Book Review: “McElligot’s Pool” by Dr. Seuss

Age Range: 5 – 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 4
Series: Classic Seuss
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 12, 1947

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have read many Dr. Seuss books over the years. The usual suspects are titles like “The Lorax”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”. Well between you and me (and all of our readers), I personally have never read “McElligot’s Pool” or at least I don’t remember reading it. My folks might have read it to me when I was a kid. I did learn that this was a very important book, released in 1947, from Dr. Seuss since it was the first Seuss title to feature full-color art on every other page.

Official Premise: This adventurous picture book tells of Marco-who first imagined an extraordinary parade in And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street-as he daydreams of all the possibilities that await him while he fishes in McElligot’s Pool. Optimistic and exciting, this tale is the perfect bait, and readers young and old will be hooked on this fish-tastic favorite.

Having a three year old daughter, she already loves Dr. Seuss, thanks to PBS’ “The Cat in the Hat Knows A lot About That”.  So when we received this book, we immediately had to sit down and read it. It was a very exciting moment because it wasn’t just the first time for her, like I said, it was also a first for myself. The book, like all Seuss stories, is such a fun read. Nearly 70 years and this book has not lost any charm, it still engaged both of us through every word.

If you are wondering why are we reviewing a near 70 year old book, it is because we were asked to join the Dr. Seuss Classic Celebratory Tour!, which includes reviews from all different blogs covering the first 44 books from Dr. Seuss in preparation for the release of the lost book, “What Pet Should I Get?”. Check out below for a complete list of the tour and also enter here for a chance to win the newest Dr. Seuss book.

1. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 – The Young Folks.com
2. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, 1938 – Bookish Antics
3. The Seven Lady Godivas, 1939 – The Eater of Books
4. The King’s Stilts, 1939 – On Starships and Dragonwings
5. Horton Hatches the Egg, 1940 – The Book Cellar
6. McElligot’s Pool, 1947 – Media Mikes
7. Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, 1948 –Mommie of 2
8. Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949 – Nonperfect Parenting
9. If I Ran the Zoo, 1950 – Live to Read
10. Scrambled Eggs Super! 1953 – Word Spelunking
11. Horton Hears a Who! 1954 – Bookiemoji
12. On Beyond Zebra! 1955 – Jessabella Reads
13. If I Ran the Circus, 1956 – Book Hounds
14. The Cat in the Hat, 1957 – The Bookbag
15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1957 – Nightly Reading
16. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, 1958 – Winter Haven Books
17. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, 1958 – Alice Marvels
18. Happy Birthday to You! 1959 – Chapter by Chapter
19. Green Eggs and Ham, 1960 – Poland Bananas
20. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, 1960 – Once Upon a Twilight
21. The Sneetches and Other Stories, 1961 – The Mod Podge Bookshelf
22. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, 1962 – Good Books and Good Wine
23. Dr. Seuss’s ABC, 1963 – The Irish Banana
24. Hop on Pop, 1963 – Mundie Moms
25. Fox in Socks, 1965 – Page Turners
26. I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, 1965 – Book Rock Betty
27. The Cat in the Hat Songbook, 1967 – Giveaway Train
28. The Foot Book, 1968 – I Am A Reader
29. I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories, 1969 – Cuddlebuggery
30. I Can Draw It Myself, 1970 – The Children’s Book Review
31. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? 1970 – Curling Up with a Good Book
32. The Lorax, 1971 – Elizziebooks
33. Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! 1972 – Reading with ABC
34. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? 1973 – Me, Myshelf, and I
35. The Shape of Me and Other Stuff, 1973 – Paperback Princess
36. There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974 – Presenting Lenore
37. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975 – YA Books Central
38. The Cat’s Quizzer, 1976 – Lille Punkin’
39. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! 1978 – Confessions Of A Vi3tbabe
40. Oh Say Can You Say? 1979 – Ex Libris
41. Hunches in Bunches, 1982 – No BS Book Reviews
42. The Butter Battle Book, 1984 – Novel Novice
43. You’re Only Old Once! 1986 – Dad of Divas
44. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! 1990  – Jesse the Reader