Oh, the Places You'll Go! facts for kids
Cover image
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| Author | Dr. Seuss |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Random House |
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Publication date
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January 22, 1990 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-679-80527-3 |
| OCLC | 20169007 |
| [E] 20 | |
| LC Class | PZ8.3.G276 Og 1990 |
| Preceded by | I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! |
| Followed by | Daisy-Head Mayzie |
Oh, the Places You'll Go! is a famous book written and illustrated by the beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. It was first released by Random House on January 22, 1990. This book was the very last one Dr. Seuss published during his lifetime. It tells a wonderful story about the journey of life and all the exciting challenges you might face.
Unlike some of Dr. Seuss's other classics like Green Eggs and Ham or The Cat in the Hat, this book has a special way of talking to you. It uses the second person, meaning it speaks directly to "you," the reader. It also uses the future tense, talking about what "you will" do. This makes the story feel very personal and encouraging.
What Happens in the Story?
The story begins with a narrator talking about a young person, who represents you, deciding to leave their town. This character then travels through many colorful and unusual places.
One interesting spot they find is called "The Waiting Place." This is a place where everyone seems to be just waiting for something to happen. But the main character keeps moving forward!
The book encourages you to keep exploring and discovering new things. It ends on a happy and open note, suggesting that your journey is just beginning.
Movie Plans for the Book
In the early 1990s, there were plans to turn Oh, the Places You'll Go! into a movie. Producers Ben Myron and Roland Joffé, working with TriStar Pictures, wanted to make it happen. Dr. Seuss himself even started writing the movie script!
Later, other writers worked on the script, but the movie was never made back then. However, new plans are now in the works! Warner Animation Group is developing an animated musical film based on this book. They are also working on movies for The Cat in the Hat and a spin-off about Thing One and Thing Two. J. J. Abrams, a well-known producer, is helping to create this new film.
Legal Challenges and Parody
In 2016, a writer named David Gerrold, known for his work on Star Trek, teamed up with artist Ty Templeton and ComicMix. They started a project to create a book called Oh, the Places You'll Boldly Go!. This new book was meant to be a parody of Dr. Seuss's original. A parody is a funny imitation of something, often to make a point or just to be humorous. The title of their book was a playful nod to the famous Star Trek phrase, "to boldly go where no one has gone before".
Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that manages Dr. Seuss's works, was not happy about this. They filed a lawsuit to stop the book. They argued that the parody copied too much from Dr. Seuss's original books, not just Oh, the Places You'll Go!, but also others like Horton Hears a Who! and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. They said the new book copied pages "with meticulous precision."
The lawsuit also claimed that the parody might confuse people. It suggested that readers might think Dr. Seuss's company had approved or licensed the new book.
- In May 2018, a judge named Janis Sammartino sided with ComicMix. She said their book was a "highly transformative work." This means it changed the original enough to create something new.
- In March 2019, the judge again ruled in favor of ComicMix. She said the book was protected under "Fair Use." Fair Use is a legal idea that allows people to use copyrighted material in certain ways, like for parody or criticism, without needing permission. She felt the authors only borrowed what was necessary and changed it to have a different meaning.
However, in December 2020, a higher court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, disagreed. They overturned the earlier decision. They said the book was not truly a parody because it copied too much of Dr. Seuss's original style and how the pages were put together. They also worried that the parody book might affect the sales of Dr. Seuss's original, especially since Oh, the Places You'll Go! is often given as a gift to graduates.
