What is the best Dr. Seuss book of all-time, and why?
To help you determine which Dr. Seuss books you need on your shelf, we asked avid readers and business owners this question for their best recommendations. From And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street to Horton Hears a Who, there are several favorite reads from Dr. Seuss that prove his legacy will live on for years to come.
Here are the 8 best Dr. Seuss books of all time:
- And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street
- Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
- The Lorax
- Green Eggs and Ham
- Fox in Socks
- The Foot Book
- The Cat in the Hat
- Horton Hears a Who
And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street
There is something magical about an author’s first book. And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street demonstrates the power and playfulness of a child’s imagination. It also gives a subtle, but stern warning to adults. The father in the tale had his question answered. He got the facts but missed the point. Children have a way of seeing far more than adults can perceive. When we open our hearts and minds, our eyes tend to follow. When we don’t, our stories suffer…and so do we.
Tim Toterhi, Plotline Leadership
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is my favorite Dr. Seuss book of all time. I love the message it conveys about life’s journey is full of ups and downs, but ultimately being rewarding if you stay positive and keep going. The illustrations are also beautiful and really help bring the story to life.
Steve Morrow, Paddle About
The Lorax
Dr. Seuss is responsible for some of the greatest children’s books ever written there is no question about that. However, in today’s world, one stands out above the rest. The Lorax tells us that is up to the people to take responsibility for their actions. It is a story about having drive and ambition in order to find success, but also shows how achieving success cannot be what you expected it to be. Focusing to much on finding success can end up hurting everything around you. It is arguably the greatest cautionary tale in writing history and for it to be a children’s book is really amazing.
Connor MacDonald, The Ridge Wallet
Green Eggs and Ham
In my opinion, the best Dr. Seuss book of all time is Green Eggs and Ham. I love the playful nature of the story and how it encourages kids to be creative and open-minded. Plus, who doesn’t love green eggs and ham?
Kris Morrow, Camp S’more Worry Less
Fox in Socks
Dr. Seuss is a literary legend with an oeuvre full of spectacular classics, but my personal favorite will always be Fox in Socks. For an author who was so creative, this is truly one of his most outlandish and surreal books. The book doesn’t have a strong central narrative, but it’s more than just entertainment: it’s a challenge. Fox in Socks is a series of tongue-twisting limericks with increasing complexity with every page turn and it directly breaks the fourth wall, challenging the reader to try saying the whole thing out loud.
Fox in Socks is one of Seuss’s books that’s not just enjoyable to listen to, but actively fun to read. However, because it lacks a central narrative, it can’t be translated into a live-action movie or cartoon and thus hasn’t received much public popularity, but this aspect is also what makes it an incomparable piece of his work. Seuss’s works come in many different media formats, but there is no better way to enjoy Fox in Socks than to read it.
Brandon Adcock, Nugenix
The Foot Book
The Foot Book (the board book version) mentions a topic most children find funny – feet! You can make this book interactive with very little effort. For example, you can touch/move your child’s feet while reading the book to help reinforce concepts like ‘left’ and ‘right’; ‘low’ and ‘high’. If you’ve got a 4 legged pet at home, you can point out ‘front feet’ vs ‘back feet’ and if your toddler can walk you can act out ‘slow feet’ vs ‘quick feet’. The rhyming throughout pulls the book together and your voice inflection will keep your toddler interested. The board book fits nicely in the palm of your hand and it travels well in a diaper bag.
Crystal King, Amazing Baby
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat is considered the most popular among his books. Plus, it is Dr. Seuss’s personal favorite! The reason it’s so popular is because of the fun, exciting, unpredictable, and lovable character himself that goes by the name, ‘The in Cat in the Hat.’
Brad Eckhardt, Elite Dental Center
Horton Hears a Who
My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Horton Hears a Who, published in 1958. It tells the story of an elephant, Horton, who lives on a planet on a speck of dust called Whoville. The animals mock him and tease him, and threaten to steal and burn his planet. This leads Horton to embark on a quest to save his planet from the evil animals who want to destroy it.
I love this book because of the important moral message that it teaches children. There is a line, “a person’s a person, no matter how small” that serves as the hierarchical theme of the book. Horton the elephant believes that all life matters. He undergoes harassment and bullying from the other animals, he doesn’t let it interfere with his goal to save Whoville and its inhabitants. It sends a very strong message to children about standing up for themselves, standing up for others, and doing the right thing, even if it is scary. It teaches them about diversity and how every life is important.
Louisa Smith, Epic Book Society
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.