Dr. Seuss returns: New book to be published from long lost manuscript and artwork

OPINION:

It’s been a quarter century since the last Dr. Seuss book was published. But his widow and a former secretary revealed Wednesday that they made a startling discovery: The pair found a box filled with an original manuscript plus artwork by the beloved children’s author in the old office space of his California home. And voila. A new book titled “What Pet Should I Get?” will be published by Random House Children’s Books, to be released July 28.

“It is not surprising to me that we found this because Ted always worked on multiple projects and started new things all the time- he was constantly writing and drawing and coming up with ideas for new stories,” says Audrey Geisel, the late author’s widow. “It is especially heartwarming for me as this year also marks twenty-five years since the publication of the last book of Ted’s career, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

At least two more books will be gleaned from the creative materials. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the new book are already being taken online.

“We believe that he wrote and illustrated What Pet Should I Get? somewhere between 1958 and 1962,” says Cathy Goldsmith, formerly an art director for Dr. Seuss, now a publishing director at Random House. She feels a sense of history as well.

“My connection to Ted remains as vital as it was when we worked closely together years ago - I know he is looking down, watching over the process, and I feel a tremendous responsibility to do everything just as he would have done himself,” Ms. Goldsmith says.

The forthcoming book depicts the classic childhood moment when a brother and sister finally choose a pet. The newly discovered manuscript and illustrations will be sent to the University of California at San Diego, home to the Dr. Seuss Collection - and the the Geisel Library. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books, with sales of 650 million copies worldwide. He died in 1991.