I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew

When I was a kid I loved Dr Seuss' "I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew," and now my son loves it as well. Everyone is familiar with at least a few of Seuss' better known children's books like "The Grinch who Stole Christmas", "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham", "The Lorax", "Horton Hears a Hoo" etc....

But not too many are familiar with this one, published in 1965 by Random House. In the book, the un-named narrator is leading an idyllic life in the Valley of Vung, when all of a sudden a series of minor, but exasperating troubles beset him.

Overwhelmed, the protagonist accepts the offer of a passing stranger and his camel to accompany them to "the city of Solla Sollew, on the banks of the beautiful river Wah-Hoo, where they never have troubles (at least very few). "

However the journey proves tedious at best and takes some quite perilous turns. The camel gets sick, the bus lines are down, and there is a terrible flood, from which the hero is rescued by a pompous and cowardly general, who sends the young man off to war. Barely surviving these ordeals, and dreaming all the while of the fabled destination and it's lack of problems, the protagonist finaly arrives!

But the place has problems of its own. Deciding to stop running from his problems, he goes back home to face them instead, but this time armed with a sturdy bat! "I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" A good life lesson, and a great read for children of all ages.

Check it out at a bookstore or library. Or read the pdf copy here.