The Beginner Book Story "Ten years ago, Dr. Seuss took 220 words, rhymed them, and turned out THE CAT IN THE HAT, a little volume of absurdity that worked like a karate chop on the weary little world of Dick, Jane and Spot." —Ellen Goodman, THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Nov. 1966 From this magically right beginning came the concept of Beginner Books, exacting blends of words and pictures that encourage children to read — all by themselves. Hailed by elementary educators and remedial reading specialists, these enormously popular books are now used in schools and libraries throughout ti the English-speaking world.