Beginner Books is the Random House imprint for young children ages 3–9, co-founded by Phyllis Cerf with Ted Geisel, more often known as Dr. Seuss, and his wife Helen Palmer Geisel. Their first book was Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat (1957), whose title character appears in the brand's logo. Cerf compiled a list of 379 words as the basic vocabulary for young readers, along with another 20 slightly harder "emergency" words. No more than 200 words were taken from that list to write The Cat in the Hat. Subsequent books in the series were modeled on the same requirement.
Beginner Books had only four titles in their catalog in 1958. Two years later, they were earning 1 million dollars a year. Random House acquired Beginner Books in 1960 and was the largest publisher of children's books in the United States.
Contents
Early contributors
Authors
When Theodor Seuss Geisel illustrated his own stories, he wrote as Dr. Seuss. When others created the illustrations, he used either the pseudonym Theo. LeSieg or Rosetta Stone. Other authors of early Beginner Books were Robert Lopshire, Bennett Cerf, Al Perkins, Helen Palmer Geisel (who wrote as Helen Palmer), Philip Dey Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Benjamin Elkin and Marion Holland.
Illustrators
Early Beginner Books employed many famous illustrators, including the aforementioned Theodor Seuss Geisel, P. D. Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Robert Lopshire. Roy McKie was also an illustrator.
List of Beginner Books
Book Club
Grolier Book Club Beginner Book Series
Scholastic Book Club Beginner Book Series
Early Moments Book Club Beginner Book Series
Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners
The following books are for younger children and are technically part of the series. The "BE" designation stands for Bright and Early.
Book Club
Grolier Bright and Early Book Series
Scholastic Bright and Early Book Series
Early Moments Bright and Early Book Series
Bright and Early Board Books
Most, if not all, of these books are abridged versions of Beginner Books or Bright and Early Books. These books are not numbered.
The Alphabet Book by P. D. Eastman, additional materials by Peter Eastman
I'll Teach My Dog a Lot of Words, written by Michael Frith, illustrated by P. D. Eastman
Big Dog...Little Dog by P. D. Eastman
Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
Eres mi Mama? by P. D. Eastman
Go, Dog. Go! P.D. Eastman's Book of Things That Go, illustrated by P. D. Eastman
Ve, Perro. Ve! by P. D. Eastman
Fred and Ted Like to Fly by Peter Eastman
The Snowman illustrated by Raymond Briggs – Note: The only Bright and Early Board Book without any words
What Time Is It? by P. D. Eastman (eBook only)
The Berenstain Bears: Old Hat, New Hat by the Berenstains
Sombrero Viejo, Sombrero Nuevo by the Berenstains (out of print)
The Berenstain Bears: Inside, Outside, Upside Down by the Berenstains
The Berenstain Bears: He Bear, She Bear by the Berenstains
Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie
Big Bright and Early Board Books
Fast Train, Slow Train by Rev W. Awdry
Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie
Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss
The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises by Dr. Seuss
Trains, Cranes and Troublesome Trucks by Rev W. Awdry
The Many Mice of Mr. Brice by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Roy McKie
Fox in Socks: Dr. Seuss's Book of Tongue Twisters by Dr. Seuss
Are You My Mother? written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman
Hop on Pop: The Simplest Seuss for Toddlers Use by Dr. Seuss
Go, Dog. Go!: P. D. Eastman's Book of Things That Go by P. D. Eastman
The Big Box of Bright and Early Board Books About Me (The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites, The Eye Book, The Nose Book, The Tooth Book)
The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg), illustrated by Joe Mathieu
Bright and Early Bath Books
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss (only Bright and Early Bath Book)