One of the most beloved children’s book authors, Theodor Geisel — popularly known as Dr. Seuss — was famous for creating quirky and imaginative stories for children (and adults) of all ages.
Dr. Seuss wrote more than 40 books throughout his lifetime. And with these books, the author left behind a magical legacy of zany and creative Dr. Seuss characters.
For many years, Dr. Seuss’s characters have jumped off of the pages and into the hearts of readers around the world.
Perhaps you grew up reading about Whoville and a green Grinch that lived above the city.
Or maybe you remember consistently hearing the story of a certain cat who brought great fun.
Love Dr. Seuss? Check out the ultimate list of Dr. Seuss quotes!
From the Lorax to Horton the elephant, Dr. Seuss’s characters make up a large piece of children’s book history.
And it’s likely that more than one Dr. Seuss character made it into your childhood’s literary repertoire.
But what are the most popular Dr. Seuss characters? Read on to find out!
Most Popular Dr. Seuss Book Characters
To celebrate the magic of Dr. Seuss, we’ve rounded up the most popular Dr. Seuss characters.
Did your favorite Dr. Seuss character make it on the list? Let us know who we may have missed in the comments!
1. Thing 1 and Thing 2
Clad in their iconic red jumpsuits and adorned with the brightest blue of hair, Thing 1 and Thing 2 appear in Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat.
When we meet the two Things, they have just appeared from the magical, mysterious book that a certain mischievous cat brought into the home of brother and sister pair Conrad and Sally.
The Things finagled their way into Dr. Seuss’s history by bringing all sorts of mischief and chaos into the previously quiet lives of the children.
While the Things are perhaps the antagonists of The Cat in the Hat, they’re also an iconic favorite to readers everywhere.
2. Horton the Elephant
The character of Horton the Elephant appears in Seuss classics Horton Hears a Who! and Horton Hatches the Egg.
A kind, benevolent creature, Horton explains to every single creature he meets that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Horton’s big heart is a major theme in the two books, making the elephant a friend to child readers everywhere.
His love for the environment and for the people around him shape much of what readers love so much about the books of Dr. Seuss.
Horton’s heart is a great goal for all readers to strive towards.
3. Sam-I-Am
As the iconic character of Sam-I-Am in the Seuss classic Green Eggs and Ham, the rhyming character is known by every child who has read a Dr. Seuss book.
One of Seuss’ beginner books, the culinary masterpiece of ham and some green eggs has made its way into millions of households around the world.
Sam-I-Am encourages his friend Guy-Am-I to enjoy a nice big plate of green eggs and ham. And he follows him around until Sam tries them.
While there’s not much of a moralistic undertone to Sam-I-Am’s story, it doesn’t stop him from being a special part of childhood history.
4. The Grinch
Perched on top of Whoville, the Grinch watches over Whoville with a disapproving eye. Unlike the people of Whoville, The Grinch is not a fan of Christmas.
In How the Grinch Stole Christmas! children learn the famous redemption story of the Grinch.
Through the Grinch’s story, readers everywhere see the power of a little holiday spirit and a lot of love.
5. The Lorax
Many Dr. Seuss books include a layer of political and social commentary.
Most famous is the story of The Lorax.
The Lorax is the voice of the environment. He weaves a story about what happens when we don’t treat the environment like it should be treated.
As the voice for the trees in the forest, the character works to remind everyone of the destruction that can come if we ignore nature.
While the sweet Lorax is a favorite of children everywhere, his story was also a favorite of the author.
6. Cindy Lou Who
With her towhead, blonde hair and her angelic little smile, Cindy Lou Who melted the hearts of the Grinch and everyone who reads How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
A widely-known favorite, Cindy Lou Who represents the spirit of Christmas.
She is the one character who cared enough about the Grinch to look past his obvious faults.
Cindy Lou Who’s gentle nature and giving spirit give life to the town of Whoville and to the heart of the Grinch.
7. The Cat in the Hat
As the main character in the book of the same name, the Cat in the Hat unpeeled a layer of magic for all children when he showed up at the home of little siblings Conrad and Sally.
Dressed in his famous red and white striped hat and bright red bow tie, the Cat brought a day of fun and mischief to the children’s home.
The Cat in the Hat is one of the most iconic characters in Seuss history. He is a favorite to many who read his story long before they try bigger reads.
8. You
As a pivotal character in Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and — much more slyly — in each of Dr. Seuss’ books, you’re a favorite character as well!
In his children’s books, Dr. Seuss invites each reader along for the ride.
By encouraging ourselves to try new things or to think a little more about the world we all live in, all of us can often be the You in Seuss’ stories.
Whether you’re watching Whoville from above as the Grinch or making things right as Horton. Whether you’re melting the hardness from a green creature’s heart as Cindy Lou Who or causing mischief in the home of your new friends Conrad and Sally.
Or whether you’re encouraging your friends to try new things as Sam I Am or making big messes as Thing 1 or Thing 2… The most important character in Dr. Seuss’ books is you!
The Magic of Dr. Seuss Book Characters
As a prolific writer of children’s books and teller of tales, Dr. Seuss invites readers of all ages to hop into a sillier, more fun universe than the one they may find themselves living in.
All in all, he invites us to join the party. His characters show us the joy in making messes, in caring for people, and in using our imaginations.
From spinning tales of silliness in sitting rooms or jumping among the trees in a magical forest, the tales of Dr. Seuss are far and wide some of the most special books of all time.
There’s no shortage of Dr. Seuss books to enjoy. And there’s no shortage of Dr. Seuss characters to know and to love.
While the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, the Cat in the Hat, and Thing 1 and Two are some of our favorites, Dr. Seuss’ books are chock full of many zany, interesting, and downright weird characters.
| More Dr. Seuss! |
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| List of Dr. Seuss Books |
| Dr. Seuss Quotes |
| Dr. Seuss Characters |
| Dr. Seuss Reading Quotes |
| Dr. Seuss Day |
| Oh, the Places You'll Go! Quotes |
| Dr. Seuss Love Quotes |
| Dr. Seuss Adult Book |
About the Author
At the ripe old age of 3, Susannah decided that life was just a blank canvas and took Magic Marker to the newly installed carpet in her room just to “see what happened.” She’s taken that approach to life since, curious about pretty much everything.
She earned a journalism degree from Texas A&M University with the mission of making asking questions and telling stories about her life. And since has done everything from social media strategizing and content creation on the national level to writing a career column for USA TODAY.
Susannah is a high school teacher and yearbook adviser with a huge passion for reading (Harry Potter is her favorite). And is excited to bring another book-loving voice to Hooked to Books.