Helen Palmer (writer) facts for kids

Helen Marion Palmer Geisel (born September 16, 1898 – died October 23, 1967) was an American writer and editor. She wrote many books for children. She was also a kind person who helped others.

Helen Palmer helped start a company called Beginner Books. She was the Vice President there. This company published easy-to-read books for young children. She was married to the famous writer Theodor Seuss Geisel. You might know him better as Dr. Seuss. They were married from 1927 until she passed away.

Some of her most famous books include Do You Know What I'm Going to Do Next Saturday?, I Was Kissed by a Seal at the Zoo, Why I Built the Boogle House, and A Fish Out Of Water.

Helen Palmer's Life Story

Growing Up and College Years

Helen Palmer was born in New York City in 1898. She grew up in a nice part of Brooklyn called Bedford–Stuyvesant. When she was a child, she got sick with polio. Luckily, she got better almost completely. Her father, George Howard Palmer, was an eye doctor. He passed away when Helen was 11 years old.

Helen was a very good student. She graduated with high honors from Wellesley College in 1920. After college, she taught English for three years. She taught at Girls High School in Brooklyn. Later, she moved to England with her mother. There, she studied at Oxford University.

Meeting Dr. Seuss

Helen met her future husband, Ted Geisel, while they were in class at Oxford. She had a big impact on his life. Helen was the one who suggested he should be an artist. She thought he should draw pictures instead of being an English professor.

She once said, "Ted's notebooks were always filled with these fabulous animals." She saw his talent. She believed he could make a living by drawing. They got married in 1927.

Working in Hollywood and Beyond

After World War II, Helen worked in Hollywood with her husband. They both helped write a film called Design for Death. This movie won an Academy Award in 1947. It was honored as the best documentary film.

For the next ten years, Helen was a huge support for Ted. She was his main editor. She helped him with his many children's books. Her encouragement was very important for his success.

Helen Palmer's Books

Helen Palmer wrote several popular books for children. Her most well-known book is Do You Know What I'm Going To Do Next Saturday?. It was published in 1963. This book used Helen's stories along with real photographs. The pictures were taken by Lynn Fayman.

Two other books also used this style:

• I Was Kissed by a Seal at the Zoo (1962)
• Why I Built the Boogle House (1964)

The photos for I Was Kissed by a Seal at the Zoo were taken at the San Diego Zoo. This zoo is in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. The pictures showed children from the Francis Parker School interacting with the zoo animals and staff.

Helen also took a short story by Dr. Seuss. It was called "Gustav the Goldfish." She expanded it into a full book. This book became A Fish Out Of Water, published in 1961. The illustrations for this book were done by P. D. Eastman.

See also

In Spanish: Helen Palmer Geisel para niños