Dr. Seuss's Birthday - National Today

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Dr. Seuss’s birthday is celebrated on March 2 and celebrates the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel and the National Education Association to endorse the importance of reading. A lesser-known fact about Dr. Seuss is that he created the word nerd. The first documented use of the word was in the 1950 book he wrote titled If I Ran the Zoo, about a boy named Gerald McGrew who visits a zoo and ponders what it would be like if he ran it. So in a way, Dr. Seuss is partly responsible for nerd culture.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Theodor Seuss Geisel

Nickname:

Dr. Seuss

Birth date:

March 2, 1904

Death date:

September 24, 1991 (age 87)

Zodiac Sign:

Pisces

Net Worth:

$75 million

Background

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and his grandparents were German immigrants. He grew up around a wealthy extended family during World War I, which helped shape his patriotism. As a scout, he sold War bonds, and as the story goes, he sold so many that he was to be honored by President Theodor Roosevelt. However, Roosevelt only had nine medals, leaving young Seuss without a medal. Teddy asked, “What’s this boy doing here?” Ever since, Seuss suffered stage fright.

Seuss graduated from high school in 1921 and attended Dartmouth College, where he joined a humor magazine called the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern. He would eventually become editor-in-chief of the publication, but when he was caught drinking, he was forced to resign. This was the time of Prohibition, and there was a zero-tolerance policy.

Seuss drew over 400 political cartoons for the New York Daily newspaper during World War II called PM. Many were politically charged against the dictators Hitler and Mussolini, and Japanese Americans were depicted as latent traitors. In them, he also supported President Roosevelt and critiqued Congress. He wrote films for the U.S. Air Force.

By the 1950s, he wrote children’s books after the war in La Jolla, California, under the pen name Dr. Seuss. Some of these were The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Green Eggs and Ham, and he continued to write until his death on September 24, 1991. His legacy lives on as his beloved children’s books sell well and inspire young people to read. In 1997, the National Education Association chose his birthday to celebrate reading, and the first Read Across America Day was held in 1998.

Career timeline

1998 Birthday Wish

The first Read Across America Day is celebrated to inspire the next generation of readers and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday.

1950s The Doctor is in

Dr. Seuss wrote many of his classic books including “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat.”

1940s Drawing machine

Seuss drew over 400 political cartoons during World War II for the NY magazine “PM.”

1904 Seuss is born

Theodor Seuss Geissel is born in Springfield, Massachusetts into a prosperous extended family.

Why we love Dr. Seuss's birthday

  1. He kept children reading alive

    At the time, “Life Magazine” reported that children weren't reading as much. TV shows were becoming more popular and in Dr. Seuss's opinion, children's books were boring. His intention was to revitalize interest in reading with “The Cat in the Hat” and used 236 words that were considered important for first graders to learn.

  2. It takes us back to where it all started

    Everyone has a favorite Dr. Suess book. For many, they were the first books they’ve ever read. Dr. Seuss reminds us where our love of reading stems from and we can reflect on our literary journey because of him.

  3. Life can be whimsical

    With so much going on in our lives, it can be difficult to hold onto the childlike wonder. Dr. Seuss reminds us that the world can be a wondrous place if you look at it upside-down. There’s no fun in playing it safe.

Five Facts About Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

  1. Truth or dare

    Dr. Seuss wrote “Green Eggs and Ham” on a dare.

  2. Childless

    Although Dr. Seuss was an advocate for children reading, he never had any children himself.

  3. Boring books

    Dr. Seuss thought that children’s books were too boring.

  4. Movie flop

    Critics panned the first “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” animated film.

  5. Adult readers

    He also wrote books for adults but they were less successful.

Dr. Seuss FAQs

Why do we celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday?

Dr. Seuss has made major contributions to children’s literature and nearly single-handedly made reading fun for children again.

Is Dr. Seuss’s birthday today?

If today is March 2, then we’re right on time to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

How old would Dr. Seuss be today if he was still alive?

If Dr. Seuss was alive today in 2023, he would be a whopping 119 years old.

Dr. Seuss’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2026 March 2 Monday
2027 March 2 Tuesday
2028 March 2 Thursday
2029 March 2 Friday
2030 March 2 Saturday

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Paul Edwin Zimmer Birthday

Paul Edwin Zimmer was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

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