Audrey Geisel

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• How Audrey met Dr. Seuss (1:20)

  Audrey's sly humor slipped out when she first met Dr. Seuss. It wasn't the most auspicious beginning, but later they became good friends.

• The first book that was almost the last (1:45)

  And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street was Ted Geisel's first attempt at writing a children's book. After being rejected 27 times, he figured it was also his last.

• "I've got it!" (1:45)

  Once Ted Geisel got an idea, he would stay with it day and night, writing, rewriting, and illustrating.

• A challenge for Ted Geisel (3:40)

  Most people don't realize it, but it's not easy writing a good children's book, especially when your publisher challenges you to use no more than 225 words!

• Dr. Seuss's favorite book (1:15)

  Ted and Audrey Geisel didn't have children together. In some ways, his books were their children, each one loved and remembered for certain things.

• Every book had a message (1:30)

  Ted Geisel didn't want to seem "preachy" in his books, but he definitely had things he thought were important and wanted to say.

• A career that spanned 50 years (2:00)

  Ted Geisel wrote about a book a year during a career that spanned 50 years. One of his most memorable stories was The Sneetches, inspired by his observations of the local beach and tennis club.

• A tad subversive (1:00)

  The Cat in the Hat launched Dr. Seuss's fame. In the book, the children are alone at home, and that's when the adventures begin.

• Some early regrets (:45)

  Surrounded by the goodwill inspired by her husband's books, Audrey notes with regret not having had the time or energy to read to her own children when they were young.

• A working relationship (:45)

  Audrey and Ted Geisel were married for more than 20 years. She influenced the color choices in his books and later, when he became ill, was his companion and caregiver.

• From primary colors to shades of lavender (1:20)

  Early Dr. Seuss books like The Cat in the Hat were illustrated with simple red and white drawings. Beginning with The Lorax, however, the illustrations in his books began to show a wider range of colors.

• If he had been an architect… (1:00)

  Fantastic buildings are one of the hallmarks of Dr. Seuss books. When Ted Geisel saw the University of California, San Diego library, he said that was exactly the type of building he would have created if he had been an architect. It later became the Geisel Library.

• Dr. Seuss's legacy (1:00)

  One of the hardest questions Audrey gets asked is what she believes will be Ted Geisel's legacy. She thinks it is that he pleased both children and parents with the fun of learning.

• A hug from one generation to the next (:45)

  "Reading to a child, something that you have read that meant a great deal to you, there's something very warming about that. It's like a hug."