GREEN EGGS AND HAM.

By Dr. Seuss(Theodor S. Geisel '25). New York:Beginner Books, 1960. 62 pp. $1.95.

The successful formula of The Housethat Jack Built and of Aloutte is used in a modified form by Dr. Seuss in this 50-word-vocabulary "Beginner Book," Green Eggsand Ham. (Inertia combined with faith in our own Dr. Seuss prevented me from counting words).

The story is simple, realistic, and easily understood in spite of unlikely creatures and situations. It also has suspense. A harmless furry beastie is harried by a smaller, persistent one named Sam-I-Am to taste some green eggs and green ham. With a completely normal reaction, the larger animal for 57 pages firmly, definitely, and repetitively refuses to have anything to do with "these odd looking bits of food, while Sam-I-Am just as firmly endeavors to sell his plate of goods.

The pursuit continues from page to page with new situations, animals, accessories added to the previous ones, so that the words and pictures continue to be re-used. Eventually, the victim of this unrelenting pursuit throws in the sponge (being up to his waist in a lake) and agrees to try the ham and eggs.

The illustrations, of course, match the story, which of course is in verse. Like the tale, the repetitions are also included in the plates. It should not by now be necessary to explain the intermarriage of words, rhyme or illustrations in a Dr. Seuss book. It is impossible to separate the parts, and one does not want to.

The basis of learning is repetition, and this is a good example of intelligent use thereof. With the same words used over and over again, though in varying order, the beginning learner should easily catch on and recognize words before the book is finished. The fact that the words are not only repeated but are arranged in verse form should be a big help. In spite of the vocabulary limitation Dr. Seuss gets surprising variety into his arrangements, and the swing of the verse is catchy. In fact, everything should conspire to make the child thoroughly familiar with the words. And that, of course, is the object of the volume.