Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Little Known Facts About The Doctor Of Children's Literature

To this day, Dr. Seuss' children books still have the power to transcend between cultures and time and build the imaginations and literary skills of children throughout the world.  Born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904, the author and cartoonist is best known for publishing 60 children's books, including The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. 

In celebration of Dr. Seuss Day, tomorrow March 2, here are five fun facts about doctor of children's literature.

1. He wasn't a real doctor

Though Dr. Seuss never actually earned a doctorate degree, he was awarded an honorary one by his alma mater Dartmouth College in 1956. He added the "Dr." to his pen name because to appease his father who wanted him to practice medicine.

2. He was kicked off his college magazine staff

At age 18, Geisel entered the Ivy League Dartmouth College and became the editor-in-chief of its humor magazine, which was titled "Jack-O-Lantern". Geisel and his friends were caught violating the Prohibition law by drinking in his dorm room one night and, subsequently, he was kicked off the magazine staff.  However, that didn't stop the writer from getting his work published. He continued to contribute using the pseudonym "Seuss."

3. He didn't like children

Ironically, the great master of children's literature actually wasn't very fond of kids at all. He is reported to have once said, "You have 'em, I'll amuse 'em." His widow Audrey even went said that Seuss was afraid of children and was always thinking, "What might they do next? What might they ask next?" She added, "He couldn't just sit down on the floor and play with them."

4. He coined the term "nerd"

Before Dr. Seuss, the word "nerd" wasn't used much, or may not have even existed.  He first recorded instance of the word "nerd" is in Seuss' 'If I Ran the Zoo' published back in 1950.

5. He based one his books about Hitler

Dr. Seuss admitted that he did base the story of 'Yertle the Turtle' on Hitler. The story was about a power-hungry turtle which represented the German dictator.