Like a Locomotive

Seuss came up with the idea for And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street while on a boat for eight days. He listened to the steady chugging of the engine and started writing to the rhythm of it. In other words, unlike the rest of us mere mortals who simply grit our teeth and curse at repetitive noises, Seuss turned the sound of the engine into art, specifically his first book ever for children, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

The writing style (and reading style) of the book is pretty rhythmic, as you would expect. It's also extremely conversational since Marco is telling the story of what happens to him. He says:

I swung 'round the corner
And dashed through the gate,
I ran up the steps
And I felt simply GREAT! (106-109)

Marco is conversational, relatable, and talks like a normal kid. He also rhymes in delightful ways that just slide off the tongue. Seuss is able to keep his style conversational—as though he's talking to the reader—and even though this is first children's book, he's a total pro at making rhymes sound natural. Observe, for example:

But now what worries me is this…
Mulberry Street runs into Bliss,
Unless there's something I can fix up,
There'll be an awful traffic mix-up! (75-78)

Seuss manages to naturally convey the plot in rhyme without it sounding contrived. The style is perfect for children to read, in that it is playful without being condescending, and Seuss keeps things simple and fun. With so much creativity in the mix as well, it's no wonder this book's a classic.