Dr. Seuss originally pronounced it Zoice

The Cat in the Hat

It is the birthday of children's writer Dr. Seuss (1904), beloved author of 46 books with wildly imaginative characters that have become iconic in American culture and known worldwide.

Dr. Seuss is the pseudonym for Theodor Seuss Geisel, whose best sellers included Horton Hears A Who! (1954), The Cat in the Hat (1957), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957), One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960) and Green Eggs and Ham (1960). His work has been adapted into TV specials and series, feature films, and a Broadway musical and a theme park. His books have sold more than 220 million copies and have been translated into 15 languages.

Seuss was his mother's maiden name. Her parents emigrated from Bavaria in the the 19th century. The family pronounced the name Zoice but most Americans say Soose so Geisel finally went with that. He first started using the Dr. Seuss name on cartoons he drew for a humor magazine at Dartmouth College.