When I recently asked followers of the Childhood 101 Facebook page to tell me their #1 favorite of the huge collection of Dr Seuss books I was amazed at how many different titles were shared – some I have never read, many I haven’t read for a long, long time and some are well loved favorites in our own home. Everyone seems to have a different opinion when it comes to great Seuss! Even real life friends spoke to me about their own and their children’s choices of favorite Seuss books.
In honor of Dr Seuss impending birthday celebration on March 2nd, I collated the responses to compile this list of 25 best Seuss books – as voted by friends of Childhood 101.
And should you like to follow up your book reading with a related book activity (or two!), check out these fun Seuss sensory play ideas, Seuss art ideas and Seuss learning games!
As with all of my book collections, I encourage you to please take a moment to read reviews and age recommendations for any titles you are unfamiliar with. Each title is linked to an Amazon and Book Depository page (affiliate link) where you can find further information.
25 Best Dr Seuss Books
1. Green Eggs and Ham
It was no surprise that the persistent Sam-I-Am and his “Do you like green eggs and ham?” was voted our overall most popular Seuss! It’s a favourite in our house…we’ve even dined on green eggs and ham!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
2. Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
Oh, The Places You’ll Go took an early lead and was only just pipped at the post! I am unsurprised by its popularity as this Seuss title shares a message important for all of us – that success in life is within us all.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
3. The Sneetches and Other Stories
Four deliciously silly, classic Seuss tales.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
4. The Lorax
“Unless someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.” This important message, of caring for the environment, is fabulous in both book and movie form.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A holiday favourite in our house, How the Grinch Stole Christmas tells the story of the disgruntled Grinch and his fiendish attempts to steal Christmas from the citizens of Who-ville.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
6. The Foot Book
Left feet, right feet, slow feet, quick feet, even fuzzy fur feet make their way into Dr. Seuss’s wacky book of opposites.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
7. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
My personal favourite Seuss thanks to warm memories of reading it with my Pop as a child. The whimsical rhyme and parade of fascinating imaginary creatures are captivating to young children and show kids that reading can be just about good, old fashioned fun.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
8. Ten Apples Up on Top
Learning to count has never been more fun than in this crazy tale of a dog, a lion and a tiger all showing off how many apples they can balance on their heads as they skip, walk the tightrope and roller skate their way through the book.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
9. Wacky Wednesday
Another childhood favorite in our house, this time it’s Dad 101’s favorite Seuss and who wouldn’t love this wacky tale of a Wednesday with shoes on the wall, tortoises in trees, pigs without legs and teachers on roller skates! Can you find all of the wacky items so that Wednesday can get back to the way it should be??!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
10. There’s a Wocket in my Pocket
This classically Seuss ridiculous rhyming fun will have young children search the house for the creative creatures hiding within.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
11. And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
The very first Seuss book published for children, in And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street Marco allows his imagination to run riot as he travels home from school one day, to the extent that a horse and cart is soon transformed into a chaotic carnival of colourful creatures.
Available: Amazon
12. Fox in Socks
A tongue twisting tale that will see young readers’ words twisted and lips locked!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
13. Dr Seuss’s ABC
From Aunt Annie’s alligator to the colourful Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, Dr. Seuss’s delightful book introduces early learners to the letters of the alphabet through an amazing array of crazy creatures.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
14. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
Cautionary tales of greed, vanity and pride are explored in these three modern fables.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
15. Horton Hatches the Egg
“I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred per cent!” and in Horton’s case that means enduring ridicule and hardship whilst sitting on a bird’s egg for 51 weeks! Will it be worth the commitment?
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
16. The Butter Battle Book
Dr Seuss’ cautionary tale exploring the importance of respecting differences, teaching children about tolerance and respect.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
17. Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Bored with rain, sun, fog, and snow, King Derwin of Didd summons his royal magicians to create something new and exciting to fall from the sky. What he gets is a storm of sticky green globs called Oobleck, which soon causes a right royal mess!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
18. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet
Would you care to have a duck’s feet, a deer’s antlers, a whale’s spout or an elephant’s trunk? Or are you better off just the way you are?
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
19. Dr Seuss’ Sleep Book
Van Vleck, a very small bug, is getting sleepy, and his yawn—contagious as yawns are—sets off a chain reaction, making all those around him feel sleepy, too.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
20. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
Children feeling blue will be cheered just contemplating the outrageous array of troubles they’re lucky they don’t have.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
21. Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!
If March is too dusty and April too gusty, if May is too early and June is too soon, just try to remember the first of Octember, when whatever you are hoping to get will be yours!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
22. The Cat in the Hat
Poor Dick and Sally are stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until the cat in a hat shows up and transforms the dull, rainy day into a madcap adventure.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
23. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
This time Dick and Sally are stuck shovelling snow when the Cat in the Hat returns for more fabulous fun!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
24. Hop On Pop
Another personal favourite from my own childhood, Hop on Pop is a book of simple rhyme that is perfect for reading with toddlers and a great tool to use with early readers.
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
25. I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Whether reading in bed or in purple or brown, reading is fun—even upside down!
Available: Amazon | The Book Depository
For even more Seussical fun, grab a copy of our Seuss Writing Prompts for independent writers.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
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