There's a
Wocket in My Pocket
by Dr. Seuss

Children's book review by Steve Barancik

Ages 3-8

Crazy Creatures Galore

We all know that Dr. Seuss's books are peppered with crazy-looking creatures, many of which have crazy names. From Grinches to Sneetches, these Seussian beings look like they came from another world and are often named merely for the sake of what their assigned names rhyme with.

Well, There's a Wocket is the book that contains nothing but strangely named creatures that rhyme with the name of household objects.

There's a Zelf on a shelf. A Jertain in the curtain. A Nooth Grush on your toothbrush. Not to mention, a

• Tellar
• Nellar
• Gellar
• Dellar
• Bellar
• Wellar, and
• Zellar

All of which happen to reside in - you guessed it! - the cellar.

There are not many of Seuss's numerous published works that don't leave me with a smile on my face and the feeling of just having scored a great bargain, but There's a Wocket in My Pocket is one of the few. The book reads like a listing of creatures, and after you finish your kids might say...

"But what happens?"

It's an excellent question, because nothing does. So in lieu of There's a Wocket in My Pocket!, allow me to highly recommend a few Seuss books with crazy creatures (all of which are reviewed on this site):

• The Lorax
• The Cat in the Hat (Thing One and Thing Two)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The Grinch and the Whos)

Also, don't miss One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. You'll meet, among other crazy creatures

• Goxes
• Gacks
• Ishes
• Wumps
• Yinks
• Yops
• Zanses, and
• Zeds

Each features in a self-contained poem that feels much more complete than the mere introductions each character receives in There's a Wocket in My Pocket.

Go with one of those other books and I think you'll be happier with your choice!

Wocket was one of the best selling children's books of the 20th century. See more!

Complete Dr. Seuss book list.

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