Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises to Donate 50,000 New Dr. Seuss Books to First Book
New York, NY — In honor of Dr. Seuss’s 112th birthday on Wednesday, March 2, Random House Children’s Books (RHCB), together with Dr. Seuss Enterprises (DSE), will make a donation of 50,000 new Dr. Seuss books to First Book, it was announced today by Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, RHCB.
The books donated to First Book by Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises will be provided to children in need through First Book’s network of more than 230,000 educators and program leaders nationwide. First Book supports educators and program leaders serving children from low-income families by providing ongoing access to free and affordable, high-quality new books and educational resources. To date, the organization has distributed more than 140 million books in the U.S. and Canada.
“Dr. Seuss’s incredible imagination, unique storytelling, and beloved characters have inspired generations of readers to learn to love to read, and we at Random House aspire to carry this legacy on in our work every day,” says Marcus. “We are thrilled to work with First Book to give children who do not have access to books the opportunity to experience the magic of reading a Dr. Seuss book.”
“Helping kids become lifelong readers is the number one reason why educators seek books from First Book,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “Just imagine their excitement when receiving 50,000 brand-new Dr. Seuss books! Thank you to our heroes at Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises for sharing this generous donation of books to kids who need them most.”
“Ted wanted to make reading fun for children and inspire their imaginations so it would please him to know that those without books at home are being given the opportunity to read and imagine the possibilities by receiving their very own first book, says Susan Brandt, President of Licensing and Marketing, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. “We at DSE are thrilled to announce this donation in honor of his birthday, and together with our partners at First Book and Random House.”
Dr. Seuss’s birthday is an annually recognized nationwide reading event, with millions of children celebrating in stores, libraries, schools and even military bases across the country. Visit Seussville.com for a listing of events and more information about “Hats Off to Reading” activities.
2015 marked an extraordinary year for Dr. Seuss, with the publication of a newly discovered book, What Pet Should I Get?—making this year’s “Hats Off to Reading” events even more special, and a celebration of not only Dr. Seuss’s birthday but this exciting new addition to his classic canon. The manuscript and accompanying sketches for the picture book were discovered in the late author’s La Jolla, California, home and the book was published on July 28, 2015. It debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and went on to become the fastest-selling picture book in Random House Children’s Books history.
About Dr. Seuss
Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is quite simply one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys, and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com.
About Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
The primary focus of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., is to protect the integrity of Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into ancillary areas. This effort is a strategic part of the overall mission to nurture and safeguard the relationship consumers have with Dr. Seuss characters. Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said he never wanted to license his characters to anyone who would “round out the edges.” That is one of the guiding philosophies of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Audrey S. Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, heads Dr. Seuss Enterprises as CEO.
About First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 140 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books and educational resources available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House is the longtime home of the beloved and bestselling Dr. Seuss books, which continue to make learning to read fun for millions of children everywhere. The company’s website, Kids@Random (randomhousekids.com), offers an array of activities, games, and educational resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
