The Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and other Dr. Seuss characters will star in a series of graphic novel–style chapter books to be published by Random House Graphic, the first graphic novel program featuring the Seuss characters. The program will launch with three books, each of which is planned to be the first in a series.
The first title, Cat Out of Water, is by Art Baltazar, co-creator of DC’s Tiny Titans series and creator of the Papercutz titles Yahgz and Gillbert. The story will star Seuss’s iconic Cat in the Hat, who will once again bring chaos into the lives of Sally and her brother. The book will go on sale on April 30, 2024. The Grinch, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, will take center stage in the second book, by Crabapple Trouble creator Kaeti Vandorn, which will be released in fall 2024. And the third title, by two-time Eisner Award winner James Kochalka, will feature Sam-I-Am from Green Eggs and Ham and is slated for spring 2025. Each of these authors will create more books for their character’s series.
Baltazar and Kochalka are scheduled to appear at New York Comic Con on October 12, as part of a Dr. Seuss celebration.
“Ted Geisel completely transformed the way children learn to read with The Cat in the Hat nearly 70 years ago, and the unique experience of reading a Dr. Seuss book still energizes new generations of young readers,” Susan Brandt, president and CEO, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said in a statement. “The launch of Dr. Seuss graphic novels is an exciting step in carrying forward Ted’s legacy and his belief in celebrating the endless possibilities of a child’s imagination. These new books—by celebrated talent, featuring favorite characters, and in a format so in demand— give kids another way to experience the magic of reading.”
Whitney Leopard, senior editor at Random House Graphic, added, “Chapter book graphic novels are one of the fastest-growing categories in the industry, and we are absolutely over the moon to bring Dr. Seuss’s iconic characters to life in a new way that will not only excite kids, but also get more kids reading.”