seuss statue in san diego
Dr. Seuss with the Cat in the Hat in San Diego © Author Adventures
Geisel Library © Author Adventures
Geisel Library © Author Adventures

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel (1904-1991), more commonly known as “Dr. Seuss,” lived in La Jolla, California, for many years. His birthday is celebrated with national festivities at schools, libraries, and bookstores on March 2. For information about his birthday events, visit the Dr. Seuss website at https://www.seussville.com/educators/dr-seuss-birthday. It includes ideas for classroom activities, including educator guides and printables for students, and fun things for children to do to honor his birthday.

According to biography.com, the reason he chose to use the pen name “Dr. Seuss” was because he had been directed to stop contributing stories to a humor magazine after being caught with alcohol in his college dorm room during Prohibition.

For a list of Dr. Seuss books available for purchase, click here: seussville.com.

For a list of movies based on Dr. Seuss books, visit https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317450.

Read more about the writer on the page about his birthplace in our Massachusetts section.

UCSD Library Collection

His La Jolla home is not open to the public, but the author’s original materials are housed at the University of California San Diego Library in its Dr. Seuss Collection. San Diego is a major metropolis with several colleges and universities in addition to UCSD; La Jolla is a small city nearby with a population of approximately 46,000.

We thought exhibits occurred only during March, in honor of his birthday, and the summer, but one of our team members successfully author-adventured in September to experience this one.  (Still, there may be times when his materials are accessible to pre-approved researchers only so call ahead.)

Please remember that greasy banana peels, purple-spotted tomatoes, seasick crocodiles and other food or animals favored by the Grinch must be left outside.

On the Path

This is the second stop on our Southern California Author Adventures Trail.

Patricia Smart