Publishers Weekly
This volume collects seven joyous Seuss stories that were published in Redbook in 1950 and 1951 but had never appeared in book form. In an insightful introduction, Seussian scholar Charles D. Cohen notes that Seuss wrote these tales at a transitional point in his career, when he grasped the importance of using the sounds of words to hook children on reading. The stories’ rhymed couplets are pitch-perfect, the verse’s rhythm as snappy as in any of Seuss’s better-known works. In the title story, a duck and a cat’s greed spins out of control as they imagine everything that they’ll wish for from a magical seed. In “Steak for Supper,” an outlandish menagerie follows a boy home to dine: “A Nupper for supper! A Gritch! And a Grickle!/ And also an Ikka! Oh, boy! What a pickle!” These creatures and others are portrayed with Seuss’s trademark exaggeration and whimsy. The limitations of the source material are occasionally apparent—the longer stories overcrowd certain pages with text, the artwork sometimes feeling stretched to fit the format. Regardless, fans old and young will deem these “lost” stories a tremendous find. Ages 6–9. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 19, 2011:
"The stories' rhymed couplets are pitch-perfect, the verse's rhythm as snappy as in any of Seuss's better-known works...[F]ans old and young will deem these 'lost' stories a tremendous find."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2011:
"The buffed-up illustrations look brand new, and...the writing is as fresh, silly and exhilarating as it must have been when first seen. The good Doctor may be dead these 20 years, but he’s still good for splendid surprises."
ChildrensBooksGuide.com, 2011's Best Children's Books
"…Everything you’d expect from this master… Chock full of rhyming, goofy characters and whimsical illustrations."
San Francisco Chronicle, October 30, 2011
"...A treasure trove from one of the greats of children's literature...an unexpected treat... The collection sings with Geisel's trademark rhyme, rhythm, wordplay and serious silly streak. A must-have addition to your Seuss collection."
BoingBoing.net, October 27, 2011
"...A new Seuss collection is reason to celebrate...and Bippolo Seed is more than a curiosity or a completist's collection of offcuts — much of the material in this book stands with Seuss's best-loved work. The illustrations are classic Seuss and full of wit and irreverence…"
The Atlantic, September 27, 2011
"...A fantastic new collection...More than just a literary gem, which it certainly is…"
The Baltimore Examiner, September 28, 2011
"Truly a great piece of treasure for your family's library!"
USA Today, October 5, 2011
"Did you know a bunch of 'lost' Dr. Seuss stories were unearthed recently?...As one would expect with Seuss, they're incredibly clever."
Wired.com, September 28, 2011
"The stories are pure Seuss — you cannot mistake the artwork or the made up words...my son...enjoyed them for what they are— little stories that teach some sort of lesson."
The Mac Observer, October 18, 2011
"If you or someone you know, whether large or small, is a Seuss fan, go get a copy of The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories...it’s excellent stuff."
Cracking the Cover (blog), October 13, 2011
"Books by Dr. Seuss are classic...passed on from generation to generation… When he died in 1991…no one expected to see new work from him again… Each of these tales is a rhythmical delight with the tongue-twisting text we’ve come to expect from Dr. Seuss. The illustrations are wacky, playful and colorful...and each of these tales is sure to spark imagination."
Readings.com, September 26, 2011
"...Clever, witty and engaging, with pitch-perfect rhyming couplets and his distinctive illustrations…they will provide...readers with the sheer delight of enjoying more Seuss-isms."
Apptudes.com, October 5, 2011
"Little imaginations will be delighted with more nonsensical Seussish characters to love and entertaining stories with which to sharpen their reading skills…Each story is chock full of Dr Seuss genius and inventive use of words…"
Giggleapps.com, October 17, 2011
"A wonderful anthology of stories…, each full of the wondrous Dr. Seuss style of imaginative...characters, beautifully odd illustrations, and fantastical rhyming prose… They are important works of early Dr. Seuss."
BestAppsforKids.com, October 19, 2011
"Fans of Dr. Seuss will especially love this addition to the collection...and [it] will surely become a bedtime favorite…Dr. Seuss is always great and these "lost stories" are bound to delight."
Digital-Storytime.com, September 27, 2011
"…A wonderful collection of seven stories… They are exceptional and will enchant both young readers and older ones alike… the illustrations are also exceptional, capturing the familiar whimsy of Seuss…"
Excelsiorfile, October 11, 2011
"A collection of tales featuring…that cadence…that is as distinctly Seuss as iambic pantamenter is to Shakespeare. To read the book…it is almost impossible to not begin by reading aloud…and to do so…reveals some interesting information about…the development of that cadence we know by heart and memory... And for those older Seuss fans its an even better reminder of what can and should be expected in terms of books for young readers."
Hooray for Books! Indepedent Bookstore, October 14, 2011
"Fans of Seuss will know to expect outlandish creatures, exuberant rhyme, funny adventures, and even a little food for thought. You’ll find all that and more in 'Bippolo Seed.' This book is a fantastic find for Seuss fans of all ages...!"
Barnes and Noble, September 2011
"Children, their parents, and their grandparents will all treasure this singular batch of rarely seen…stories…these tales exude the sprightliness that we have all come to associate with the…master."
Lunch.com, September 30, 2011
"I tip my hat to Dr. Cohen for his love of Dr. Seuss' vision and the work that went into tracking down these tales. If not for him, future generations might never have been able to experience this amazing collection."
School Library Journal
K-Gr 6—Seven stories published in magazines from 1948 to '59 appear with their original texts and illustrations, all of which have been technologically enhanced. In a lengthy introduction, Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen describes his research in uncovering these stories and the ways in which they resonate with familiar Seussian elements and themes. Youngsters see the folly of greed when the duck in "The Bippolo Seed" wants more than he needs and ends up with nothing. The message in "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga" is that, "…when you fight with Big Guys.../A bit of Quick-Thinking/counts much more than size!" An illustration of the foolish bear atop the tree while the rabbit escapes adds to the fun. "Gustav, the Goldfish" and "The Strange Shirt Spot" demonstrate the consequences of not following the rules. Unable to settle on one occupation, the protagonist in "The Great Henry McBride" dreams big, convincing himself and children everywhere that they can be and do anything. The delightful rhythm, tongue-tickling language, and trademark art exemplify how Seuss's work has delighted generations of readers and made learning to read fun.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT
NOVEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
A cast of celebrities adds variety and flair to this collection of seven Dr. Seuss stories published in book form for the first time. Peter Dinklage and Jason Lee go for straightforward readings that emphasize Seuss’s trademark rhythm and rhyme in “The Great Henry McBride” and “Gustav, the Goldfish.” Neil Patrick Harris elevates the text with his buoyant and expressive reading of “The Bippolo Seed,” as does Joan Cusack with her reading of “Tadd and Tod.” Anjelica Huston is a highlight, bringing nuance, distinct voices, and urgency to her performance of “The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga.” Each story is a flight of imagination grounded by real emotion and engrossing narration—making this a production worthy of repeat listening. A.F. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Seven rhymed tales, dug from hard to find places! Look for millions of Seuss fans with bright shiny faces!
As Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen notes in his buoyant introduction, the stories—all published in magazines in the early 1950s, but never elsewhere except, for some, in audio editions—catch Ted Geisel at the time he gave over writing in prose, inspired by new insight into the capacity of children to absorb and enjoy words and word sounds. His command of language and cadence is sure, while the pedantry that sometimes weighed down his later work is also visible but only lightly applied: Extreme greed leads to the loss of a wish-granting seed in the title story, for instance, and an overfed "Gustav, the Goldfish" outgrows every container. (The latter story is an early version of an unrhymed tale published by Seuss' first wife, Helen Palmer, as A Fish Out Of Water.) In other premises that saw service elsewhere, "The Great Henry McBride" ambitiously daydreams of future careers, and a "Strange Shirt Spot" keeps moving from place to place despite a frantic lad's efforts to remove it. The buffed-up illustrations look brand new, and despite occasional signs of age—"Oranges! Apples! And all kinds of fruits! / And nine billion Hopalong Cassidy suits!"—the writing is as fresh, silly and exhilarating as it must have been when first seen.
The good Doctor may be dead these 20 years, but he's still good for splendid surprises. (Picture book. 6-9)
