Module 2, Book 2: And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street

And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street

by Dr. Seuss

Geisel, T. (1937). And to think I saw it on Mulberry Street. New York, NY: Vanguard Press, Inc.

How big is your imagination?

Summary:

Dr. Seuss's book And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street is a clever book about a boy who is not satisfied with the ordinary.  Every day is an adventure to him.  His father tells him to "stop turning minnows into whales" (p. 1), but he can't help himself.  One day, while walking to and from school, he spies a horse and wagon.  Boring.  His mind begins to morph the ordinary into extraordinary; the wagon is transformed on a grand scale on Mulberry street and Marco is marveled by what he found there.  Will he share his adventure with his dad, or will he relay exactly what he spied?

Impressions:

This book embodies classic Dr. Seuss to me.  It was his first children's book, and in my opinion, it sets the tone for all of his other books.  Impressions of this book's illustrations can be found throughout his body of work, as it is the big idea concept of imagination and the fantastical.  Being a huge Dr. Seuss fan as a child, this book left me warm and fuzzy because of its nostalgic feel.  Adults will be able to identify with Marco and his father's perspectives, having experienced both.  Kids will feel a sense of validation for all the times a box became a spaceship and a blanket a new universe.  Its whimsical feel and rhythmic language lasts long after the book closes.

Reviews:

From Horn Book:
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss, 1937. On a dull afternoon Marco uses his imagination to turn a 'plain horse and wagon' he sees on Mulberry Street into many, much-more-exciting sights. Surely there will still be bored children in 2101, and they will still make up stories to entertain themselves and everybody else. What's more, Seuss always drew more from the future than from life.

Citation: Kuskin, K. (2000). Future classics. Horn Book Magazine, 76(6), 778-779. 

From School Library Journal on the new "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" app:
In Theodor Geisel’s 1937 debut title, little Marco strolled down Mulberry Street in a marvelous blend of whimsical artwork and sophisticated text. Seventy-five years later, Oceanhouse Media takes a new generation of readers on a slightly altered path, complete with street noise, shuffling feet, and softly falling confetti.

Citation:
Darylgrabarek. (2012, February 13). And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street: the app. School Library Journal. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://blogs.slj.com/touchandgo/2012/02/13/and-to-think-that-i-saw-it-on-mulberry-street-the-app/

Library Activity:

Because And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street is Dr. Seuss's first children's book, it is a perfect choice for a read aloud on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2.  It can serve as an introduction to his work for older children who may not be familiar with this title, or the fact that it was rejected dozens of times by publishers before it finally was picked up.  It will serve as an example and inspiration for the value of perseverance and following your dreams.  Follow-up with a digital timeline presentation of Dr. Suess books and a discuss of characteristics that make Seuss books unique.