The Doctor is in...Dr. Seuss that is!
Dr. Seuss was one of the best children’s authors of all time, right up there with A.A. Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh) and Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit). Seuss wrote over 60 children’s books and is as equally well known for his final one ( Oh, the Places You'll Go! published in 1990, the year before he died) as he was for his first (The Cat in the Hat).
And then….. He wrote one for what he called ‘obsolete children’.
Synopsis of You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children
You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete ChildrenCheck Price
As Theodor (Ted) Geisal entered his 80s, he began treatment for oral cancer and age-related problems. He soon became tired of a social life that seemingly consisted entirely of doctor’s visits, long waits at the hospital and time spent navigating the entire medical complex! Out of this came the idea for a humorous take on aging and healthcare—something almost everyone of a certain age deals with these days.
During his waiting times at doctor’s offices, Theodor Seuss Geisel began sketching out a silly character to poke fun at this ‘medical madness’. Then he used his sharp wit and delightfully colorful imagination to describe an elderly patient who is poked, prodded and ogled during his stay at the “Golden Years Clinic on Century Square for Spleen Readjustment and Muffler Repair.”
The story is told in the Dr. Seuss style of whimsical, nonsensical poetry with a combination of a "galloping" rhythm (the anapestic tetrameter) and deeper life lessons.
Summary
You’re Only Old Once! was published on Ted Geisal’s 82nd birthday ~ March 2, 1986 ~ and subsequently became a bestseller.
Written during the time he was dealing with his own health issues, Seuss wanted to give a light-hearted look at the necessity of medical checkups and the indignities of aging. Comical and relatable to us Senior Citizens, aging Baby Boomers, and anyone having to deal with medical issues ~ always a stressful subject.
The book is a treat for readers of all ages and makes the perfect gift for retirement, birthdays, graduations, holidays, and anyone needing a little pick-me-up after a doctor’s visit!
The book ends on an upbeat note:
“You are in pretty good shape for the shape you are in,"
The Cat in the HatCheck PriceOh, the Places You'll Go!Check Price
