An annotated edition Dr. Seuss' classic The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.

A fun way to explore these classic children's picture books. Nel includes original sketches, notes ongoing motifs in Seuss' work and recycling of plot points, and explores the playing with language of which Seuss was so fond. Nel also has done considerable research and includes quotations from a multitude of academic works on these picture books. There are extensive end notes and references. Nel also includes two essays written by Seuss on the process of writing The Cat in the Hat. Interesting for those with fond memories of these picture books but also a useful academic work. ( )

Wow wow wow! So much I didn’t know here. Sometimes it’s a bit much, and sometimes the connection to the text is pretty tenuous, but lots of cool stuff. Like this list of things Dr. Seuss thought were funny to children: “sounds, surprise, grotesque/incongruous, falling down (the mighty falling), absurdity, horseplay.” The Mighty Falling! That’s my band name, right there. ( )

From School Library Journal
Nel proves that it is fun to take Seuss's work seriously. In 1957, the baby boom peaked at 3.9 million births, coinciding with a boom in children's literature. That same year, The Cat in the Hat was first published, creating an innovative type of children's literature that brought humor and originality to young readers. From the number of digits in the Cat's fingers (varies from three, four, or five) to the changes in colors of the bow tie of the Cat (white to red), Nel chronicles the development of the stories of The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. The well-documented text includes original manuscripts, early sketches, and illustrations with detailed analysis and descriptions. This text is an excellent addition to any school or public library and is essential reading for all who work with youth, literacy, and literature.—Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA
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