What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Suess
It was the summer of 2009. I had failed out of college (I’ve since graduated), was bumming on a friend’s couch, and was unemployed. I sat on my friend’s stoop angst-ridden, unsure of the future, desperate tears streaming down my face. And then, for reasons I don’t grasp, a line popped in my head, “Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where the Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high!”
I gushed. I sobbed. I spilled out a pain borne of years of loneliness and bad decisions. The next day, I rushed to the library, found a copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go and made this document.
In my wallet
I snapped that picture today, actually. Those words go with me to all the places I go, to all the places I will go. That book and the recollection of a time when things were more honest changed my life measurably, undeniably
And now, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) is primed to change the lives of children and adults everywhere nearly a quarter of a century after his death. The New York Times reports that in October, 2013, Geisel’s remaining notes and illustrations were appraised (most of them were donated to the University of California, San Diego shortly after his death). Among those remaining notes were 16 uncolored illustrations and accompanying type then titled, The Pet Shop.
Following their discovery, those 16 pages were meticulously arranged and colored by Cathy Goldsmith who worked as both the designer and art director for Geisel’s last six books.
And Tuesday, July 28, the culmination of Geisel and Goldsmith’s efforts will be published by Random House under the new title, What Pet Should I Get? It’s reportedly the story of two children trying to decide what pet to take home from the pet store. It’s a story about consequences and the uncertainty of the future.
While the arguments as to the morality of publishing this are already under way, I’m personally just thankful to have access to another small slice of Dr. Seuss’ magical world and, maybe, an accompanying piece for my wallet copy of the book that changed my life.
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