Review of THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS

Bibliography:

Krull, Kathleen. 2004. The boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375922989

Review:

Kathleen Krull, a well-known children’s biographer, tells the story of Ted Geisel in The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss. In an anecdotal style, she reveals interesting facts about Ted’s childhood in Springfield, Massachusetts where he “feasted on books and was wild about animals” and spent much of his time drawing “the animals . . . in his father’s zoo, . . . imaginary creatures, . . . (and) whatever popped into his head.” The picture book format, with full-page illustrations depicting scenes from Ted’s life, is entertaining and informative without being condescending. Readers will enjoy the fact that Ted, who would later become one of the most popular children’s authors of his time, was voted “least likely to succeed” by his college classmates. Krull’s ability to bring Dr. Seuss to life and reveal that he was a normal kid makes this book sure to be a hit with the millions of children who grew up reading and loving Dr. Seuss’ books. While The Boy on Fairfield Street focuses mainly on Ted’s childhood, ending when he leaves for New York to pursue a writing career at the age of twenty-two, Krull includes a four-page article, “On Beyond Fairfield Street,” at the end of the biography. This section details the rest of Ted Geisel’s life, providing background on how he created some of his most famous and loved pieces, such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! This section, set in smaller font, will probably not interest the youngest of readers, but it allows those who wish to know more about Dr. Seuss the chance to do so. One feature of the book sure to entertain readers of all ages is the inclusion of Geisel’s artwork from his various books. Familiar characters, such as the Lorax, Sam, and the Grinch, frolic along the bottom of each page, reminding readers of the many books written by this beloved children’s author and making them glad that the boy who had an “unusual way of looking at the world” decided to share his view with the rest us.