Kathleen Kudlinski - Dr. Seuss: Young Author and Artist

Young Author and Artist

by Kathleen Kudlinski

Illustrated by Meryl Henderson

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
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If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Dear Reader:

The Childhood of Famous Americans series, seventy years old in 2002, chronicles the early years of famous American men and women in an accessible manner. Each book is faithful in spirit to the values and experiences that influenced the persons development. History is fleshed out with fictionalized details, and conversations have been added to make the stories come alive to todays reader, but every reasonable effort has been made to make the stories consistent with the events, ethics, and character of their subjects.

These books reaffirm the importance of our American heritage. We hope you learn to love the heroes and heroines who helped shape this great country. And by doing so, we hope you also develop a lasting love for the nation that gave them the opportunity to make their dreams come true. It will do the same for you.

Happy Reading!

The Editors

DR. SEUSS

To Paul and Ruby Pinders at Crown Point Camping Area, VT, where this book was written (at RV site 29), and to Adam and Ryan Beal.K. V. K.

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Text copyright 2005 by Kathleen Kudlinski

Illustrations copyright 2005 by Meryl Henderson

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

CHILDHOOD OF FAMOUS AMERICANS is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. ALADDIN PAPERBACKS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Designed by Lisa Vega

The text of this book was set in New Caledonia.

Manufactured in the United States of America

6 8 10 9 7

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004113720

ISBN-13: 978-0-689-87347-8 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-689-87347-6 (pbk.)
eISBN 13: 978-1-439-11274-8

ILLUSTRATIONS

Ted crouched behind the parlor door, trying not to giggle out loud. He rested a warning hand on his pit bulls head. Rex quivered with excitement. Marnie sat practicing scales on the piano, pretending not to know about her brothers mischief.

The sound of their mothers footsteps floated down the hall. Ted held his breath until she passed the door.

Boo! He jumped out, waving his arms. Rex leaped alongside, barking.

Ach, mein heart! Mrs. Geisel grabbed her chest. The fairy wings on her shoulders bobbed wildly. She staggered through the parlor past the big new radio, around the piano bench, and past the fireplace. Quick! My fairy dust! she gasped. Then she twirled about and fell onto the couch. Rex jumped up to comfort her, a blur of black and white patches and red, licking tongue.

Stop fooling, Mutter! Marnie laughed. Teddys guests will be here soon! She turned a page in her practice book and started to play the piano again.

Mrs. Geisel stood quickly and straightened her fairy costume. Marnie, you know the rules. German only spoken here, she said firmly. Use your English elsewhere. She tapped Ted on the head with her magic wand as she hurried into the kitchen.

Ach, nein! she screamed from the other room. Theodor Seuss Geisel, you scallywag!

What did you do now? Marnie asked.

Ted just grinned. Youll see in a minute, he said. Mrs. Geisel stormed out of the kitchen. In her hand was a brown toy dog. On its head was Mrs. Geisels new church hat. But Mutter he explained in German, Theophrastus asked nicely if he could come to my tenth birthday party. I told him hed have to wear a costume, like everybody else.

Mrs. Geisel jerked her long hatpins out of her hat and smoothed its quivering feathers. This is not a costume, she scolded.

It is if you are a dog. Theophrastus told me he wanted to come dressed as the very best mother in the whole wide world. Ted snuck a wink at his sister.

Marnie groaned loudly. Rex cocked his head. Mrs. Geisel stood frozen. A mix of anger and humor and pride flickered across her face. Finally she laughed. Ted, you may be dressed in long pants for the day, but there is nothing adult about this prank.

Hell be back in his little-boy knickers tomorrow, Marnie said, looking prim. She added, I dont think his humor will ever grow up.

In a way I hope it doesnt, Mrs. Geisel said as she headed back into the kitchen. Ted, it is time to go and meet your Vater. Then the party can begin.

Ted snapped his fingers and Rex bounded to join him. Through the top half of the carved wooden front door, Ted tried to listen for the trolley cars bell. Hearing anything over the noisy streets was hopeless. The whole street seemed to be a party. Horses hooves clopped, wagon wheels screeched, Model Ts chugged and honked, church bells pealed, street vendors yelled, and peacocks screamed from the zoo down the block. Over all of that, the mills made a steady clanking and roaring. Ted grinned. He loved the energy of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Everything happened here. Two hundred trains arrived at the station daily. Smith & Wesson made enough new guns to fill a United States Armory. The second commercial radio station in the country had just begun broadcasting from the hotel downtown. They were building the biggest bridge ever across the Connecticut River.

It was March 2, 1914, and he was finally ten. He pulled himself up, opened the bottom half of the door, and strode onto the porch dressed at last as a man. He snapped his fingers and Rex bounded out, too. The pit bulls wagging tail whipping against his leg hit fabric instead of woolen stockings. It felt strange. Vaters bowler hat pressed against his head in a way that everyday caps never did. Ted took a puff on an imaginary cigar, then pretended to pop open a fine pocket watch. Vater he practiced. You are late.

This evening he did not slide down the railing, choosing the stairs instead. He strolled down the street touching his hat brim to the women he passed. Mrs. Kaufman struggled with a smile. Good day, Mrs. Kaufman, Ted said. Mrs. Hessledorf simply stared. Guten Tag, Frau Hesseldorf, Ted said, and moved on.