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Oh Say Can You Say?
In this collection of 24 silly verse tongue-twisters, Dr. Seuss will delight readers of all ages with a simple story filled with hilarious nonsense!
"Bed Spreaders spread spreads on beds.
Bread Spreaders spread butter on breads.
And that Bed Spreader better watch out how he's spreading...
or that Bread Spreader's sure going to butter his bedding."
Tongue twisters are more fun than almost anything, and that's why they're so easy to read. Beginners will laugh all the way through every page of 'Oh Say Can You Say? by Dr. Seuss.
"I can read it all be myself" is the Beginner Books motto, and behind it is an understanding of how important it is for children to take pride and pleasure in their early reading. They are designed to appeal directly to children through the use of humor, rhyme and bright pictures that can be "read" even by the non-reading child.
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children, as well as helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic 'Cat in the Hat', and ranked among the world's top children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
"Bed Spreaders spread spreads on beds.
Bread Spreaders spread butter on breads.
And that Bed Spreader better watch out how he's spreading...
or that Bread Spreader's sure going to butter his bedding."
Tongue twisters are more fun than almost anything, and that's why they're so easy to read. Beginners will laugh all the way through every page of 'Oh Say Can You Say? by Dr. Seuss.
"I can read it all be myself" is the Beginner Books motto, and behind it is an understanding of how important it is for children to take pride and pleasure in their early reading. They are designed to appeal directly to children through the use of humor, rhyme and bright pictures that can be "read" even by the non-reading child.
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children, as well as helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic 'Cat in the Hat', and ranked among the world's top children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
78 people are currently reading
2199 people want to read
About the author
Dr. Seuss
892 books18.2k followersAlso wrote as Theodore Seuss Geisel, see https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
March 10, 2024
As He Gobbled The Cakes On His Plate, The Greedy Ape Said As He Ate, The Greener Green Grapes Are, The Kenner Kean Apes Are, To Gobble Green Grape Cakes, There Great!
November 5, 2017
OFTEN adults can enjoy reading books meant for children. I loved reading Dr Seuss's "Oh Say Can You Say".
Dr Seuss says on the cover itself
"Oh my brothers!
Oh my sisters!
These are
TERRIBLE TONGUE TWISTERS!"
Mohsin Maqbool says that they are interesting too at the same time.
You will enjoy reading them. And you will be shocked too like the green parrot on the cover. By the way, he should have been on Guinness Book of World Records many years back for being the first parrot to read a book or rather one containing tongue twisters.
The illustrations provided by Dr Seuss are as amazing as they were in "The Cat in the Hat".
Dr Seuss says on the cover itself
"Oh my brothers!
Oh my sisters!
These are
TERRIBLE TONGUE TWISTERS!"
Mohsin Maqbool says that they are interesting too at the same time.
You will enjoy reading them. And you will be shocked too like the green parrot on the cover. By the way, he should have been on Guinness Book of World Records many years back for being the first parrot to read a book or rather one containing tongue twisters.
The illustrations provided by Dr Seuss are as amazing as they were in "The Cat in the Hat".
July 23, 2023
I was sitting the Nephew the other night and he was procrastinating going to bed. He said he didn't know where the book he was reading was so I should pick something out to read. I enjoy these tongue twisters the most so I brought this book to read. I let him read the tongue twisters as fast as he could and then I would read them. He couldn't believe how quickly I could say them. These are the most difficult out there, but I'm pretty good at tongue twisters.
So it went on and we laughed at each other in good jest. He would tell me to read it even faster and really fast. He loved it when I did mess it up and had an issue. It was great fun to read to him again and the fact that he let me. We went on to read two other books.
Best book of Tongue Twisters.
So it went on and we laughed at each other in good jest. He would tell me to read it even faster and really fast. He loved it when I did mess it up and had an issue. It was great fun to read to him again and the fact that he let me. We went on to read two other books.
Best book of Tongue Twisters.
July 23, 2023
The tongue twisters in 'Oh Say Can You Say?' are great fun, particularly when read aloud, even if it is to oneself!
The fresh fish at Finney's Diner is, in the owner's words,'The finest fish at Finney's is my freshest fish, French-fried!' while the dinosaur named Dinn is 'thin … doesn't have much skin and the bones fall out of his left shin' but Pinner Blinn is called in and 'with a thin Blinn shinbone pin, Blinn pins Dinn's shinbones right back in.'
The ape who was mad about grapes and cakes says, 'The greener green grapes are, the keener keen apes are to gobble green grape cakes. They're GREAT!' And mention of food leads us to Skipper Zip's where 'If you like to eat potato chips and chew pork chops on clipper ships, I suggest that you chew a few chips and a chop at Skipper Zipp's Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop.' I'm sure you get the gist now!
Perhaps my favourite in this marvellous book is the verse entitled 'The Fuddnuddlers' with the accompanying illustration portraying 21 Fuddnuddlers balancing precariously on each other. These are the world famous Fuddnuddler Brothers 'who like to pile each on the heads of the others' with 'Bipper and Bud, Skipper and Jipper and Jeffrey and Jud' at the top and 'down at the bottom is poor little Lud'. 'But if Lud ever sneezes, his name will be MUD.' And as well as those at the top, Horatio, Horace and Hendrix and Hud, Dinwoodie and Dinty and Dud, also Fitzsimmon and Frederick and Fud, not to mention Slinkey and Stinkey and Stuart and Stud would all be very worried!
'Pete Pats Pigs' is about Pete Briggs who 'pats pink pigs' and 'pats big pigs' all day long and when he is finished 'Then Pete puts his patted pigs away in his Pete Briggs' Pink Pigs Big Pigs Pigpen'. And there's a final question at the end, which asks 'Oh can you say? ...', "The storm starts when the drops start dropping. When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.'
The answer by all readers will be, 'Of course we can. We're well practised after reading this most amusing book.'
The fresh fish at Finney's Diner is, in the owner's words,'The finest fish at Finney's is my freshest fish, French-fried!' while the dinosaur named Dinn is 'thin … doesn't have much skin and the bones fall out of his left shin' but Pinner Blinn is called in and 'with a thin Blinn shinbone pin, Blinn pins Dinn's shinbones right back in.'
The ape who was mad about grapes and cakes says, 'The greener green grapes are, the keener keen apes are to gobble green grape cakes. They're GREAT!' And mention of food leads us to Skipper Zip's where 'If you like to eat potato chips and chew pork chops on clipper ships, I suggest that you chew a few chips and a chop at Skipper Zipp's Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop.' I'm sure you get the gist now!
Perhaps my favourite in this marvellous book is the verse entitled 'The Fuddnuddlers' with the accompanying illustration portraying 21 Fuddnuddlers balancing precariously on each other. These are the world famous Fuddnuddler Brothers 'who like to pile each on the heads of the others' with 'Bipper and Bud, Skipper and Jipper and Jeffrey and Jud' at the top and 'down at the bottom is poor little Lud'. 'But if Lud ever sneezes, his name will be MUD.' And as well as those at the top, Horatio, Horace and Hendrix and Hud, Dinwoodie and Dinty and Dud, also Fitzsimmon and Frederick and Fud, not to mention Slinkey and Stinkey and Stuart and Stud would all be very worried!
'Pete Pats Pigs' is about Pete Briggs who 'pats pink pigs' and 'pats big pigs' all day long and when he is finished 'Then Pete puts his patted pigs away in his Pete Briggs' Pink Pigs Big Pigs Pigpen'. And there's a final question at the end, which asks 'Oh can you say? ...', "The storm starts when the drops start dropping. When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.'
The answer by all readers will be, 'Of course we can. We're well practised after reading this most amusing book.'
February 6, 2011
There was much laughter when I first read this book. The tongue twisters are very difficult for young readers but I had problems trying to keep a consistent rhythm. Just try reading each twister faster than you usualy read and I guarantee you do not make it through to the end without a mistake, at least not on your first run through. This book is a keeper. Luckily, the library gave us two copies, one nested within the other, so I think we will keep one. Not really, but obviously the thought crossed my mind. Library thieves should be drawn and quartered.
July 14, 2009
Tongue-twisters galore. I love it.
July 13, 2015
This book is EVIL! Pure evil I tell you. And when you get through it without a slip up it feels a bit like winning Minesweeper on advanced.
May 4, 2015
This collection of tongue twisters from Dr. Seuss is sure to be loved by kids everywhere as they attempt a tongue twister, yet alone a Dr. Seuss tongue twister with words that don't exist.
The fun bright colors are typical Dr. Seuss along with the usual font and typical characters. Dr. Seuss takes his typical style of writing rhymes to a whole new level with these fun tongue twisters that even I had a difficult time with!
The fun bright colors are typical Dr. Seuss along with the usual font and typical characters. Dr. Seuss takes his typical style of writing rhymes to a whole new level with these fun tongue twisters that even I had a difficult time with!
December 11, 2021
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. This book is similar to Fox in Socks. It’s a fun collection of tongue twisters, which I found easier to read aloud than Fox.My siblings and I all enjoyed it.
August 9, 2019
these tongue twisters were such an entertaining challenge.
May 28, 2011
My tongue feels like jello and my brain gets a cramp every time I read this to my kids! lol
June 15, 2023
another book of tongue-twisters! I thought he specialized in rhymes only, but it makes sense that tongue-twisters are a big part of his writings.
"Bed spreaders spreadspreads on beds. Bread spreaders spread butters on breads. And that bed spreader better watch out how he's spreading or that bread spreader's sure going to butter his bedding."
"Bed spreaders spreadspreads on beds. Bread spreaders spread butters on breads. And that bed spreader better watch out how he's spreading or that bread spreader's sure going to butter his bedding."
December 15, 2017
Catching up on my Goodreads goal in the local bookstore. Always love Dr. Seuss!
April 19, 2022
These tongue twisters were a lot of fun!
June 2, 2022
Total giggle-fest!
Impressed with myself while I read aloud these tricky tongue twisters.
This was absolutely hilarious! Definitely read it aloud and laugh.
Impressed with myself while I read aloud these tricky tongue twisters.
This was absolutely hilarious! Definitely read it aloud and laugh.
December 10, 2022
Tongue twister after tongue twister.
No I cannot say.
I didn't like this one.
No I cannot say.
I didn't like this one.
February 22, 2025
Yes I occasionally add children’s books. My lips are numb! LOL! I was informed I messed up four times with these rhymes.
December 25, 2017
What a tounge twister!! But still made me laugh!!! Dr Seuss is one of my favorite children's author!!
March 5, 2017
The green parrot is asking us. Oh, Say Can You Say?
And I would say.. NO WAAYYYYYYY!!! :D
Those tongue twisters were seriously crazy formations of Dr. Seuss' brilliantly talented mind! I don't know how even in those times he was so intelligent enough to invent new wacky words for every new book that he was planning to write. Hats off to him!
This was again a fun read, though I had problems in reading it quickly but had a laugh trying it :)
Why don't anyone of you try reading this book? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYE4S...
And I would say.. NO WAAYYYYYYY!!! :D
Those tongue twisters were seriously crazy formations of Dr. Seuss' brilliantly talented mind! I don't know how even in those times he was so intelligent enough to invent new wacky words for every new book that he was planning to write. Hats off to him!
This was again a fun read, though I had problems in reading it quickly but had a laugh trying it :)
Why don't anyone of you try reading this book? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYE4S...
February 12, 2017
Tongue twisters. Actually made me laugh.
December 26, 2020
Oh, Say Can You Say?
This is a very cute and fun book of tongue twisters. In this book, you can enjoy a selection of fresh fish at Finney’s dinner, or take a trip to a museum to visit Dinn (the dinosaur) with the thin shins. We get an introduction to the bed and bread spreaders and a grape eating ape. We also get to mee the Fuddnuddler Brothers (who like to stand on each other’s head), a blue and black duck (who like quacking and quacking back), and a Schnak (in a backpack). We also have an East Beast and a West Beast, a man who pats pigs all day (Pete Briggs), Fritz and Fred (who like to feed each other snacks all day) and Blinn’s twins (who like to put their Dad to sleep by playing the violin). It gives some financial advice about traveling with your Grox and how to tell the difference between a Kotz and a Glotz. Also ideas of what to get your Daddy for Christmas. And asks our thoughts on which cost more a single shingle or a simple thimble and what would we choose to be a cop a cupcake cooker or a flapjack flapper. If you like chips and chops it invites you to check out Skipper Zipps Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop. I think this is definitely one of the most memorable Dr.Sues books I’ve read. I’d have to put it on my top 10 list of favorites.
Rating: 7
This is a very cute and fun book of tongue twisters. In this book, you can enjoy a selection of fresh fish at Finney’s dinner, or take a trip to a museum to visit Dinn (the dinosaur) with the thin shins. We get an introduction to the bed and bread spreaders and a grape eating ape. We also get to mee the Fuddnuddler Brothers (who like to stand on each other’s head), a blue and black duck (who like quacking and quacking back), and a Schnak (in a backpack). We also have an East Beast and a West Beast, a man who pats pigs all day (Pete Briggs), Fritz and Fred (who like to feed each other snacks all day) and Blinn’s twins (who like to put their Dad to sleep by playing the violin). It gives some financial advice about traveling with your Grox and how to tell the difference between a Kotz and a Glotz. Also ideas of what to get your Daddy for Christmas. And asks our thoughts on which cost more a single shingle or a simple thimble and what would we choose to be a cop a cupcake cooker or a flapjack flapper. If you like chips and chops it invites you to check out Skipper Zipps Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop. I think this is definitely one of the most memorable Dr.Sues books I’ve read. I’d have to put it on my top 10 list of favorites.
Rating: 7
February 16, 2013
"I like that there is a chef. He cooks fish."
I got this book at the second hand store. Mama bought it for me because I saw a copy of The Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss in my buddy's car. I really wanted that book. But, this book seemed to have rhymes like The Fox in Socks. Mama thought I would like it. She was right. I really liked the short tongue twisters. Papa read it to me a few times in the car on the way home. Rather than go into the store with Mama, I sat in the car with Papa to read it. That's a pretty big deal. I usually like to go on adventures.
I got this book at the second hand store. Mama bought it for me because I saw a copy of The Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss in my buddy's car. I really wanted that book. But, this book seemed to have rhymes like The Fox in Socks. Mama thought I would like it. She was right. I really liked the short tongue twisters. Papa read it to me a few times in the car on the way home. Rather than go into the store with Mama, I sat in the car with Papa to read it. That's a pretty big deal. I usually like to go on adventures.
August 14, 2009
So much fun to read! Full of silly tongue twisters. My 4yr old had fun trying to keep up with what I was saying. We heard a few of these previously on a Dr. Seuss CD that we checked out from the library. So, we enjoyed hearing them again (this time by mom) in book form. This will be a good book to return to once my 4yr old is reading then she can have a go at it. No doubt with fun and silliness! :)
January 10, 2013
I don't know how many people really appreciate how much of a genius Dr. Seuss was. Yes, he wrote books for children and I love them when I was 6 and 7. But when I pick one now and read it... WOW! He had some really deep ideas within his quirky rhymes! Dr. Seuss is a MUST for all people of all ages. If you can't appreciate his works, there is something really wrong with you. I can think of no other author who can cater to as wide an audience as Dr. Seuss.
April 2, 2013
I love this book of tongue-twisters by Dr. Seuss because it is so fun to watch students try to say these! Students become engrossed in the book and love trying out new phrases every time. This book teaches students about phonemic awareness and just makes reading fun. Students get to practice phrases with repeated beginning sounds. I may read this with our word of the week and possibly have students come up with their own tongue-twisters as an extension activity.
January 3, 2012
That was so amazingly fun!!! The last time my tongue had so much fun was the last time I read Fox in Socks out loud. These books cannot be read normally. They MUST be read aloud, no exception. Even if you are reading to no one and there are lots of people present. Such a sheer delight!!! Nothing like a good Dr. Seuss tongue twister to jumpstart the day. =D
December 27, 2014
It was a really funny, really well-written and really enjoyable Dr. Seuss book. It had really well-written illustrations, great characters, really funny rhymes, really great humor and a really fun story. I haven't read this book in a very long time. This is going to be one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books I've ever read in my whole life. I highly recommend this book to both kids and adults.
July 29, 2011
Great fun to read alot because the faster you go, the funnier it is to say--and to hear--gets the nursery crowd giggling...which may not be what you want in a bedtime story but for a couch read it is great
July 16, 2013
Easily my favorite Seuss book since my own grade school years. As a former Grade One teacher, this was the Bible of my classroom bookshelf though the twisters had become more recitations than readings. A must-have for your child's collection.
August 8, 2013
As a former Community Actress and Vocal Performance Major, I found this book to be very intelligent.
It teaches enunciation and diction, while remaining laughable and silly for children's amusement.
My four year old boy loves this book!
-Chelsea Merkley
It teaches enunciation and diction, while remaining laughable and silly for children's amusement.
My four year old boy loves this book!
-Chelsea Merkley
Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews