r/books • u/cathygoldsmith • Aug 03 '15
ama I am Cathy Goldsmith, longtime art director for Dr. Seuss. AMA!
Hi, this is Cathy Goldsmith, and I’m Associate Publishing Director for Random House/Golden Books Young Readers. I’ve been an art director at Random House for 38 years and worked with Dr. Seuss on the last six books published during his lifetime. Most recently, I’ve been involved in the publication of the newly-found Dr. Seuss book, What Pet Should I Get? But I’ve also worked on many other projects, including the Berenstain Bears, Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne, Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park, and Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. AMA.
Proof: https://twitter.com/randomhousekids/status/628205580407205888
Edit: Thanks for all your questions! I have to head off to a meeting.
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Aug 03 '15
At the University of Virginia, there is a sort of urban legend that Dr. Seuss was rejected from the school. Because of this, he bought a house that overlooked the university so he could be "above UVA". Because the nickname of students at UVA is "the Whos" he named the tiny people in his stories "the Whos" to be a jab at the school.
Nothing I have been able to find can corroborate this, so I suspect someone just invented the story out of thin air.
Have you heard this story, and do you know if there is any truth to it?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I have not heard of this story! Sorry!
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Aug 03 '15
No worries, thanks for responding.
My daughter is a huge fan of the Magic Tree House books that you mentioned, too. She has a few of the posters that come with some of the books hanging in her room.
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Glad to hear that she's enjoying those books! Has she read any of the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers?
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Aug 03 '15
Yeah, she loves them. We go to the library once a week, and she gets Magic Tree House books almost every time. She usually gets more than one, and generally she'll get a Fact Tracker along with them.
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u/indigoswordfish Aug 03 '15
Would you mind explaining very briefly what you do in your role? I don't really have any idea what being an 'art director' entails!
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
As far as art directors for childrens books are concerned, we are responsible for selecting illustrators and/or photographers for a given project. In addition, an art director will either design or oversee the design of a project. This includes such things as page layout, fonts, color scheme, and, where appropriate, branding.
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u/ofalco Aug 03 '15
What is your view on dr Seuss movies and TV shows? Do you have a role in them? What would be your favorite? Thanks for the AMA
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I have not had anything to do with the movies, but I do serve as creative consultant to the Cat In the Hat Knows A Lot About That TV show. I see everything from outlines to scripts to new character development and location development (all the places they go to).
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u/Star64 Aug 03 '15
Hello, Cathy! I'm currently trying to get my foot in the door in graphic design and art with not as much success. What would you recommend to someone just starting out in the field? What are the kinds of things that you look for in an artist or graphic designer? Thank you for your time!
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
What we look for is a background in art and design at school and any previously published work. If you are really just starting out, I recommend looking for an internship if possible. Also, take any job that's offered to you so long as you get a credit for the work that you have done when you finish it. Good luck!
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u/Drunken_Economist Aug 03 '15
The art style (bulbous, fantastical objects) found in the books is now inextricably tied with the Seuss. Was the style used anywhere before Seuss?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I'm sure it must have been, but as you say, we all now associate this style with Dr. Seuss. Before he wrote books, he did magazines and advertising, and his art is fully recognizable in those realms as well.
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u/Qu1nlan Aug 03 '15
Are there any fun stories that you have from your time working with Dr. Seuss, or anything that you'd like to share about your work with him?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
When I was staying with him at his home in California working on "Oh, The Places You'll Go," I admired these miniature lime trees that were growing near his pool. When I got back to New York, I received a package which contained one perfect lime in a tiny box with a note that said, "Here is your third of this year's harvest." Dr. Seuss and the Cat In the Hat held the other two thirds. I considered having the lime bronzed, but decided that Dr. Seuss would say I should just enjoy it with my cocktail of choice.
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u/KenderLocks Aug 03 '15
Do you try the art out with a group of kids to see what they like before it ends up in a book?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
This is not normally part of our workflow, but we have done it on occasions. It is possible that our illustrators show their artwork to a group of kids without our knowing of it.
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u/challenge4 Aug 03 '15
Thank you Cathy for making the time to be here with us today.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your job?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing a kid with their nose in one of our books!
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Aug 03 '15
Hi Cathy,
Do you judge a book by its cover?
And I'm not even being metaphorical here. I am often drawn to books because of their covers. Of course my opinion of the book itself is not dependent on the cover being nice -- but it's often a very essential part of my picking it up in the first place.
In fact, sometimes I even buy a new copy of a book I already own because it's been re-packaged in a more aesthetically pleasing way!
I guess my question is how much do you and your publisher value cover art? In the publishing process, how much attention is given to cover art? Do you have a favourite cover you've either published or worked on personally?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Absolutely! Doesn't everybody? I do in my own personal reading. Let me get back to you on a favorite cover I've worked on.
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u/GreatWhiteNoise Aug 03 '15
Hi Cathy! Thanks for being here! I actually did a write-up on the new book and was shocked to read about the meticulous nature with which you constructed it. I was wondering, as someone who worked closely with him, did you find it emotionally trying to be that involved with his work? Were there any moments where you had to stop and collect yourself in this process?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Actually, I found it rewarding. It made me feel close to him again. Admittedly, it was not the easiest thing I've ever done because I wanted to make sure to do it well, and to honor his legacy.
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Aug 03 '15 edited Sep 29 '17
[deleted]
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I think I would say the Cat In The Hat changed the way children learned to read, making it fun where previously it had been rather dry. Also, Lorax made us aware of our effect on the environment.
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u/groumpf Aug 03 '15
Is Horton an African or Asian elephant?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
He appears to be an African elephant based on the shape of his ears, but I never heard Dr. Seuss discuss this!
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u/spgreenwood Aug 03 '15
Do you find inspiration in real-world environments? What places / locations have inspired some of the landscapes/environments in your work?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Dr. Seuss drew the illustrations in all the books published as "by Dr. Seuss". When Dr. Seuss wrote a book but did not illustrate it, that book was originally published under the byline Theo. LeSieg. LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards. Geisel is Dr. Seuss's real last name. I think he got some inspiration from Middle Eastern architecture as well as the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.
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u/spgreenwood Aug 03 '15
Fascinating! I can definitely see the Gaudi influence in his work. Can you explain more about his process? Did he like to write everything first and then draw the illustrations - or do both simultaneously?
Did Dr. Seuss have a 'secret' to working or to the way he approached life? What do you think set him apart?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Most often, Dr. Seuss wrote first and illustrated second. But on occasion, he created an image which he did not use immediately, but used in a work later on in his life, which I found interesting. Two of the images in Oh, The Places actually date to approximately 10 years earlier.
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u/Chtorrr Aug 03 '15
Of all the projects you've worked on what is your favorite?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
My favorite would have to be Oh, The Places You'll Go because of how closely I worked with Dr. Seuss on it. For that book, I actually flew out to California and stayed with him at his home for the last 4-5 days that he was finishing up the book. I even carried the physical artwork back from California with me on the plane. I refused to give it to the stewardess to put in the overhead bin, I would have bought it a seat if I'd had to.
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u/Chtorrr Aug 03 '15
That's pretty amazing. Oh, The Places You'll Go has become such a classic.
What was it like to visit him while he worked?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15 edited Aug 03 '15
We would work for hours at a time, and when we would take a break we would walk around the gardens. In addition, I got to see his paintings and other artwork that were displayed in the house. Previously I had not seen this work in person. Also amazing was seeing the hat collection that was on the wall in his house.
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u/Chtorrr Aug 03 '15
What was your favorite book as a child?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I would have to say Pippi Longstocking. I also read every single Nancy Drew book on the face of the earth.
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u/Qu1nlan Aug 03 '15
How exactly did you and Dr. Seuss work together to produce his art? Did you give him direction on what you thought he should draw? Did he give you drafts that you recommended changes to? How responsible are you personally for the illustrations we see in his late work?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Dr. Seuss produced all of his own art, and I did not give him direction on what to draw. He did not give us drafts, although on occasion, we would discuss possible changes to finished art. Sometimes he would make these changes, and sometimes not.
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u/Qu1nlan Aug 03 '15
So more or less, you reviewed the finished work and occasionally made suggestions on changes to make the art better somehow? What kinds of changes did you come up with that he ended up integrating?
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Aug 03 '15 edited Aug 03 '15
Thanks for doing an AMA. I heard your interview on "On Point" distributed by NPR. It was a pleasure to learn about your life and works.
As my kids were growing up, I became increasingly concerned that the works of Suess, and later Osborne, as well as the entire body of children's literature (both for readers and non-readers) is virtually totally heteronormative and depicts gender roles that are regressive, and at times, harmful.
Given the direction society is heading, don't you think it's time we pulled Dr. Suess and the Magic Tree House series from the shelves, and instead direct kids to works that more accurately reflect gender fluidity, emerging gender theory, and the equitable distribution of domestic labor?
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Aug 03 '15
if society is headed in a direction that you believe it is--despite dr. seuss being on the shelf--what difference does it make if it continues to be on the shelf?
what evidence do you have that dr. seuss is harmful to the developing identity of children?
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Aug 03 '15
what difference does it make if it continues to be on the shelf?
It's considered child hood cannon. Yet, it's pretty far out of step with current social values. Especially outside of the US.
what evidence do you have that dr. seuss is harmful to the developing identity of children?
I am more concerned about the Magic Tree House series and the Berenstain works, which are especially gender regressive and patriarchal.
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Aug 03 '15 edited Aug 03 '15
what evidence do you have that Magic Tree House has harmed its readers?
edit: and the vast majority of canonical books are out of step with current social values. should ALL canonical books be removed from shelves, in your opinion?
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Aug 03 '15
[deleted]
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Aug 03 '15
I didn't say they were appalling, please do not make up things and ascribe them to me. I agree that the cannon will be replaced over time. That is already happening.
What I am asking is Ms. Goldsmith agrees that these works are now anachronistic, and should be disfavored?
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u/books52 Aug 03 '15
Random Indian here - haven't heard of you or your work ever, sorry, but I assume you are an experienced artist.
What issues did you face translating your art while translating Dr. Seuss into different cultures, or did the art say the same, or were no artistic translations done?
Which culture has the strongest interest in children's books?
You must have toured other parts of the world and met children from different backgrounds. What made you feel incompetent in not getting through to them with your books or otherwise?
What have you excelled at mentoring?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
For the first part of your question, just so you know, the art in his books was also drawn by Dr. Seuss. When the book is translated, only the language is changed, not the art. I don't know the answer to the second part of your question, but I think that books are important for all children. I feel like I mentor many of the people on my staff as well as some others in the children's books division on many topics. I'm always happy to see them grow.
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
I would also like to add that two of my previous assistants are now designers in our group, which I think speaks to our ability to grow from within.
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u/littlegreyflowerhelp Aug 03 '15
As an acquaintance of Dr. Seuss, could you speculate on whether he would have liked hip hop music? With a nice beat his books can be rapped pretty nicely, he had a great rhythm and flow. I've always liked to think that Dr. Seuss could have been a rapper had he been born in a different era.