The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Suess

Bibliography
Krull, Katherine. 2004. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Suess. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. Decorative Illustrations by Dr. Suess. New York: Random House. ISBN: 0375922989.

Plot Summary
A biography on Ted Geisel, who is popular as children’s books author – Dr.Suess. The biography tells a story of young Geisel who was considered to be failure in school and college, but turned out to be a very good writer as an adult. The story tells how Ted Geisel explored his interest in books and animals and finally used it to be something that he loved doing – writing and drawing. The biography tells Dr. Suess story from his childhood until he was twenty two years old and a successful writer.

Critical Analysis
This book is an excellent picture book biography about one of children’s favorite author's. Children grow up reading some of Dr.Suess classic picture books and this is a perfect way to tell a story about the author. The front cover shows a plain looking boy with books in his hand and animals by his side. The front cover is intriguing enough to attract the young readers to the story of Dr. Suess. Katherine Krull has pointed out in the story was Ted Geisel was like any other normal boy whose parents had big dreams for him, but he has his own dreams. When children read biographies of famous people they expect them to be without flaws, but Ted Geisel had many flaws, was different from other kids, and was always shunned as a failure. The story shows that inspite of embarrassments and failure Ted Geisel never gave up on his dreams and grew up to be Dr. Suess, one of children’s most beloved authors. Children will have a new appreciation for Dr. Suess when they read what personal flaws and obstacles their hero had to overcome to become successful.

This book makes a great read aloud or an easy reader for young children. At the end the book also provides a short preview of Ted Geisel’s life after he was twenty-two until his death.