50 Awesome Dr. Seuss Writing Prompts

Sometimes the only way to allow a great writer to blossom is to help them along with an idea or two so they can focus more on their writing style than what they’re going to write about.

This can often be done in a fun and even informal way so that it doesn’t feel like such a chore. For example, take the 50 Dr. Seuss writing prompts that are listed below.

Few people would argue that writing about these topics is truly enjoyable. They also bring a bit of levity to the situation, something that nervous writers practically beg for. If you’re trying to find a way to make it more comfortable in your classroom, consider using some or all of these prompts in order to do so.

Table of Contents show

50. What if you could give only one Dr. Suess title to each child in the entire world?

Imagine that you could give a copy to every young person, in their native language. The catch is that it has to be the same title across the board. Which one would you choose and why?

49. Do you agree with the sentiment that you can travel the world simply by reading?

This is something that has been echoed throughout these books again and again. Do you think you can really gain an intimate knowledge of the world by reading or do you believe that you actually need to travel to these locations?

48. Explain how reading helps you increase your knowledge about other cultures.

One of the foremost themes in the Dr. Suess books is that you become more well-rounded through reading. How do you think reading these books has helped you do exactly that?

47. Think about a specific Dr. Suess book. How has it helped shape your views on how you should treat others?

If only you’re willing to look, there are many lessopns to be learned from reading these books. How has Dr. Suess helped you understand how people should be treated, especially when they are different to you?

46. What would you say to the author?

Imagine that you could actually sit down with Dr. Suess and ask a handful of questions. What would they be?

45. Who is your favorite Dr. Suess character?

Why does this particular character resonate with you? Is there a specific reason you want to spend time with them?

44. Imagine that you get to create a piece of artwork for a new Dr. Suess book.

What do you think the art would look like? What type of theme would you choose to go with? Is there a particular message that you’re trying to convey with the art you decided on?

43. Dr. Suess characters are often quite determined. Does this resonate with you?

Think about the determination involved in saving Whoville or something similar. Was there a time when you had that same level of determination? Did this help things work out in your favor?

42. Change the ending to one of the books.

Think of your favorite Dr. Suess book and change the ending to suit yourself. How will this new ending impact the entire story?

41. Dr. Suess writes about green eggs and ham, but have you ever actually seen a green egg?

If you have seen one, would you eat it? Some people are turned off by the very idea. How do you feel about it?

40. Write a story about goats.

You can write a story about goats or boats. Who knows, maybe you just want to give things a completely new twist and have the goats running the boats. It’s your story, so you can create the world you want.

39. Think about “If I Ran the Zoo.” What if you were the one running things.

Imagine that all of the animals at the zoo depend on you for their well-being. How would you spend your day?

38. Have you ever played with a cat that really was in a hat?

Maybe you have a cat of your own. Have you ever seen it climbing into a hat? Have you tried to place a hat on its head? How do you think these things would look?

37. It’s your job to help the Grinch feel happy.

You already know that this is going to be a big task. How will you accomplish it? Do you think it will take a long time?

36. Think about things on a deeper level.

Virtually every Dr. Suess book was written to help you learn a valuable lesson. What types of things have you learned as a direct result of reading these books?

35. Talk about your all-time favorite book.

Surely you have one Dr. Seuss book that trumps all others when it comes to favorites. Which one is your favorite and why do you like it the best?

34. Are the books better than the adaptations?

There are countless books that have been made into movies and the like. Think about one of those and decide whether you like the book or the adaptation the best and explain why.

33. Put yourself in the story.

Imagine that you are one of the characters in a Dr. Seuss book. Now add elements of your own life and explain what your life as that particular character would look and feel like on a daily basis.

32. Write about your emotions.

Some of these books are surprisingly emotional. They’re meant for kids, but even adults often find themselves feeling emotions they might not have expected to experience. Think about your favorite story and the emotions it makes you feel. If possible, pick out a handful of emotions and then explain why you feel them in as much detail as possible.

31. Have you ever exaggerated a story of your own?

Some of the characters in these books have a tendency to make things sound bigger than they are. Is there a time when you ever did the same thing? If so, why did you decide to handle things and that manner and what happened when people found out that you might have embellished your story just a bit?

30. Make it rhyme.

Think about the way the Dr. Seuss books are often written. They frequently feature an almost sing-song type of rhythm. Write a short story about your own life using this same technique.

29. Think about how The Lorax tends to communicate on behalf of the trees.

Have you ever communicated on behalf of someone in your own life? If so, explain the situation. Be sure to mention why you were communicating for them and how things ultimately went.

28. Respectfully state your case to the Grinch.

He’s known for not liking Christmas. Explain all the reasons he could come to love it.

27. Convince someone to read these books.

Imagine you are talking to someone who has never read any of them. What would you say about them? How would you convince this individual that the books are worth taking the time to read?

26. Write about someone who hasn’t respected your boundaries.

In “The Cat in the Hat,” the cat shows up at the house and invites himself directly inside. How have you responded when someone else has disrespected your own boundaries? Did your reaction have any similarities to the story?

25. Does clothing really make the person wearing it?

Remember the article of clothing in “The Cat in the Hat?” If you could choose just one item of clothing that could serve as your “trademark,” what would it be?

24. Think about running your own zoo.

One of the stories centers around running a zoo. If you could have a zoo of your own, which animals would you include and why?

23. It’s time to get emotional.

Why do you think the Grinch is always so angry? Do you think someone hurt him along the way and he’s actually just misunderstood?

22. It’s all about courage.

Remember that the bravest resident of Whoville is a small child. She’s never confrontational but displays a remarkable level of love and understanding. How do you think the world would look different if more people actually reacted this way as opposed to getting angry about so many things?

21. Everyone needs someone else to love.

Look back at the story of the Grinch. He doesn’t exactly exude love, yet he has a small dog that he does love deep down (even if he doesn’t always show it properly). How do you display love for those who are close to you in your own life?

20. Create a list.

Think of all the different Dr. Suess books you’ve read throughout the years. Which ones are the best, in your opinion? Create a list of the best titles and explain why you love them.

19. Write about the effectiveness of Dr. Suess.

These books have inspired countless numbers of individuals. Why do you think that is the case?

18. Write about real-life lessons.

Think about the context of the books and then write about things where the lessons they teach can be references in your own life.

17. Think about the fun.

These books are almost always fun. Do you think that makes them easier to learn from? Why?

16. Use the books as personal inspiration.

The author may have set out to have one book published, but look how many have been read around the world. Use these books as inspiration for something you want to do in your own life that you might have thought was impossible. What would it be?

15. Explain the attraction to these books.

Think about how many people have read them. Why do you think they are so popular?

14. Let your creative juices flow.

Use one of the stories as inspiration to draw at least one character from the book. Write a short story or poem about your drawing.

13. Quotes galore.

Think about some of the most famous quotes from Dr. Suess books. Craft a story that uses only quotes, as if two people were conversing and these quotes are the only things they can say.

12. Focus on a scene.

Think about only one scene from your favorite story. Flesh it out, making sure you cover every detail. It’s okay to get creative and add some ideas of your own.

11. Create a graphically appealing story.

Use color and artwork in conjunction with a story you write to explain part of the story from one Dr. Suess book. Think of it as a comic book but with Dr. Suess.

10. Create an actual comic strip.

You can take things one step further and create an actual comic strip, using some of the characters from the books.

9. Summarize one of your favorite characters.

Choose your favorite character and write about their journey from your own perspective.

8. Analyze things.

Choose two or three characters from one book and do an in-depth character analysis of each one of them. Why do they work together? Why do they clash?

7. Blend two or more stories together.

You can also blend two of your favorite stories together in order to create something entirely new. What will you come up with?

6. Dive into archetypes.

Are the characters from these books archetypal in the traditional sense? There is often more to the stories than meets the eye.

5. Use a short story to create a word search puzzle.

Write something unique and then use the keywords to create a word search puzzle of your own.

4. Do you identify with one of the Dr. Suess characters?

Maybe you can see yourself in one of the characters and you’d like to write a story about it.

3. Create your own adventure based on one of the stories.

Think about your favorite story and then create your own unique adventure that’s influenced by the story in the book.

2. How do you think these books help shape young people?

The books have been used for years to teach young people how to read by helping them engage with the stories. How do you think things would look if these books had never existed?

1. Use your favorite story to teach a life-lesson.

You already know that most of the books can be used to teach valuable lessons in life. Choose your favorite story and then use it on a deeper level to teach something important.