Audrey Geisel

Reading Rockets conducted an exclusive interview with Audrey Geisel — Mrs. Dr. Seuss! — that we filmed at her San Diego home. In this interview, Audrey Geisel explains how she first met Theodore Geisel, describes their life together, and talks about his classic works. It's a fascinating glimpse into the life of the man who's had a lasting influence on children's literature and American culture.

Click on the links below§ to watch this interview online, or read the interview transcript. You can also read a short biography of Dr. Seuss.

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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."

Biography

Audrey and Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) had been friends for a long time before they married in 1968. She brought order and stability to his life at a time when Geisel's popularity was pulling him in various directions.

Brilliant, playful, and always respectful of children, Dr. Seuss charmed his way into the consciousness of four generations of youngsters and parents. In the process, he helped millions of kids learn to read.

Born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904, Geisel graduated from Dartmouth College in 1925 and then went to Oxford University, intending to acquire a doctorate in literature. He spent over 15 years in advertising and served in Frank Capra's Signal Corps (U.S. Army) making movies relevant to the war effort.

In 1954, Life magazine published a report on illiteracy among schoolchildren, suggesting that children were having trouble reading because their books were boring. This problem inspired Geisel's publisher, Bennett Cerf, who asked him to write an entertaining children's book using only 250 words. Nine months later, using only 220 of the words given to him, Geisel submitted The Cat in the Hat, the publication of which brought instant success. Later, Bennett Cerf wagered that Geisel couldn't write a book using 50 words or less, which prompted the all-time Seuss favorite Green Eggs and Ham.

Cerf had the vision to see that Geisel was going to turn the children's book industry upside down, so he and Geisel along with their wives, created Random House's Beginner Books division, one of the most innovative and successful ventures in children's publishing.

In all, Theodor Geisel authored and illustrated 44 children's books. He also won a Pulitizer Prize, three Academy Awards, two Emmys, a Peabody, and Caldecott Honor awards.

Although Theodor Geisel died in 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading.

Adapted from Random House biographies.

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