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Beginner Books

Beginner Books is the Random House imprint for young children ages 3–9, co-founded by Phyllis Cerf with Ted Geisel, more often known as Dr. Seuss, and his wife Helen Palmer Geisel. Their first book was Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat (1957), whose title character appears in the brand's logo. Cerf compiled a list of 379 words as the basic vocabulary for young readers, along with another 20 slightly harder "emergency" words.[1] No more than 200 words were taken from that list to write The Cat in the Hat. Subsequent books in the series were modeled on the same requirement.[2]

Parent company

1957

United States

New York City

Books

Beginner Books had only four titles in their catalog in 1958. Two years later, they were earning 1 million dollars a year. Random House acquired Beginner Books in 1960[3] and was the largest publisher of children's books in the United States.

Early contributors[edit]

Authors[edit]

When Theodor Seuss Geisel illustrated his own stories, he wrote as Dr. Seuss. When others created the illustrations, he used either the pseudonym Theo LeSieg or Rosetta Stone. Other authors of early Beginner Books were Robert M. Lopshire, Bennett Cerf, Al Perkins, Helen Palmer Geisel who wrote as Helen Palmer, Philip Dey Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Benjamin Elkin and Marion Holland.

Illustrators[edit]

Early Beginner Books employed many famous illustrators, including the aforementioned Theodor Seuss Geisel, P. D. Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Robert Lopshire. Roy McKie was also an illustrator.

Book Club Beginner Book Series

Grolier

Book Club Beginner Book Series

Scholastic

Early Moments Book Club Beginner Book Series

Bright and Early Book series

Grolier

Bright and Early Book series

Scholastic

Early Moments Bright and Early Book series

The Alphabet Book by P. D. Eastman, additional materials by Peter Eastman

I'll Teach My Dog a Lot of Words written by Michael Frith, illustrated by P. D. Eastman

Big Dog...Little Dog by P. D. Eastman

Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman

Eres mi Mama? by P. D. Eastman

Go, Dog. Go! P.D. Eastman's Book of Things That Go illustrated by P. D. Eastman

Ve, Perro. Ve! by P. D. Eastman

Fred and Ted Like to Fly by Peter Eastman

The Snowman illustrated by Raymond Briggs – Note: the only Bright and Early Board Book without any words

What Time Is It? by P. D. Eastman (eBook only)

The Berenstain Bears: Old Hat, New Hat by the Berenstains

Sombrero Viejo, Sombrero Nuevo by the Berenstains (out of print)

The Berenstain Bears: Inside, Outside, Upside Down by the Berenstains

The Berenstain Bears: He Bear, She Bear by the Berenstains

Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie

Put Me In The Zoo: A Book of Colors by Robert Lopshire

Stop, Train, Stop! by Rev. W. Awdry

Para, Trencito, Para! by Rev. W. Awdry (out of print)

Blue Train, Green Train by Rev. W. Awdry

Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss

Fox In Socks: Dr. Seuss's Book of Tongue Twisters by Dr. Seuss

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie – Note: this book is a 1998 recolor edition.

There's a Wocket in My Pocket! Dr. Seuss's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes by Dr. Seuss

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises by Dr. Seuss

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff: Dr. Seuss's Surprising Word Book by Dr. Seuss

Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie

The Many Mice of Mr. Brice by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie

The Ear Book by Al Perkins, illustrated by Henry Payne

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins, illustrated by Eric Gurney

The Nose Book by Al Perkins, illustrated by Joe Mathieu

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Joe Mathieu

The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Joe Mathieu

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites by Dr. Seuss

Most, if not all, of these books are abridged versions of Beginner Books or Bright and Early Books. These books are not numbered.

Fast Train, Slow Train by Rev W. Awdry

Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie

Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises by Dr. Seuss

Trains, Cranes and Troublesome Trucks by Rev W. Awdry

The Many Mice of Mr. Brice by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie

Fox in Socks: Dr. Seuss's Book of Tongue Twisters by Dr. Seuss

Are You My Mother? written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman

Hop on Pop: The Simplest Seuss for Toddlers Use by Dr. Seuss

Go, Dog. Go!: P. D. Eastman's Book of Things That Go by P. D. Eastman

The Big Box of Bright and Early Board Books About Me (, The Eye Book, The Nose Book, The Tooth Book)

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites

The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Joe Mathieu

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites by Dr. Seuss

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins, illustrated by Eric Gurney

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Joe Mathieu

The Nose Book by Al Perkins, illustrated by Joe Mathieu

There's a Wocket in My Pocket!: Dr. Seuss's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes by Dr. Seuss

The Berenstain Bears: Inside, Outside, Upside Down by Stan and Jan Berenstain (-exclusive)

Kohl's

The Alphabet Book by P.D. Eastman, additional materials by Peter Eastman (Kohl's-exclusive)

Put Me in the Zoo: A Book of Colors by Robert Lopshire (Kohl's-exclusive)

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss (only Bright and Early Bath Book)

[5]

Ladybird Books

List of the first 50 Beginner Books at Children's Picture Book Price Guide

(catalog download page)

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