Like Norman Rockwell, Dr. Seuss created every rough sketch, preliminary drawing, final line drawing, and finished work for each page of every project he illustrated.
Despite the technical and budgetary limitations of color printing during the early and mid-twentieth century, Dr. Seuss was meticulous about color selection. He created specially numbered color charts and intricate color callouts to precisely accomplish his vision for each book. Saturated reds and blues, for example, were carefully chosen for The Cat in the Hat to attract and maintain the visual attention of a six-year-old audience.
Even before Dr. Seuss’s book career took off, sharp draftsman skills were evident in his editorial works, advertisements, and cartoons. His ability to move a storyline ahead via illustrations filled with tension, movement, and color became a hallmark of his children’s literature, and the surreal images that unfolded over six decades became the catalyst for a humorous and inspired learning experience.
