The legacy of Dr. Seuss will soon add yet another creative chapter with the launch of Seuss Studios, a joint venture of Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books. Announced on March 2, on what would have been Ted Geisel’s 118th birthday, the new imprint will publish a line of books for early readers by new and emerging authors and illustrators, who will create original stories inspired by Dr. Seuss’s unpublished sketches and illustrations.
Seuss Studios, which is scheduled to debut in 2023, will publish books geared toward readers ages four to eight. The publisher will announce details about the inaugural list later this year.
The images that will spark the imaginations of Seuss Studios authors and artists have been selected from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives located at UC San Diego and curated by DSE and RHCB. The original Dr. Seuss sketch that serves as the basis for each story will be included in the book, along with a note from the creators explaining how they were inspired and detailing their creative process.
Seuss Studios also bolsters the ongoing mission of DSE, a children’s entertainment company established in 1993, which focuses on promoting literacy, education, self-confidence, and imagination through the works of Dr. Seuss. Seuss Studios releases will draw on the talents of an inclusive community of authors and illustrators to create wide-ranging books for all young readers and families that capture Dr. Seuss’s trademark spirit of creativity.
The new line also pays homage to Geisel’s commitment to supporting new writers and artists. In 1957, he co-founded Beginner Books with the double goal of establishing a robust and enriching library fostering kids’ love of reading and opening new doors for creators who were either at the beginning of their publishing careers or who worked in other creative industries.
Mallory Loehr, executive v-p and publisher at RHCB, and Martha Rago, v-p and executive creative director, will oversee the new line’s editorial and art direction. “I can’t wait to see what the Seuss Studios creators come up with,” Loehr said. “I know that these stories will connect to today’s young readers and inspire a joy in reading for years and years to come.”
Susan Brandt, president and CEO of DSE, added, “Seuss Studios is a new, exciting step in the continued evolution and growth of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and one that will help us ensure that Dr. Seuss’s images live on in the best possible way—and in new ways—for future readers. We look forward to putting the spotlight on a new generation of talent who we know will bring their unique voices and style to the page, while also drawing inspiration from the creativity and imagination of Dr. Seuss.”
