Daisy-Head Mayzie
Daisy-Head Mayzie is a children's book written by Dr. Seuss and illustrated in his style. It was published in 1995, as Seuss's first posthumous book. It was republished on July 5, 2016 with Seuss's original text and drawings.
 Original cover | |
| Author | By: Dr. Seuss |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Joe Mathieu (uncredited) (original print) with illustrations based on the sketches by: the author (reprint) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Random House |
Publication date | January 11, 1995 (original) July 5, 2016 (republished) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-679-86712-0 |
| OCLC | 30353431 |
| [E] 20 | |
| LC Class | PZ8.3.G276 Dai 1994 |
| Preceded by | Oh, the Places You'll Go! |
| Followed by | The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss |
Plot
The book is about a 12-year-old warmhearted schoolgirl named Mayzie who one day suddenly sprouts a bright white daisy from her head. It causes alarm in her classroom, family, and town, until an agent makes her a celebrity. The Cat in the Hat who serves as the narrator to this story helps Mayzie to understand her problem and persuade her to go back home. The book has a mini-song titled "Daisy-Head Mayzie" which her classmates chant.
Adaptations
Prior to its actual publication, the book was adapted into an animated special for television by Hanna-Barbera in Los Angeles, California, produced in association with Tony Collingwood Productions in London, England and Fil-Cartoons in Manila, Philippines, and premiered February 5, 1995 on TNT.[1] Four months later, on June 6, 1995, it was released on VHS by Turner Home Entertainment. The special can also be found as a bonus feature on MGM Animation/Visual Arts' Horton Hears a Who! (1970), which was released on a Deluxe Edition DVD by Warner Home Video on March 4, 2008.
In 2011, Daisy-Head Mayzie was made a meetable character at Seuss Landing in Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, part of the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Cast
- Francesca Smith - Mayzie McGrew
- Henry Gibson - The Cat in the Hat
- Tim Curry - Finagle
- George Hearn - Mayor
- Lewis Arquette - Principal Gregory Grumm
- Jonathan Winters - Dr. Eisenbart
- Susan Silo - Miss Sneetcher
- B. J. Ward - Mrs. McGrew
- Paul Eiding - Mr. McGrew
- Robert Ridgely - Finch
- Benjamin Smith - Butch
- John Graas - Einstein
Differences in the 2016 edition
In 2016, after the popularity of What Pet Should I Get?, the book was republished with Seuss' original text and illustrations. As such, there are several differences between the editions.
- The Cat in the Hat does not appear as the narrator.
- The characters are all designed differently and are given normal hairstyles, as opposed to the wild hairstyles in the 1995 edition.
- The principal is named Grumm instead of McGrumm.
- Instead of catching all of the bees in his hat, the police officer puts a fishbowl over Mayzie's head to protect her from the bees.
- Mrs. McGrew is a housewife instead of a welder.
- The plot in which the agent gives Mayzie a contract to be rich and famous is completely absent.
- Because of the absence of the Cat in the Hat, the daisy instead assures Mayzie that everyone loves her, and her flight with the Cat on the flying umbrella is not present.
References
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 247. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.