![]() ![]() Seuss’s ABC: “Big J, little J, what begins with J? Jerry Jordan’s jelly jar and jam begin that way.” I, too, liked to spout a line or two from the former’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” or the latter’s “We Real Cool.” But I also loved invoking Yertle the Turtle’s grandiose bellows (“I’m Yertle the Turtle!” “Oh, marvelous me!”) or a favorite rhyme from Dr. As a young adult, I was fond of reciting passages from his work with as much enthusiasm as other literary folks in my community quoted Langston Hughes or Gwendolyn Brooks. I grew up on his titles, which had popped regularly through the mail slot as offerings from a book club for beginning readers. I was a budding poet then, and would tell anyone who asked that my favorite poets were Henry Dumas, Smokey Robinson, and Seuss. ![]() As was our habit, I grabbed a pile of books, plopped down on some soft furniture, and began to read to him for an hour. ![]() While he painted and drew and made homemade paper, I took his 2-year-old brother to the library across the street. Louis and had just dropped off my 6-year-old at his art class. More than 30 years have passed, but I remember our encounter vividly. ![]()
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