Monday, March 02, 2009

OF CATS AND HATS

Most of us remember him as the writer of children’s books, books that featured idiosyncratic poetry coupled with whimsical illustrations. For people of a certain age - myself included - those books are among the very first ones we may have read.

There was a lot more to this exceptionally creative fellow, though. He was a political cartoonist, as well as an advertising illustrator who designed campaigns for - among others - the Great Corporate Salt Mine. Not many of us were around when his slogan “Quick, Henry - the Flit!” was as popular as contemporary bons mots like “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin,” “Where’s the beef?” and “Drop the chalupa!”

His work, in addition to festooning library shelves around the world, has been made into animated cartoons, Broadway musicals, and feature films.

I speak, of course, of Theodor Seuss Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, who would be celebrating his 105th birthday today were he still walking the planet. Happy birthday, good Doctor... and in your honor, may I present a Cat in a Hat:

Uncle Matata
Uncle Matata!

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