I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew (Classic Seuss) [Hardcover]

Dr. Seuss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1965

As our hero struggles to reach the city of Solla Sollew, where they never have troubles, at least very few, we realise that it's better to face up to life's problems than to try to run away from them! With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Suess has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the UK's top ten favourite children's authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide. As part of a major rebrand programme, HarperCollins is relaunching Dr. Seuss's best-selling books. In response to consumer demand, bright new cover designs incorporate much-needed guidance on reading levels. The standard paperbacks divide into three reading strands -- Blue Back Books for parents to share with young children, Green Back Books for budding readers to tackle on their own, and Yellow Back Books for older, more fluent readers to enjoy. This is a Yellow Back book.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Our nameless hero--a typical Seuss hybrid who's part bear, part puppy, and part beyond categorization--has an innocent, carefree life, until it's ruined by minor problems. With a toe stubbed, and a tail bitten by a Quilligan Quail ("And I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, and some come from behind"), he sets out on an ill-fated journey to find a better, less troublesome place: the fabled city of Solla Sollew, no less, "on the banks of the beautiful River Wah-Hoo,/ Where they never have troubles. At least very few." Like most dreamlands, Solla Sollew is harder to attain than expected--nobody seems to know how to get there, and the journey is far worse than anyone anticipated. When the fair city is finally attained there is, of course, a last straw; but a happy twist suggests troubles may be better faced than escaped. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"Dr. Seuss ingites a child's imagination with his mischevious characters and zany verses." The Express --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; First edition (October 12, 1965)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394900928
• ISBN-13: 978-0394900926
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,104,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"A person's a person, no matter how small," Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, would say. "Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted."

Brilliant, playful, and always respectful of children, Dr. Seuss charmed his way into the consciousness of four generations of youngsters and parents. In the process, he helped millions of kids learn to read.

Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1925, he went to Oxford University, intending to acquire a doctorate in literature. At Oxford, Geisel met Helen Palmer, whom he wed in 1927. Upon his return to America later that year, Geisel published cartoons and humorous articles for Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at that time. His cartoons also appeared in major magazines such as Life, Vanity Fair, and Liberty. Geisel gained national exposure when he won an advertising contract for an insecticide called Flit. He coined the phrase, "Quick, Henry, the Flit!" which became a popular expression.

Geisel published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, in 1937, after 27 publishers rejected it.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Caldecott Honors, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 books. While Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my alltime favorite seuss book, June 11, 2000

By 

Jonathan Lapin "fletcher rabbit" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (Hardcover)

back in college when i re-discovered the wonders of dr. seuss, this was the book that got me in trouble with my prof for my outrageous suggestion that dr. seuss was one of the finest writers of 20th century america. now that may not seem *so* radical an idea in 2000, but back in 1975 it was sacrilege!

one of his lesser known books, it is one that has always given me courage to go on in the face of the worst moments. if akin to any other of his books, it would be that penultimate masterpiece "oh the places you'll go", but truthfully i prefer "solla sollew".

a great book for kids and grownups.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Grass Only Seems To Be Greener Elsewhere, February 20, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (Hardcover)

This book is great for the child who is never satisfied, or is too easily discouraged.

The story opens with a happy, carefree young furry creature with a tail in the Valley of Vung starting to have problems because he gets careless and doesn't look around. Discouraged by these setbacks, he is all ears when a chap on a One-Wheeler Wubble comes along and says that there's never any trouble in the City of Solla Sollew, and offers take him there. The trip turns out to be very arduous and difficult. Finally at Solla Sollew, a new problem arises. From this experience, he decides to be more proactive in the future. "Now my troubles are going, To have trouble with me!"

Like all of the Dr. Seuss books, this one is enlivened by hilarious creatures, dramatic and colorful illustrations, and a pleasant rhyming scheme that uses funny names to aid the rhymes.

One of the most difficult lessons for people to learn is that we carry the seeds of all our problems and opportunities around with us. Simply changing the scenery may not be enough, if our old ways of thinking still guide us. If you are somewhat depressed and see no opportunity in one place, even in an earthly paradise you can still experience life the same way.

Many people go through life looking for the perfect mate, house, and job, only to be constantly disappointed. In I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, that voyage toward perfection can be quickly experienced and the lesson learned. Here is where a parent can make a big difference. You need to share some experiences in your own life where you lived this story, and share what you learned as a result. In this way, you can help you child in later years by providing an alternative perspective and reminding her or him or this story. "Are you going to Solla Sollew?" can be a shorthand way of encouraging your child to re-examine the purpose of the sought-for change.

For an adult, the benefit from this story can be to help you consider whether all of the error-elimination you pursue is worth the effort. My clients frequently are interested in reducing their error rate. They may be starting, though, in an area with an error rate that is only one in ten million occurrences. And the area being considered may be relatively unimportant to the success of the organization. The same effort could instead make important improvements in some area where mistakes abound, results do matter, and perfection is an impossible dream.

Decide what the problem is before you grab just any solution!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my favorite dr. seuss, July 31, 2003

By 

Morpho menelaus (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (Hardcover)

As a child, someone read this book to me only once, and I looked for it ever afterward. It seemed more magical, somehow, than all the other Doctor Sues books. In college, I stumbled across it again and bought it. Its still one of my favoritesa great pick-me-up if youre feeling beat, definitely good for college students.

The story is about a fellow who has troubles and so goes looking for the beautiful city of Solla Sollew, on the banks of the beautiful river wha-hoo, where they never have troubles, at least very few! Well, as you can imagine, he has a terrible time getting to Solla Sollewflood ands wars and wild beastsand when he finally gets there, he discovers that the advantages of Solla Sollew have been somewhat exaggerated. He ends up going back home with a new attitude. The story isnt any different than many similar stories, but the rhymes are particularly lyrical, the artwork particularly funny. I pull it out every few months and read it, and I laugh every time.