Module 12: Biography/Autobiography

The Boy on Fairfield Street by Kathleen Krull

Summary: Before he became Dr. Seuss, he was Theodore (Ted) Geisel of Springfield, Massachusetts.  As the audience, we get to learn about Ted’s love of doodling, the teasing he endured as a child, and his eventual discovery of being able to do what he loved for a living.  While the narrative ends when Ted is 22, the last few pages showcase his body of work.

My Impressions: I thought this biography was a good introduction to who Dr. Seuss was.  I like that the author showed that he struggled as a child and was teased for not fitting in, but that he came away strong from the experience and continued down his own path.  Additionally, I liked that the illustrations were done in a realistic manner and kept everything to the time period of when Ted was growing up.  Many of the doodle illustrations were actually drawings from various Dr. Seuss stories.  At the end of the book is a list of Dr. Seuss’ works, and I was surprised at the number of books that he had written.  Overall, I thought the book was very well done.

Review: Krull's (V Is for Victory) fond tribute to Dr. Seuss focuses on the well-loved author/artist's youth. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., Ted Geisel "feasted on books and was wild about animals" and "excelled at fooling around." The informal, anecdotal narrative explains that Geisel early on demonstrated a passion for drawing (even on his bedroom walls) "whatever popped into his head." He took only one art class, in high school, and quit when the teacher scolded him for "breaking rules" and told him he would never be successful. While attending Dartmouth, Geisel was admired for his "talent for silliness" and, Krull notes with comic irony, "He was clearly gifted, though no one knew at exactly what. It wasn't as if men could doodle for a living." The tale ends rather abruptly as the 22-year-old Geisel arrives in New York City to embark on his artistic career. A four-page addendum, presented in a smaller font, chronicles the highlights of Dr. Seuss's publishing career and provides intriguing tidbits about the creation of some of his beloved books. Johnson and Fancher's (New York's Bravest) representational, nostalgic paintings effectively evoke both the period and Geisel's appealingly puckish personality. Featured in spot art, familiar Seuss characters frolic through these pages, thematically complementing the illustrations while reminding readers why Geisel's life is worth celebrating. Ages 6-12. (Jan.) -- Diane Roback

Library Use: This book would be great to kick off a celebration for Dr. Seuss’s birthday.  Students could come down to the library and listen to both this book and other stories written by Dr. Seuss.

References:

Krull, K. (2004). The boy on Fairfield street. New York, NY: Random House

Roback, D. (2004). [Book Review of The Boy on Fairfield Street by K. Krull] Publisher’s Weekly, 251(2), p54