This year marks the book’s 75th anniversary and what better way to celebrate than by releasing an interactive omBook edition! Download And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street for your Apple or Android device and experience the story that started it all. You’ll find it hard to believe that Dr. Seuss almost burned this manuscript out of frustration from it being rejected so many times. In fact, he nearly gave up entirely on writing children’s books — we’re so glad he didn’t!

– Fun facts about Mulberry Street –

The manuscript was rejected by twenty-seven publishing houses for being too different and edgy. He was told that “neither fantasy nor verse sold well and that his story lacked a moral or lesson.”

Dr. Seuss was ready to give up on the book when he ran into a friend from college, Mike McClintock, who had just become juvenile editor of Vanguard Press. McClintock asked to take a look at the manuscript and ended up publishing it.

The young boy in the story, Marco, was named after Mike and Helene McClintock’s own son.

The original title of the book was “A Story That No One Can Beat.” The president of Vanguard Press asked Dr. Seuss to give it a snappier title.

The rhymes were written to the rhythm of chugging engines on the Swedish ship the M.S. Kungsholm while Dr. Seuss was on a vacation with his wife, Helen.

Mulberry Street is an actual street in Springfield, Massachusetts, less than one mile from Dr. Seuss’ childhood home on Fairfield Street. It is now a tourist destination containing many historical buildings and sites, including a plaque referencing Dr. Seuss and the book that made the street famous!

Watch a video preview of the omBook!

Did you read Dr. Seuss books when you were a child? What was your favorite story? Leave your answer in the comments for a chance to win And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street for your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch!

** The winner has been randomly chosen & is Kelli Morton. Congratulations, Kelli! Please look for an email from us. **

As children explore this animated omBook, they will discover special interactive learning moments that reinforce specific topics. Users can tap stars in the sky to reveal constellations; learn the order of the planets in our solar system through a Seussian mnemonic device; search the night sky with a telescope; find hidden information cards from Thing One and Thing Two; and even access an instant glossary by tapping on highlighted words.

We tested this app in a local elementary school classroom, and here’s what the kids had to say!:

“My favorite part was when I looked through the telescope. I also liked it when it gave me a warning not to look at the sun.” (7 year-old boy)

“It was cool! I liked that it reads to you and explains all the stuff.” (10 year-old girl –English Language Learner)

“I like that it told you about the planets and how far they are from the sun. I learned that some planets are very far away and get very cold!” (7 year-old girl)

“It was talking about space and I learned some interesting words like astronaut.  I like the pictures—I like the colors and the details.” (7 year-old girl)

“I like that if you don’t know a word you can touch it and it will say it for you.” (10 year-old boy – English Language Learner)

– Check out a sneak peek of the app! –

– About The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library –
Aimed at children ages five to eight, The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library is a nonfiction series that appeals to children’s natural curiosity and engages them in the process of scientific exploration and discovery. The titles explore a range of subjects, including dinosaurs, pets, marine life, trees and outer space and feature classic characters from the original The Cat in the Hat — The Cat, Sally, Dick, Thing One and Thing Two, and even the fish!

Look for more Learning Library omBooks like “Oh Say Can You Say Dinosaurs?” coming soon!

Earlier this week, the first two apps went live in the App Store! Both are based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Dr. Seuss Camera – The Grinch Edition, for the iPhone, allows users to create zany and whimsical “Grinchmas Cards” using the built-in camera.

Take pictures with Seuss characters or choose to become the Grinch, his faithful friend Max, or even little Cindy-Lou Who. Personalize cards with comical and colorful stamps, borders and classic Seussian text. Grinchmas Cards can be e-mailed to friends & family or saved to the Photo Library.

Grinchmas is a fun, casual game of skill and accuracy. Assume the role of The Grinch perched on Mt. Crumpit. Swipe the screen to throw either snowballs or presents down to Who-ville, depending on whether you feel “mean” or “merry.” Accuracy and speed determine your score. (Grinchmas was co-developed with our friends over at Limbic Software who currently have a massive success on their hands with Tower Madness, which was the #2 most downloaded free app on the entire app store just a few weeks ago.)

We’ll be announcing many other apps in the coming months, including an e-book for Grinch. Stay tuned!

The Essential Meditations Deck — 50 Exercises to Focus the Mind — In our hectic world, we often forget to take even a few minutes of quiet, contemplative time for ourselves each day. Let the Essential Meditations Deck be your reminder. This portable deck provides an enjoyable entree to the practice of meditation – helping you focus, reflect, and find balance.

The Perfect Calm Deck — Deep within each of us lies a well of inner calm. Figuring out how to tap into it – even for a few minutes each day – is essential for well-being and peace of mind. With an inspirational image and a simple guided exercise on each card, this handy app will help you relax both mind and body and appreciate the simple pleasures all around you.

Celtic Wisdom Deck — The magical tales of the Celts offer important life lessons. The Celts have long been revered as wise storytellers. With a vibrant illustration on one side and a nugget of ancient Celtic wisdom on the other, this app will guide and inspire you on your own path to personal enrichment.

Link to DrummerConnection.com

The iTunes AppStore is a very tough place to sell a product. In an ocean of 34,000 apps how does one go about getting noticed? Sure, we had a nice little sales bump when we first shipped “Bowls”, but it was short lived. Within a few weeks, “Bowls” was buried with all of the other apps struggling to get noticed.

Then it happened. Someone at Apple decided that they liked our app. With one chance decision we were placed on the front page of the AppStore and everything changed. Doors opened. Sales jumped.

My wife and I refer to this person as our “Apple Angel.” We have no idea who they are. We do, however, strongly believe that we have made the right decision to start this business. Events like this only reinforce that belief.

To whomever is enjoying “Bowls” at Apple and to all of those who continue to support Oceanhouse Media and spread the word of our products, we are grateful and we are thankful.