The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats

by Philip Nel

How did Dr. Seuss come to write The Cat in the Hat? How long did it take him to write The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the HatComes Back? Were these books instantly successful, or did their... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375933697
• ISBN13: 9780375933691
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 189 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 10.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

More than I ever new about Dr. Sesuss

A wonderful book that tells about the Cat in the Hat and its evolution. A childhood favorite for generations, the story is fun and I'm glad it is still going strong for my kids to enjoy. Now with Nel's book, this early reader book is revealed all for the better. Nel reveales the story behind the Cat and how it came to life. Considering the original art work revealed and sharing the limited printing colors back in the day Geisel had to work with, his genius is more apparent. The Cat is a timeless story and now the story behind the story provides for a greater appreciation. This book is a must for anyone interested in the evolution of a book as well as the history behind the Cat in the Hat.

Fascinating.

Philip Nel, The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Random House, 2007) There are two different ways people will react to this book. It seems possible to me that you may be able to use it as an acid test for whether you want to keep your friends around. The first type of person will flip through the book (or, if the word "annotated" is familiar, won't even need to do that) and then proclaim that such a book would destroy his or her enjoyment of The Cat in the Hat (and its sequel, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back), because this is "overanalyzing" and "not germane to enjoyment of the books in question." (This is, of course, assuming "germane" is in this person's vocabulary.) There will be others who will read the book and come out the other side with the same opinion. The second type will read it and gain entirely new dimensions of enjoyment for CitH and CitHCB, understanding that the more you know, the better off you are, in general. Sure, the information here is in many senses trivial, and one doesn't need to trace the idea of the pink spot (from CitHCB) being a symbol of communism, and the debate over whether Voom is a symbol for a nuclear weapon. But it's fascinating stuff. Even more fascinating is Nel's collection of rough drafts of many of the pages, and his notes on Seuss' process of revision; how important is the position of Sally's left arm in a given picture? Very important, according to Seuss, and Nel shows why sometimes even the most minor of revisions made the final book better than the draft he's examining. This is great stuff. Read it, and you'll like Sr. Seuss' books even more. And kick those people to the curb who blather on about how awful it is that even kids' books can't be simple any more. ****

For the researcher in you

The Annotated Cat in the Hat is an interesting read. One sees behind the fun and outlandish escapades of Seuss's most well-known character. A great deal of thought goes into writing and illustrating children's books and this book delves into and explains the process. Someone who is curious about rhythmic cadences and the reasoning behind them will surely enjoy learning the hidden meanings of those in The Cat in the Hat. The book is not for the casual reader. It must be read by someone who has a love of language, writing, and the creative process.

The wonderful Dr. Suess

With only 236 words, Dr. Seuss blasted onto the children's literature scene with his revolutionary reader The Cat in the Hat. In the days of the Dick and Jane primers, reading was not the most enjoyable pastime for children, but Dr. Seuss changed all that and is now an icon. In The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats readers get not only the complete texts and art of The Cat in the Hat, and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, but also two original essays and a magazine story by Seuss, draft material and sketches, photographs and page-by-page annotations of the two classics, as well as an introduction to the man, Seuss and his work. The Annotated Cat is an intriguing look into the mind of a children's book legend. Especially for those of us who strive to write for children, the insight put forth on Seuss' creations is mind-blowing in its detail. His quest for perfection (and near attainment of it) shows in the sketches and writes and re-writes of his books. Philip Nel does an excellent job of analyzing the plethora of information available and commenting on the various aspects of Seuss creations. Armchair Interviews says: A must-read for the Seuss lover or hopeful children's writer.