The political cartoons Dr. Seuss drew during

World War II are key to making the Dr. Seuss

we know today. As Art Spiegelman says, we see

Dr. Seuss “develop his goofily surreal vision while

he delivers the ethical goods.” In the cartoons,

Seuss shows a glimpse of what his later books

would look like. Wacky animals, rhymes, and

nonsense words are all ways Dr. Seuss

communicated, both in his cartoons and

in his later books. Multiple characters from

the books originate in the cartoons.

Dr. Seuss’ later books also have political messages that he communicates to the world. Prior to

World War II, Seuss’ stories didn’t present morals, but his later books do.  For example, Horton

Hears a Who is an attack on racism. Yertle the Turtle is about totalitarianism. The Lorax is a call to

help the environment.  Seuss’ cartoons changed the way he wrote his children’s books. The

messages in his stories have changed many Americans. ​​​​​​​