And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street (PDF), is Theodor Seuss Geisel’s, (Dr. Seuss) first children’s book published under the pen name Dr. Seuss. It was first published by Vanguard Press in 1937. He was on a ship returning from a European vacation with his wife. He became fascinated with the rhythm of the ship’s engine. This inspired the book’s signature lines:
And that is a story that no one can beat
And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street.
And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street (PDF) Summary
The main character is Marco, who is accused of having a wild imagination. Marco is walking home from school one day. Marco admits that during his walk along Mulberry Street, to and back from school, all he saw was a boring old horse and cart. But he just can’t settle for that, so he starts to imagine the cart being pulled by a Zebra. Then he takes it even further and imagines a charioteer being pulled by the Zebra. That’s not enough so he makes the Zebra a Reindeer, but then realizes Reindeers should pull a sleigh! But that’s so obvious, “Say, even Jane could think of that” (a jab at the Dick and Jane stories popular at the time.)
House Train Any Dog!
As Marco gets closer and closer to his home where is father awaits to hear about his walk, his story grows more and more outlandish. When he finally runs up the steps to his home and meets his father’s eyes, he can’t bring himself to tell his father anything but the truth.
There is an obvious untruthfulness in the way that Marco exaggerates and makes up the many additions to the horse and cart, but there is also an amazing truthfulness to it. In Marco’s mind he really does see all of those things, because he has a child’s imagination.
