Get to know another side of beloved children’s author and illustrator theodor geisel with this secret art by dr. seuss unit study resources.
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I will never forget the day I realized there was more to dr. seuss than the cat in the hat, the lorax, and the other children’s books loved around the world. my husband, kids and i noticed a poster in the window of a local art gallery, walked in and found a new side of theodor geisel. we discover the art of dr. seuss that day and gained a new appreciation for the beloved author and illustrator.
theodor geisel and the art of dr. seuss
We’ve come a long way to learn about theodor geisel’s art since our first visit to the fine art gallery. in fact, we now have an original lithograph of sylvester mcmonkey mcbean’s sneetch star-belly machine hanging next to our keurig coffee maker. I got it for christmas this year and absolutely adore it.
if you haven’t met this side of dr. seuss yet, here’s a quick overview for you:
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In addition to the illustrations found in all of his books, Theodor Geisel was a cartoonist and artist inspired by the Surrealist movement. Although some of his work as a cartoonist was popular due to advertisements and magazine appearances, he often kept the artist to himself.
that art, known as the secret art of dr. seuss, was created for his own enjoyment and was not generally shared with others during his lifetime. The extensive collection is divided into the following categories:
- paintings
- taxidermy
- bronze sculptures
- illustrations
You can see detailed descriptions and photos of all of these in the art of dr. seuss this is an especially good way to explore his artwork if you don’t have an exhibition or gallery nearby.
the secret art of dr. seuss unit study resources
want to dig deeper and learn more about the secret art of dr. seuss? The following resources would make a great addition to a Seuss-inspired unit study:
1. the art of dr. seuss collection
the art of dr. Seuss Collection is the best place to start to learn more about the artistic endeavors of Theodor Seuss. you will find details about all dr. seuss special collections, biographical information and photos from each medium. this site also has exhibit and gallery locations so you can see his art in person or even purchase a piece for your home.
2. seussville
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the seussville educators section has tons of free resources to celebrate dr. seuss, his art and art in general. Along with many non-artistic ideas, the site features dr. seuss’s horse museum along with matching lesson plans and these art-inspired activities.
- how to draw horses
- drawing with imagination
- art is all around us treasure hunt
- make a masterpiece
- the history of art
- looking at art
3. Seuss Books
speaking of dr. seuss’s horse museum, although a newer title, is probably the only one of his books that shows not only the impact art had on geisel’s life, but also how his art impacted others . in particular, the author’s note cannot be lost; he shares excerpts from a talk he gave on modern art in the 1950s. even better, the author’s note highlights several pieces of dr. seuss, giving many kids their first look at some of my favorites like archbishop katz and the cat in the outdated shower. in addition to dr. Seuss Horse Museum Consider grabbing your favorite Seuss books and looking at the illustrations. if you want to dig deeper, here are some other books to check out:
- who was dr. seuss? – this is a good biography for kids who want to learn more about dr. seuss.
- the secret art of dr. Seuss: This features details about Geisel as an artist and 65 color illustrations of his secret art. (Note: Like many artists, he has some paintings and drawings that contain nudity. This book has some of them.)
- Imagine That!: How Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat: Exactly as it sounds, this hilarious book explains how one of Ted Geisel’s most famous books came to be.
- dr. Seuss: The Great Cartoonist – This is another biography option to consider if you can’t find the Who Was He book.
4. the art of dr. seuss videos
in addition to books featuring the art of dr. seuss, here are some good youtube videos to consider. all will help you and your kids to get to know the artistic side of dr. serious:
- the secret art of dr. seuss on the evolution of art – no comment, but this almost 7 minute slideshow style video is a good way to see the seuss art collection.
- dr. Seuss Private Art Collection: This short video provides a great insight into Seuss and his artwork.
- how to draw the cat in the hat: draw your own seuss art with the help of art for kids hub gang.
are you familiar with the art of dr. seuss? do you have resources you would add to our list here? If so, please share them in the comments so we can review them. 🙂
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