Ten Perfect Shots From The Seuss Canon

GEISEL HAD a knack for what was important to a child. In 1959 his birthday book put the town of Katroo on the map and became an American fixture.

AMONG THE Doctor's "mantra" books for the truly young reader, Green Eggs and Ham (1960) is the most famous. It's a beautifully executed poem to boot.

" HORTON STARSin two books, thisone the 1954 sequelto Hatches anEgg. The faithfulelephant is the mostendearing and,perhaps, enduringSeuss creation.

The Cat ('57) may have beendisliked by parentswho wanted a tidyhouse, but his bookis, perhaps, the mostimportant work ofEnglish literaturein this century.

GEISEL WROTEhis 1971 naturetract after seeingTruffula-like treescut in Africa. Heliked this book best,more for its environmentalist moralthan for its poetry.

BORN THE SAMEyear as the Cat, theGrinch was Geisel's favorite character.Still, reports ofthe authors owngrinchiness appearto be greatlyexaggerated.

A SEUSSsleeper: this 1947poem is ostensiblyabout fishing butdeals largely withdream fulfillment."Dingle trout"expert Geisel Sr. isin the dedication.

YERTLE (1950)is Geisel's take onWorld War II. Itssweeping portrayalof totalitarianismmay go downin history as a Seussian Gone With the Wind.

The firstof the brat books(1937), Mulberry Street and itsrollicking rhythmswere conceivedin adversity astorm-tossed crossingof the Atlantic.

AND THE LASTof the Brat books,last year's OTPYG, deals with whatGeisel called thebalancing act of life "as fitting a swansong as any authorhas ever sung.