New Dr. Seuss book, ‘What Pet Should I Get?’ debuts Tuesday

Jamie Gumbrecht
By Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 9:33 AM EDT, Tue July 28, 2015
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Pet-Should-Classic-Seuss/dp/0553524267" target="_blank" target="_blank">What Pet Should I Get?</a>", the first new, original book by Dr. Seuss in 25 years, was published in July 2015. Its first printing was increased from 500,000 to 1 million. The author's most popular books serve as graduation gifts, read-alouds for children, parody fodder for politicians and inspiration for big Hollywood films.
"What Pet Should I Get?", the first new, original book by Dr. Seuss in 25 years, was published in July 2015. Its first printing was increased from 500,000 to 1 million. The author's most popular books serve as graduation gifts, read-alouds for children, parody fodder for politicians and inspiration for big Hollywood films.
courtesy Random House
Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" debuted in 1990 and is author and illustrator Theodor Geisel's top-selling book.
Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" debuted in 1990 and is author and illustrator Theodor Geisel's top-selling book.
From Random House
Characters created by Geisel and "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" have led to companion books and new editions. First lady Michelle Obama reads a Dr. Seuss-inspired work "Oh, the Things You Can Do That Are Good For You" by Tish Rabe, to students visiting the White House in January 2015.
Characters created by Geisel and "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" have led to companion books and new editions. First lady Michelle Obama reads a Dr. Seuss-inspired work "Oh, the Things You Can Do That Are Good For You" by Tish Rabe, to students visiting the White House in January 2015.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" was published in 1957. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=dr+seuss+books" target="_blank" target="_blank">Most of his books remain in print</a> and sell briskly a quarter-century after his death.
Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" was published in 1957. Most of his books remain in print and sell briskly a quarter-century after his death.
From Random House
"The Cat in the Hat" was made into a film in 2003. The movie, starring Mike Myers as the titular feline, got poor reviews.
"The Cat in the Hat" was made into a film in 2003. The movie, starring Mike Myers as the titular feline, got poor reviews.
From Universal Pictures
Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" was published in 1960.
Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" was published in 1960.
From Random House
Conservative pundit and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin read a parody version of "Green Eggs and Ham" during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2014.
Conservative pundit and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin read a parody version of "Green Eggs and Ham" during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2014.
T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images
Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" debuted in 1971.
Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" debuted in 1971.
From Random House
A film version of "The Lorax" was released in 2012.
A film version of "The Lorax" was released in 2012.
From Universal Pictures
Dr. Seuss' "Fox in Socks" was published in 1965.
Dr. Seuss' "Fox in Socks" was published in 1965.
From Random House
"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" was published in 1960.
"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" was published in 1960.
From Random House
"Horton Hatches the Egg" was published in 1940.
"Horton Hatches the Egg" was published in 1940.
From Random House
"Horton Hears a Who!" was published in 1954. A film version came out in 2008.
"Horton Hears a Who!" was published in 1954. A film version came out in 2008.
From Random House
Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was published in 1957. An animated TV special appeared in 1966, and a film, starring Jim Carrey, was released in 2000.
Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was published in 1957. An animated TV special appeared in 1966, and a film, starring Jim Carrey, was released in 2000.
From Random House
Dr. Seuss' most popular books

Story highlights

Dr. Seuss' new book, "What Pet Should I Get?" will be released on July 28

The book by Theodor Geisel is to have a first printing of 1 million copies

CNN  — 

The announcement of a new, original Dr. Seuss book sent a wave of nostalgic giddiness across social media, and the number of preorders for “What Pet Should I Get?” has been climbing for months. Now, its time is here. The first new book in 25 years by Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel, debuts Tuesday.

In a review in verse, the New York Times’ Michiko Kakutani said the new book is “short and it’s Seuss-ish, not ‘One Fish Two Fish.’ ” She wrote:

“Seuss never spoke down to his readers, no matter how small.

His tales were told with vim, vigor and zest.

‘What Pet Should I Get?’ entertains us just fine.

Who cares if this book’s not really his best?”

To keep up with demand, the book’s first printing was increased from 500,000 to 1 million copies, Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books, said in a news release in April.

“We were absolutely overjoyed to see the response to ‘What Pet Should I Get?’ from every corner of the book world – the bookselling community, media, educators, and readers nationwide,” Marcus said.

The first image released from the never-before-seen book featured a brother and sister familiar to Seuss fans as they ogle a prim feline in a pet shop window and ponder:

“We want a pet.

We want a pet.

What kind of pet

should we get?”

dr seuss what pet should i get
Courtesy Random House

The last new, original Dr. Seuss book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”, was published in 1990. “What Pet Should I Get?” features the spirited siblings from the beloved classic “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” and is believed to have been written between 1958 and 1962.

“Ted loved and had pets himself, as a young boy on up through adulthood, and that makes the wonderful excitement and buzz for this new book all the more special,” said Susan Brandt, president, licensing and marketing of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

Geisel’s widow, Audrey Geisel, found the manuscript and illustrations in their California home soon after her husband died in 1991. The materials were set aside and then rediscovered in 2013. Random House Children’s Books said in February that it expects to release additional books from the found materials.

It only seems to prove the siblings’ lesson from “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.”

“From there to here,

from here to there,

funny things

are everywhere.”