
Like the philosophical box of chocolates, because there are many to choose: where books fall for me on the Theodor Seuss Geisel spectrum, continues to surprise. I do not care for the little kids’ inane rhyming books. Larger stories were quite good and repose at three stars. Full stories are where I applaud resoundingly, for memorable morals and poignant heart. Theodor created far more books than I was aware of. I had never heard of “What Was I Scared Of?”, until I was lucky to score it at our local thrift shop on our last visit. Unbelievably, this hails from 1961. My spouse did not know it either.
For fun, Ron read it to me Christmas night! He thought it bizarre. I laughed and love it! My delight in spooky clothing floating by itself, derives from one of my favourite discoveries, from 1985: “The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid Of Anything”. Whatever it may have received without resembling that gem, this creative 1961 book receives five stars. It has as much heart, as Theodor’s spunk; in his sparse, alien shadow wilderness drawings and premise.
The heart of the matter is feeling terrified about something so different from ourselves, for which we have no precedent or explanation. The example is something inanimate, which is a being of its own walking around: empty pants. The reassuring revelation is that it is mutually afraid of the protagonist. It suddenly becomes cute; shivering, being comforted and befriended. The message is that we are new and different to other species and people.
I don’t know if they were all made as glow-in-the-dark pages but I am having fun exploring mine. Ron is a chemist and explained that each phosphorescent page needs to absorb light. Then they will show up brightly in a dark space.
For fun, Ron read it to me Christmas night! He thought it bizarre. I laughed and love it! My delight in spooky clothing floating by itself, derives from one of my favourite discoveries, from 1985: “The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid Of Anything”. Whatever it may have received without resembling that gem, this creative 1961 book receives five stars. It has as much heart, as Theodor’s spunk; in his sparse, alien shadow wilderness drawings and premise.
The heart of the matter is feeling terrified about something so different from ourselves, for which we have no precedent or explanation. The example is something inanimate, which is a being of its own walking around: empty pants. The reassuring revelation is that it is mutually afraid of the protagonist. It suddenly becomes cute; shivering, being comforted and befriended. The message is that we are new and different to other species and people.
I don’t know if they were all made as glow-in-the-dark pages but I am having fun exploring mine. Ron is a chemist and explained that each phosphorescent page needs to absorb light. Then they will show up brightly in a dark space.
February 5, 2017
Dr Seuss' rhymes make Eminem look like a learner.
His humor makes Kevin hart's jokes seem just about as funny and absorbing as stale bread and watching me try to rhyme.
Uh-oh.
☑ And No. I'm not done yet. I'm still trying to experience the wonders of his little works- something I should have experienced years ago O.o
#Tolatecomersandlatebloomers
His humor makes Kevin hart's jokes seem just about as funny and absorbing as stale bread and watching me try to rhyme.
Uh-oh.
☑ And No. I'm not done yet. I'm still trying to experience the wonders of his little works- something I should have experienced years ago O.o
#Tolatecomersandlatebloomers
October 14, 2019
Super fun and slightly creepy classic— perfect for Halloween!
May 21, 2023
4.5 stars (5/10 hearts). I was super impressed about this one. What a great way to a) talk about the dangers of letting your imagination run away with you, b) discuss fear of strange things, and c) explain how important it is to actually get to know someone. An excellent little story!
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
July 17, 2022
Update: I've just learned of the existence of the Fresno Nightcrawler thanks to Sarah Andersen's Cryptid Club. And that somehow makes this book more delightful.
Adding to a list of questions I never expected to be asked by my niece - “Why aren’t you scared of pants?” and “Are hats scary?”
Adding to a list of questions I never expected to be asked by my niece - “Why aren’t you scared of pants?” and “Are hats scary?”
May 12, 2022
Cute kids story. It starts off scary but ends on a good note. Nice, typical Seuss illustrations too.
October 27, 2021
I love Dr. Suess! Thank you so much to Random House for Young Readers for sending me this perfect spooky children’s book! It is so much fun and does not disappoint. What's a pair of empty green pants doing standing by itself in the woods? Or riding a bike in Grin-itch? Or fishing on Roover River? The narrator certainly doesn't want to find out but wherever he goes, he's haunted by the spooky empty pants. Finally, when the two find themselves hiding from each other in a Snide bush, the terrified narrator realizes, "I was just as strange to him as he was strange to me."
Thoughts: This book is about being scared of a pair of floating pants, only to realize that the pants are just as scared of you as you are of them. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and learning to be empathetic and and tolerant in the face of fear. The rhymes are clever and fun, and gives a great message about how things that are different are not always scary. 5- stars for this one! As the book says:
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
Thoughts: This book is about being scared of a pair of floating pants, only to realize that the pants are just as scared of you as you are of them. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and learning to be empathetic and and tolerant in the face of fear. The rhymes are clever and fun, and gives a great message about how things that are different are not always scary. 5- stars for this one! As the book says:
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
April 10, 2017
3.5
"I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them. I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them."
Even if you're the bravest person you know, seeing a pair of pants with nobody inside them will freeze your blood in your veins, especially if they seem follow you everywhere and if you're the kind of people who like to get out in the night.
"I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them. I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them."
Even if you're the bravest person you know, seeing a pair of pants with nobody inside them will freeze your blood in your veins, especially if they seem follow you everywhere and if you're the kind of people who like to get out in the night.
December 23, 2015
This book was stellar! It is a newer Seuss book since my son was small. It teaches that sometimes things we are afraid of are just as afraid of us. I actually bought this as a Kindle "teach me to read" app. There were several on sale because of Dr. Seuss's birthday, this app was only 99¢ (plus I received free coins towards purchasing other apps). The teaching features are marvelous. You can have it set three ways: teaching, read it myself, and auto-play.I bought ten of these Seuss apps today for less than $12.00. Perfect for babysitting and someday grandchildren.
October 25, 2010
This is a fun book to read around halloween time when children are excited about all of the holiday's "scary" activities. It's so silly that everyone is sure to enjoy it. It could also be used to relate to school as well. Becasue many children are afraid of the anxiety or the myths that come along with a new school year, this book could be a teacher's way of lightening the mood and the environment of the classroom in a way that makes students laugh.
March 16, 2018
2013: We all love this book! It's hard to beat Dr. Seuss's "pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them."
2018: Child three of three is also a fan . . .
2018: Child three of three is also a fan . . .
June 1, 2016
That's his second book I read and I'm glad I enjoyed this one, especially the message from the story.
February 14, 2018
Pretty sure we'll be reading this book every night. The MC wasn't scared, and neither was my kid. Not of no spooky green pale pants, not even with nobody inside 'em!
November 7, 2020
Another new title for me from one of my favourite children’s author.
November 21, 2016
What's not to like about Dr Seuss? A bit of a silly, rhyming story about a pair of wandering pants the main character is frightened of. But I think this story also helps show kids that often the things we are afraid of are really just things we don't understand or haven't had experience with. Getting to know something/someone can ease our fears of differentness, especially when our fear is not really warranted.
February 22, 2012
This has always been one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, mostly because the idea is so bizarre yet somehow poignant -- a guy afraid of a pair of empty pale green pants. My favorite line: "I said, 'I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them.' I said and said and said those words. I said them, but I lied them."
August 10, 2016
I hadn't even heard of this story until I had my son and started reading him all the Seuss I could get my hands on. This is absolutely my favorite. It flows perfectly when read aloud and it's so creepy and funny. One of my favorite lines ever: "I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them. I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them."
December 3, 2012
"I said, I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them. I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them."
O to think that I shall never see
A way to write like Dr. Seuss.
And even if I did,
Well, it would be completely derivative.
O to think that I shall never see
A way to write like Dr. Seuss.
And even if I did,
Well, it would be completely derivative.
January 3, 2018
Great book about how to overcome a fear by realizing that your fear may be as scared as you are. This book goes to show that once we get to know one another, we have more in common than what our fear told us and we can begin to mend that bridge to become friends.
July 23, 2012
My favorite Dr. Seuss book.
February 11, 2017
Because it's a favorite of CRB, it's now a favorite of mine. We probably read it five times last year.
October 19, 2018
Love it!
February 26, 2019
Seuss never disappoints. This title has so many layers. It’s a bit creepy for younger kids, but has wonderful life lessons even for adults.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews