And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
| And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Author(s) | Dr. Seuss |
| Cover artist | Dr. Seuss |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Vanguard Press |
| Publication date | December 21, 1937 (renewed 1964) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) Dr. Seuss & Beginner Books |
| Pages | 32 |
| OCLC Number | 176642 |
| Followed by | The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins |
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street is a book written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss and Robert Carington, first published in 1937. It was Seuss's first children's book, originally titled "A Story That No One Can Beat,"[1] the manuscript was rejected by over 43 publishing companies (precise numbers vary, even from Seuss himself, who counted 27 and 28) but was eventually published by Vanguard Press.[2][3][dead link] Seuss has stated that he nearly burned the manuscript before its publication after being rejected by so many publishers.[4]
The story follows a boy named Marco, who describes the sights and sounds of imaginary people and vehicles traveling along Mulberry Street in an elaborate fantasy story he dreams up to tell to his father at the end of his walk, but decides instead to simply tell him what he actually saw.
Marco was named after Marco McClintock, the son of the author's editor, Marshall "Mike" McClintock, and Helene McClintock, to whom the book is dedicated.[5] Marco returned as a character in McElligot's Pool.
Mulberry Street is the name of a street (42°06′08″N 72°34′41″W / 42.102224°N 72.578119°W) in Springfield, Massachusetts, only one mile southwest of Dr. Seuss's boyhood home on Fairfield Street, and inspired both the book's story and name.[6]
The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Lookin' Out My Back Door" was partly inspired by the book.
Publication history [edit]
The book was first published in 1937 by Vanguard Press, unlike later Seuss books, which were published by Random House.
References [edit]
- ^ Morgan, Neil; Morgan, Judith Giles (1996). Dr. Seuss Mr. Geisel: a biography. New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 81–82. ISBN 978-0-306-80736-7.
- ^ Fensch, Thomas. "Of Sneetches and Whos and the Good Dr. Seuss: Essays on the Writings and Life of Theodor Geisel", pp. 2, 73, 80. McFarland & Company, 1997.
- ^ The Register of Vanguard Press. Dr. Seuss files Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego.
- ^ "10 facts about Dr Seuss". BBC News. March 2, 2004. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ Cohen, Charles D. "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel", p. 184. Random House, 2004.
- ^ Maple Hill Historic District – City Guide to Springfield, MA
