Beginning in 1998, the National Education Association adopted his birthday, March 2, as “National Read Across America Day,” an ambitious children’s reading motivation and awareness program.
Seuss’s books have been translated into twenty languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish. In particular, Sholem Berger has published Eyn Fish, Tsvey Fish, Royter Fish, Bloyer Fish (“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”) and Di Kats Der Payats (I’ll leave it to readers to figure that one out), which remarkably retain the famous Seussian rhyme scheme and meter of the originals. They are a hoot and well worth a look, particularly if you are a Yiddish speaker.
In a ceremony at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1969, Theodor Seuss Geisel received a plaque for his contributions to worldwide literacy and, in recognition of his friendship for the Jewish people, was awarded the title of “Honorary Jew” by Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek.
Seuss passed away in 1991.
