The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel

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Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was one of the titans of 20th century American children's literature--a legacy that shows no sign of diminishing in the 21st. But such epochal fare as The Cat in the Hat and enduring, whimsical characters as Horton, The Grinch and Sam-I-Am represent but one corner of the late writer/artist's vast artistic universe. Other Geisel biographies have detailed his remarkable life and vibrant art, but Massachusetts dentist/Seussiana collector nonpareil Richard D. Cohen serves up a "visual biography" that's part lovingly illustrated coffee table book and part insightful analysis of a creative mind and the various historical and cultural forces that shaped it. Cohen richly illustrates his compelling tribute with key, telling artifacts from his own massive collection. No corner of the author/artist's life has escaped Cohen's obsessive collector's eye, including: turn-of the-century bottles of the Geisel family brewery, Geisel's teenage writings and illustrations, later work that spans careers in cartooning advertising (successful campaigns for Esso, Flit and others), wartime propaganda (including uncredited work on the Oscar-winning Hitler Lives!) and Hollywood (The 5000 Finger of Dr. T). Indeed, in Cohen's thoughtful, lavishly illustrated analysis, Geisel's latter-day incarnation as children's author supreme was but the logical distillation of a lifetime devoted to wit, wordplay and whimsical art. --Jerry McCulley

Book Description

Theodor Seuss Geisel, creator of Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, and a madcap menagerie of the best-loved children’s characters of all time, stands alone as the preeminent figure of children’s literature. But Geisel was a private man who was happier at the drawing table than he was across from any reporter or would-be biographer. Under the thoughtful scrutiny of Charles D. Cohen, Geisel’s lesser known works yield valuable insights into the imaginative and creative processes of one of the 20th century’s most original thinkers.

Customer Reviews:

Yes I Love It, Sam-I-Am!.......2004-05-29

As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers. Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor.

Cohen reaches back to Geisel's school days and illustrates the development of the artist's style and humor. Continually he will point out how pieces done at various points in Geisel's life can be traced as part of the development of what would become some of his trademark images and beloved characters, including the Grinch. Instead of focusing heavily on Seuss's books, he draws attention to the vast collection of other artwork that was drawn, mostly before the books even came into being. Seuss's work as a humorist, advertising artist, sculptor, and cartoonist (political and otherwise) are shown here as he continued to improve and hone his craft. The end results are the books that are so beloved to multitudes of people who were lucky enough to grow up with Seuss in the house.

The book would be worth it for the pictures alone, but the accompanying text helps get below the surface of many of the pieces, and to tie them together into a artist's whole output. Even if you only look at the pictures and read the captions to the pictures, you will get a whole new appreciation of Dr. Seuss's work over the years. If I any complaint, it is that in some ways the books almost get shorted too much in this narrative, and too often the captions for the illustrations are repetitive to the text. But these are minor quibbles that in no way detract from the glorious whole.

For the Seuss lover, and for the casual reader, this book brings the reader a whole new appreciation of a beloved illustrator's work and the genius that was Dr. Seuss.

The many facets of Dr. Seuss.......2004-05-17

Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education.

Author Charles Cohen, a dentist and avid collector of Seussiana, is well qualified to write this visual biography of Ted Geisel. Through lavish illustrations, many from his own collection, Cohen shows the many facets of Geisel's art and imagination. The reader is treated to Geisel's earliest works from long before his first published children's book. These include examples of his college newspaper cartoons and his many successful advertising campaigns that blended humor and salesmanship. These creations are juxtaposed with his later children's books to provide the reader a deeper understanding of how culture and history shaped the evolution of his ideas and whimsical bestiary, and to point out the same themes cropping up over and over again in his works.

Although this book provides a fascinating view into many unusual perspectives of Dr. Seuss the artist and innovator, there is little here about Ted Geisel the man. In the introduction, Cohen says that he neither met Geisel nor interviewed anyone who knew him. Instead he delved into Geisel's works to discover what made him tick. As a result, there are many facts missing about Geisel's personal life and friendships. The few personal facts that were thrown in, mostly towards the end of the book, came from out of nowhere and made me crave more details. It is for this reason, especially since this book is called a "visual biography," that I rated it four stars instead of five. It is more a visual exploration of Geisel's works than a biography. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a creatively obsessed man that you never realized existed. It will also rekindle your fond memories of the Dr. Seuss books you read as a child. Perhaps it will even shed a bit of light on why you loved those books so much.

Eileen Rieback

A Grown-up Biography of a Children's Hero.......2004-03-20

With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.

In "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel" by Charles Cohen, we are shown the greatness of Seuss -- of Theodor Geisel, through drawings, paintings and text. We get to learn about his early days at Dartmouth, as he toyed with hybridic animals, wit and satire.

Not every idea worked. Seuss, an experimenter, evolved from being a talented but rustic styler of odd creatures into a sophisticated artist of odd, if not bizarre beasts that had genuine identity.

Before he write and drew books about green eggs, grinches, and elephants named Horton, he was an editorial cartoonist. His language in many of the cartoons was far from being politically correct, but his social commentary decrying racism was right on. He hard-handed racist thought with no evidence of his sweet children's characters kindness.

Cohen has produced an array of research. Samples of Seuss' art grace most pages. We also get a look at the vast merchandising, parodies, and unlicensed knock-offs.

This is not a children's book. Don't be fooled by the name of the publisher. It is for someone interested in reading a serious look at the history of one of America's beloved cartoonists.

I fully recommend "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel." by Charles D. Cohen.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Fabulous!.......2004-03-05

This book is not all about reiterating the Seuss stories we've already read, but instead an objective well researched pictoral and written account of the man so many love. Cohen does a great job researching the possible meanings of Geisel's cartoons and later texts. There are many, many Judge magazine and other political cartoons that are absolutely hilarious, and absolutely adult in nature (similar to alot of his "childrens" stories).

I highly recommend this book to anyone what likes to drop into a chapter then skip to another at an opposite end of the book because they are somewhat independent although chronological, it is easy to skip around to the parts you feel like reading for that day.

Also, at 400 pages full color, who can pass up the bargain?

f.y.i. This biography seems to coincide a lot with *In Search of Dr. Seuss* the movie that just came out in dvd

Gorgeous book.......2004-02-26

Kudos to Dr. Cohen. The writing is insightful, the illustrations and pictures are outstanding, the sheer volume of content is overwhelming and of course, the dedication is tear-jerking. A must have for any Seuss fan. Read the inside jacket-I'm guessing someday there will be a Poem Repair Shop.

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Virginia Lee Burton: A Life in Art
Barbara Elleman
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0618003428

Book Description

Virginia Lee Burton's name may bring to mind a steam shovel and a man called Mike Mulligan, a charming little house, and a snowplow named Katy. Yet to speak only of Burton's achievements as a picture book creator would be to paint only part of the canvas of her life. She was also a dancer, an illustrator for an early Boston newspaper, and a musician, designer, sculptor, and printmaker.
Together with her husband George Demetrios, Virginia enjoyed a full life. They raised two sons, gardened and kept sheep, entertained friends, and taught art and design classes. Led by Burton, the design classes made up of local artists evolved into the Folly Cove Designers. A cooperative of sorts, this group created elaborately intricate designs of rural scenes and other natural elements, which they would carve into linoleum and print onto fabrics.
Simultaneously, Burton began her career in children's book writing and illustration. The early success of her first books, Choo Choo, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and The Little House, as well as other books was an auspicious beginning for Burton, and the books have become classic and lasting examples of the fine art of children's book creation.
Well-known children's literature expert Barbara Elleman introduces the exuberant life, art, and books of Virginia Lee Burton, complemented by family photographs, illustrations, and other images of her inspiring work.

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One of the best books on Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter (Who Wrote That?)
Margaret Speaker-Yuan , and Margaret Speaker Yuan
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0791086550

Customer Reviews:

One of the best books on Beatrix Potter.......2007-02-07

We purchased this book for an on-going class project my elementary age daughter has to do. Of all the Beatrix Potter books we checked from the library or purchased, this was by far the best. Its very informative and well written. Younger children can read and understand easily.

U-X-L Graphic Novelists: Profiles of Cutting Edge Authors and Illustrators Edition 1. 3 Volume Set

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U-X-L Graphic Novelists: Profiles of Cutting Edge Authors and Illustrators Edition 1. 3 Volume Set
Tom Pendergast , and Sara Pendergast
Manufacturer: U·X·L
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1414404409

Book Description

Graphic novels -- novels merging pictures and rich language to create a unique experience of literature and art -- are enjoying a renewed popularity, especially with students and young adults. U·X·L's Graphic Novelists introduces researchers to the authors and illustrators behind these works, taking care to define and explore the distinction between comic books and graphic novels. Printed in full-color and covering approximately 75 authors and illustrators in detail, this new set also includes a cumulative table of contents, words to know, timeline, list of works and a detailed cumulative general index.

Beatrix Potter: The Story of the Creator of Peter Rabbit (World of Beatrix Potter)

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life of a great lady

Beatrix Potter: The Story of the Creator of Peter Rabbit (World of Beatrix Potter)
Elizabeth Buchan
Manufacturer: Warne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0723244278

Book Description

While we know much of Beatrix Potter from her classic children's stories, there is a great deal more to this courageous woman than meets the eye. Born into a well-off but repressive family and society, Beatrix Potter's triumph over personal difficulties and her ground-breaking work in such fields as science and conservation make her a great role model and inspiration for children today. This splendid children's introduction to her extraordinary life story is ideal for young fans who want an informative and easy to understand text and provides an excellent source of reference for school projects.

Customer Reviews:

life of a great lady.......2001-08-12

This lady could have been a great scientist as she was meticulous in observation and wanted to be a biologist. However she was a dutiful daughter and turned her talents first to writing and illustrating childrens stories and later to being an innovative and hardworking farmer and breeder of sheep. Her intense love of the beauty of the lake district and the old villages led into the conservation movement and she helped the birth of the National Trust in England.

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I loved this book.
The remarkable story of a very private life.

The Tale of Beatrix Potter: A Biography
Margaret Lane
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140073647

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book........2002-09-12

When I first began this book, I was a bit skeptical. I wasnt sure at all that I could make it through the whole thing. But after a few chapters, I found myself falling in love with Miss Potter. It is a great story, for unlike most biographies I have read, It ends on a happy note. Her final years were much better than her first.

The remarkable story of a very private life........2002-07-16

The late Margaret Lane, President of The Women's Press Club, the Dickens Fellowship, the Johnson Society, the Brontë Society and the Jane Austen Society has written this charming little book about Beatrix Potter.

Beatrix Potter's life was a very private one, carefully hidden from the public eye, although she is known and loved by generations of children. Her life began in joylessness and solitude, with drawing as her one fascination.

In the book we follow Beatrix Potter through her sad childhood, her struggle for independence, her illfated love affair and happy marriage, and we learn about how she created all these charming and whimsical characters - Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Tom Kitten and so many more. The book is illustrated with old photographs, and pen and ink illustrations by Beatrix Potter herself. A must for any Beatrix Potter lover.

Book Description

The heroine of these tales takes no prisoners in the swampy, mysterious soup of New Orleans's French Quarter. Seven short stories and the title novella portray the loneliness and longing that fill the humid nights of this dank historic part of the city. Haunted by memories of love and tenderness, the sleepless people prowl the deserted night streets, searching for companionship and a new dawn.

Customer Reviews:

Shot Glasses, Chet Baker, and a Streetcar Named Desire.......2000-02-19

"Maybe my sorrow and intensity scared you, or maybe, life being as it is, it was just bad timing." -Jeri Cain Rossi

Jeri Cain Rossi has lusted, loved, and lost. She has divulged her heart on paper, all the while vowing never to be so vulnerable again. Nevertheless, Rossi remains a hopeless romantic who fearlessly sheds her self-imposed exiles to follow her passions. Her sojourns may not yield everlasting love, but they inspire some of the most sincere, poignant, and memorable fiction of our generation. Jeri, I raise my glass to you.

Shot glasses, Chet Baker, and a streetcar named desire.......2000-02-09

"Maybe my sorrow and intensity scared you, or maybe, lifebeing as it is, it was just bad timing." -Jeri Cain Rossi

JeriCain Rossi has lusted, loved, and lost. She has divulged her heart on paper, and vowed never to be so vulnerable again. Yet, Rossi remains a hopeless romantic who will no doubt shed her self-imposed exiles to pursue her passions. Her journeys may not yield everlasting love, but they continue to inspire some of the most sincere, poignant, and unforgettable fiction of our generation. Jeri, I raise my glass to you. END

Better than Bukowski.......2000-02-06

Because of the subject matter--booze, love, sex, more booze--I guess comparisons between Rossi and Bukowski are inevitable. After reading *Red Wine Moan*, though, it's apparent that Rossi is much more savvy than Mr. B., much more aware of the literary cliches that can attach to such subject matter, and she avoids them with the sort of poetry and flair she could only have gotten by being a keen observer of late-twentieth/early-twenty-first century culture. Without being maudlin or gothic or any of a list of possible affections, Rossi tells her stories beautifully and concisely. If Mona Simpson drank more and took herself less seriously (frankly, I think she should do both), she'd almost be Rossi.

Customer Reviews:

fantastic book!.......2007-05-08

I first fell in love with the Harlem Renaissance, back in high school, when I had the great good fortune to do a research project on the intellectuals, artists, writers and multitudes of other great, visionary people who participated in this, possibly the greatest cultural revival in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1940s, African-American voices were finally being heard and recognized by a greater sector of the population. For starters, this renaissance was inspired by the renaissances of Europe, and the talent coming up at this time were truly voices of their culture and their generation. Some of the greatest voices that come to mind include Zora Neale Hurston (author of THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD) and Langston Hughes (poet and essayist).

ARTISTS AND WRITERS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE takes a great look at just a few examples of some of the most-well respected contributors to this artistic movement. They include James Weldon Johnson, Alain LeRoy Locke (for some, he was best known as "the architect" behind the Harlem Renaissance), Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington (a legendary bandleader and composer). This book was short and sweet, yet very informative! It was great to refresh my memory about some of these great Americans. I hope that this book inspires a new generation of aspiring talent in the world, and that a resurgence of this cultural celebration takes place one day!

Authors & Artists for Yound Adults (Authors and Artists for Young Adults)

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Authors & Artists for Yound Adults (Authors and Artists for Young Adults)

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0787666548

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