This one,

I think,

is called

a Yink.

He likes to wink,

he likes to drink.

He likes to drink, and drink, and drink.

The thing he likes to drink

is ink.

The ink he likes to drink is pink.

He likes to wink and drink pink ink.

SO…

if you have a lot of ink,

then you should get

a Yink, I think.

That’s Dr. Seuss from his “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” book.

We had various Seuss books growing up, but that one seemed to be around the most. It was our favorite.

I think I would like a Yink.

I think.

Well, that book and “Green Eggs and Ham.”

Children’s books entertain while they teach. And the good ones are fun for adults to read, too. It’s more enjoyable for me to read a book to my son that we both like. Forrest and I like Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel.

Daddy really gets into the acting and rhythm that goes into reading a Seuss book.

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.

Did you know that Sam-I-Am is the world’s best salesman? He never gives up when he knows he is right. It reminds me of the great United Way campaign chairwomen of the past two years. They kept at it, and they succeeded.

Say!

I like green eggs and ham!

I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Of course, parents know why I am writing about Seuss. His 105th birthday would have been Monday. Yay! By the way, you know you truly are great when people celebrate your birthday after you’ve died.

The grandparents know but perhaps some of today’s mommies and daddies don’t know what a change Seuss’ books brought to children’s literature. “The Cat in the Hat” entered a world where, “See Spot Run. Run Spot Run,” and, “‘Not I’ said the cat” were what children were meant to read. Seuss changed the genre.

Here is what Ellen Goodman, who writes for the Boston Globe and appears in this paper, said in November 1966 when she worked for the Detroit Free Press:

“In 1957 , Dr. Seuss took 223 words, rhymed them and turned out ‘The Cat in the Hat, a little volume of absurdity that worked like a karate chop on the weary little world of Dick, Jane and Spot.”

Here is a summary of how it came to be, as told by the National Education Association:

“In May of 1954, Life published a report on illiteracy among schoolchildren, suggesting that children were having trouble reading because their books were boring. This problem inspired Geisel’s publisher, prompting him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important for children to learn. The publisher asked Geisel to cut the list to 250 words and use them to write an entertaining children’s book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him, published ‘The Cat in the Hat,’ which brought instant success.”

Of course, one tidbit that NEA leaves out — but Random House leaves in — is that schools were slow to pick up the book but parents and children couldn’t get enough of it. Children ultimately determine what books they prefer.

Let’s clear something up right away. I am Thing 1. You can be Thing 2.

Be sure to read a book to your child tonight. And if you don’t have a child, find one soon and read. Read it in a boat, with a goat, in the rain, on a train, in a box, with a fox, in a house, with a mouse, if you must.

Hmm. This requires a lot imagination. That’s good for the brain. How many years to our lives will reading to children add? Somebody call the Blue Zones people. Get a study rolling on this.

Here is the secret to longevity. Pay close attention to the last stanza:

Did you ever

fly a kite

in bed?

Did you ever walk

with ten cats

on your head?

Did you ever milk

this kind of cow?

Well, we can do it.

We know how.

If you never did,

you should.

These things are fun

and fun is good.

Tribune Managing Editor Tim Engstrom’s column appears every Tuesday.