PreSchool-Grade 3-- The master of enjoyable didacticism offers a flight of fancy into the future of a generic "you" who is venturing out into the world, where he will have ups and downs but will succeed and finally "MOVE MOUNTAINS!" While doting relatives will find this extended greeting card an ideal gift for nursery school graduates, the story will have less appeal for children than Seuss´ story books and easy readers. Seuss´ characteristic drawings carry and extend the text through mazelike streets, over colorful checkerboard landscapes, into muddy blue "slumps," through heady highs when fame results from success at the game of life, and through dark, lonely confrontations with graveyard-like fears in times of solitude. While the text gives a strong message of self-determination and potential, the small, male "you" pictured seems more of a passive passenger on his journey through life, reacting to things as they come and walking along with his eyes shut on both the first and last pages of the text. Although this does not rank among the best of Seuss´ books, its stress on self-esteem and imaginative artwork make it a good addition to picture-book collections. 

 

Inspirational yet honest, and always rhythmically rollicking, Oh, the Places You´ll Go! is a perfect sendoff for children, 1 to 100, entering any new phase of their lives. Kindergartners, graduate students, newlyweds, newly employeds--all will glean shiny pearls of wisdom about the big, bountiful future. The incomparable Dr. Seuss rejoices in the potential everyone has to fulfill their wildest dreams: "You´ll be on your way up! / You´ll be seeing great sights! / You´ll join the high fliers / who soar to high heights." At the same time, he won´t delude the starry-eyed upstart about the pitfalls of life: "You can get all hung up / in a prickle-ly perch. / And your gang will fly on. / You´ll be left in a Lurch." 

 

But fear not! Dr. Seuss, with his inimitable illustrations and exhilarating rhymes, is convinced ("98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed") that success is imminent. As long as you remember "to be dexterous and deft. And NEVER mix up your right foot with your left," things should work out. (All ages)