Dr Seuss’ 1st book was rejected 20 times + 9 Other Facts About The Author

6. His mother was an early source of inspiration

Although Geisel despised being asked where he got his ideas from, he did credit his mother, Henrietta Seuss Geisel, for inspiring his rhymes.

Henrietta worked in a bakery and had to memorize the names of the pies that were on special each day, to chant them to her customers. If Ted had difficulty getting to sleep, she would often recall her ‘pie-selling chants’. As an adult, Ted acknowledged his mother “for the rhythms in which I write and the urgency with which I do it.”