A new book by Dr. Suess hits bookstores next week, over two decades after the beloved children’s author died. Unlike other recent posthumous books by the Cat in the Hat author, this is an all-new story that was only rediscovered two years ago.
What Pet Should I Get was announced by Random House Children’s Books back in February and is based on a manuscript rediscovered by Theodore Seuss Geisel’s widow, Audrey, in 2013. As the New York Times notes, the book was found nearly complete in a box (without a fox or socks) labeled “The Pet Shop.”
There were 16 pages of black & white sketches and had text taped to the pages. It’s still not clear why Geisel didn’t publish the story or what he had planned to do with it. The story was probably written in the late ‘50s or early ‘60s. You can spot a child from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish in the art.
When they put the pages together, the publisher found that there was enough material for a complete book. They have printed 1 million copies, which will be available on Tuesday, July 28.
Suess’ books have sold 650 million copies worldwide, even though he died in 1991 and his last published book was 1990’s Oh the Places You Go!. In recent years, Random House has published collections of rare Suess stories, like 2014’s Horton and the Kwufferbug and More Lost Stories.