The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss [Paperback]

James W. Kemp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

The stories of one of the world's most beloved children's authors are both imaginative and entertaining. But a closer look at Dr. Seuss's stories reveals that many are inspirational as well as instructive. James Kemp has identified as his favorite theologian not Barth or Pannenberg, but the inimitable Dr. Seuss. In this readily accessible resource, Kemp finds parallels between the actions of cats in hats, Grinches, Snitches, Sneetches, and other Creachas and lessons found in Scripture. Thus, as the author shares his enthusiasm for the creativity and wisdom of Dr. Seuss, both the meaning and the relevance of many Bible passages come to life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James W. Kemp received a Master of Divinity degree from Duke in 1979. He served for fifteen years as a United Methodist pastor prior to his retirement.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Judson Press (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817014578
• ISBN-13: 979-0817014574
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual look at some beloved stories, January 3, 2005

By 

Andrew W. Johns "ResQgeek" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss (Paperback)

I originally saw this book on the shelf at a local bookstore, and was intrigued by the concept. After all, there is nothing overtly religious about Dr. Seuss's stories. However, they do have strong themes, often defining a basic morality. So it shouldn't be surprising, I guess, that they can be quite easily linked to religious messages. Each chapter in this book takes a Dr. Seuss story and relates its message to a relavant Christian theme. Some of these are obvious, while others require a little more interpretation. I suspect that this material is much more effective when presented as a sermon by a gifted preacher.

This is a short book, and a quick read, and is likely to be of interest to many fans of Dr. Seuss's writing, if only to show another way of looking at the beloved stories he created.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inherently fascinating,and spirituality enthusiastic reading, August 10, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss (Paperback)

In The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss, James W. Kemp (now retired from fifteen years service as a United Methodist pastor) reveals the popular children's stories penned by Dr. Seuss are more than simply imaginative and highly entertaining, a great many of them are also inspirational. Kemp finds parallels between the doings of cats in hats, Grinches, Snitches, Sneetches, and other whimsical creatures with lessons embedded within the Scriptures. The meaning and relevance of many Bible passages come to life within the originality of such stories as "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!", "Horton Hatches the Egg"; Yertle the Turtle"; "Green Eggs and Ham", and other Dr. Seuss tales of whimsey and rhyme. Highly recommended to the Christian community regardless of denominational distinctions, The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss is lively, entertaining, inherently fascinating, and spirituality enthusiastic reading.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REVIEW OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO DR. SEUSS, February 6, 2004

By 

George and Aletha Skelley (Six Mile, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss (Paperback)

Jim Kemp has skillfully woven passages of scripture with stories of Dr. Seuss. As the Bible is a moral document, the author compares passages from the Gospels to the morals of the selected books of Dr. Seuss. The reading is delightful and can inspire an adult or teach a child.