![\"**](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sut-l-seuss-book.jpg\")
Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, is shown in April 3, 1987. (AP Photo\/File)<\/p>\nWhen editors from Random House Children\u2019s Books visited the Dr. Seuss collection at UC San Diego\u2019s main library in May, they were looking for something special: a work that could tie in with America\u2019s upcoming 250th birthday.<\/p>\n
Among the thousands of sketches and other archival materials stored on the Geisel Library\u2019s second floor, they found a manuscript by Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, that sought to teach readers how to learn all 50 state names.<\/p>\n
It included a cover sketch featuring the Cat in the Hat and notes on art direction for a never-finished project.<\/p>\n
On June 2, \u201cSing the 50 United States!\u201d will be released, with a first printing of 500,000 copies.<\/p>\n
Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, is shown in April 3, 1987. (AP Photo\/File)<\/p>\n
The book will include illustrations done by artist Tom Brannon \u201cin the style of Dr. Seuss,\u201d as well as a publisher\u2019s note explaining how the project evolved and showing archival images of text and sketches by Geisel, according to a press release by Random House Children\u2019s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which manages the literary and artistic works of Dr. Seuss. Geisel lived in La Jolla<\/a> until his death in 1991.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this never-before-seen picture book featuring Dr. Seuss\u2019s signature rhyming style, readers will delight in naming the 50 states alongside the beloved Cat in the Hat!\u201d the publisher said in the release. Underneath the book\u2019s jacket will be a map of the United States, which the publisher said would be \u201cperfect for readers to test their own state-naming skills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo sing the 50 United States, you have to use your brain,\u201d the Cat in the Hat advises. \u201cMassachusetts. Minnesota. Missouri and Montana. M-i-s-s-Mississippi. Maryland! Michigan and Maine!\u201d<\/p>\n Lynda Claassen, director of Special Collections & Archives, has known a new Dr. Seuss book was in the works since the spring. That\u2019s when longtime Seuss editors asked library staff to pull the manuscript, and they \u201cgot very excited about it,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n The library produced high-resolution scans from the collection to assist in the project. Claassen described Geisel\u2019s manuscript as \u201cbasically the names of the states and in which order you\u2019re going to sing them \u2014 and whether it was going to be Alabama first, or Arkansas first, or whatever,\u201d adding, \u201cYou can see in various drafts, him moving names of states around.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Seuss Enterprises said it plans to release a music video for the Dr. Seuss YouTube channel featuring the song.<\/p>\n \u201cUncovering a new work from Ted is like finding a time capsule of his imagination,\u201d Susan Brandt, president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said in a statement. \u201c\u2018Sing the 50 United States!\u2019 celebrates his boundless creativity, genius with words, and enduring ability to inspire young readers everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Deputy publisher Judith Haul of Random House Children\u2019s Books said finding an original Dr. Seuss story is \u201csomething we dream of.\u201d<\/p>\n Geisel was the author and illustrator of dozens of children\u2019s books, including some of the most popular and influential ever, including \u201cThe Cat in the Hat\u201d and \u201cHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!\u201d<\/a> His works have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide.<\/p>\n One Seuss scholar believes the new book grew out of a song Geisel discarded before publishing \u201cThe Cat in the Hat Songbook\u201d in 1967.<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SUT-L-ICON-051.jpg\"){kind=icon}
The Geisel Library at UC San Diego. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n