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There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads app, the Cape Library’s Staff picks shelf and now Martin’s Must-Reads.Every Wednesday at 6:42 and 8:42 a.m., and Sunday at 8:18 a.m., Betty Martin recommends a must read based on her own personal biases for historical fiction, quirky characters and overall well-turned phrases. Her list includes WWII novels, biographies of trailblazers, novels with truly unique individuals and lots more. Reading close to 100 titles a year, Betty has plenty of titles to share.Local support for "Martin's Must Reads" comes from the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.

Martin's Must Reads: 'Becoming Dr. Seuss'

"I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am. Would you, could you with a goat? Would you, could you on a boat? I would not, could not with a goat, I would not, could not on a boat. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am.”

I’m Betty Martin with "Martin’s Must Reads" and I’m pretty sure everyone over the age of three knows who wrote those words. Becoming Dr. Seuss by Brian Jones is a thorough and very readable biography of the world’s most recognizable children’s book author.

It was fascinating to learn  just how many careers Theodore Seuss Geisel tried before he settled on writing children’s books. He was a political satirist for several magazines during WWII, he designed advertising campaigns for insect repellent and oil companies. While in the army during WWII, he worked with Frank Capra to write educational materials for the U. S. soldiers which led him to try screenwriting.

During all that time he was also writing children’s books, beginning with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. He received an honorary doctorate from Dartmouth college in 1955, the first of nine that would be conferred on him. He finally came to the conclusion that he was “here to help children have the best childhood they possibly could” and would go on to publish 48 children’s books. His book The Cat In the Hat would be the first of a new genre of early readers that would excite children about reading. His final book Oh the Places You’ll Go would remain on the BestSellers List for two years. 

If you were ever a fan of Dr. Seuss then you must read Becoming Dr. Seuss by Brian Jones.

Betty Martin was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a Lutheran pastor and his organist wife. Betty’s love of books was inspired by her father who read to all four children each night.
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