Dolch and Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel, under the pen name Dr. Seuss, authored numerous beginner reading books, which have passed the test of time. In the mid 1950s, Dr. Seuss’ publisher generated a list of 400 common words and asked the author to refine this list to 250 words and write a book using only those words.

Nine months later, Dr. Seuss completed The Cat in the Hat, which used 223 of the words from his publisher’s list. Most of the words that Dr. Seuss used are included in Dolch’s sight word list, a list of 220 common words frequently found in printed material. For decades Dr. Seuss books have been a favorite of children, parents and educators. From an educator’s perspective, these books help children learn to read through repetitive use of sight words. Sight words represent over 50% of all English print media. These high frequency words have an even higher concentration (75% to 90%) in Dr. Seuss and other “learn to read” books.

Erudition™, the sight words game, was created to help beginning readers master recognition and comprehension of the Dolch words in a fun and interactive way. The confidence obtained through learning to read these high frequency words jump-starts a child’s road to reading.

Below is the text from Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham with Erudition’s words highlighted in red, representing 87% of this classic’s text.

I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am. That Sam -I-am! That Sam -I-am! I do not like that Sam -I-am! Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-am . I do not like green eggs and ham. Would you like them here or there? I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-am. Would you like them in a house? Would you like them with a mouse? I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-am. Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox? Not in a box. Not with a fox. Not in a house. Not with a mouse. I would not eat them here or there. I would not eat them anywhere. I would not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. Would you? Could you? In a car? Eat them! Eat them! Here they are. I would not, could not, in a car. You may like them. You will see. You may like them in a tree! I would not, could not in a tree. Not in a car! You let me be. I do not like them in a box. I do not like them with a fox. I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. A train! A train! A train! A train! Could you, would you on a train? Not on a train! Not in a tree! Not in a car! Sam! Let me be! I would not, could not, in a box. I could not, would not, with a fox. I will not eat them with a mouse. I will not eat them in a house. I will not eat them here or there. I will not eat them anywhere. I do not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. Say! In the dark? Here in the dark! Would you, could you, in the dark? I would not, could not, in the dark. Would you, could you, in the rain? I would not, could not, in the rain. Not in the dark. Not on a train. Not in a car. Not in a tree. I do not like them, Sam, you see. Not in a house. Not in a box. Not with a mouse. Not with a fox. I will not eat them here or there. I do not like them anywhere! You do not like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-am. Could you, would you, with a goat? I would not, could not with a goat! Would you, could you, on a boat? I could not, would not, on a boat. I will not, will not, with a goat. I will not eat them in the rain. I will not eat them on a train. Not in the dark! Not in a tree! Not in a car! You let me be! I do not like them in a box. I do not like them with a fox. I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them ANYWHERE! I do not like green eggs and ham! I do not like them, Sam-I-am. You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say. Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see. Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am! And I would eat them in a boat. And I would eat them with a goat … And I will eat them in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. They are so good, so good, you see! So I will eat them in a box. And I will eat them with a fox. And I will eat them in a house. And I will eat them with a mouse. And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE! I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!

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