Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Author(s)	Dr. Seuss
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's literature
Publisher	Random House
Publication date	January 22, 1990
Media type	Print (Hardcover and paperback)
ISBN	0679805273
OCLC Number	20169007
Dewey Decimal	[E] 20
LC Classification	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! (ISBN 978-0-679-80527-4) is a book written and illustrated by children's author Dr. Seuss. It was first published by Random House on January 22, 1990, making it his last book published before his death. The book concerns life and its challenges.

Though written in the style of classics such as Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! has many specific characters including a narrator and the reader. A young boy, referred to simply as “you,” initiates the action of the story. However, the presence of a main character helps readers to identify with the book. It is written in second person and uses future tense.

It is perhaps best known for the line, "Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98 3/4% guaranteed.)"

In the United States and Canada, Oh, the Places You'll Go! is a popular gift for students graduating from high school and college, spiking in sales every spring, selling up to 300,000 copies every year.^[1]

Plot

The story begins with the narrator, relating the decision of the unnamed protagonist (who represents the reader) to leave town. The protagonist travels through several geometrical and polychromatic landscapes and places, eventually encountering a place simply called "The Waiting Place", which is ominously addressed as being a place where everyone is always waiting for something to happen. It is implied that time does not pass in the Waiting Place. As the protagonist continues to explore, spurred on by the thoughts of places he will visit and things he will discover, the book cheerfully concludes with an open ending.

References

1. ^ Blais, Jacqueline; et al. (2007-05-16). "Book buzz: Dave Barry really rocks". USA Today (USA Today). http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-05-16-book-buzz_N.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-12.