'Lost' Dr Seuss book to be published this year - with at least two more to follow

Theodor Geisel's wife and his long-time secretary discovered the manuscript, which probably dates from between 1958 and 1962, in 2013

'And What Pet Should I Get?' will be released later this year

A new Dr Seuss book based on a manuscript and sketches by the much-loved children’s author is to be released this summer, 24 years after the author’s death.

And What Pet Should I Get? will be followed by at least two other books based on materials left by the prolific and award-winning author Theodor Geisel, who wrote under the pen name Dr Seuss and who died in 1991 at the age of 87.

“While undeniably special, it is not surprising to me that we found this because Ted always worked on multiple projects and started new things all the time – he was constantly writing and drawing and coming up with ideas for new stories,” his widow, Audrey Geisel, said in a statement. It was particularly pleasing, she added, because it is nearly 25 years since the publication of the last book of her husband’s career, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

She and his long-time secretary discovered the manuscript, which probably dates from between 1958 and 1962, in 2013 while cleaning out his office in their California home. It was among a box of papers and sketches she had put aside after his death.