30 Best Dr. Seuss Characters of All Time

There are hundreds of Dr. Seuss characters filling the pages of his books. These are the standouts.

Dr. Seuss’s first book was published in 1937. Nearly a century later, his colorful illustrations and simple stories are still used in classrooms to foster a love of reading and encourage imagination.

While some of his books are dated, the majority of his characters are wholesome and positive. Of all the Dr. Seuss characters he dreamed up, these made the biggest impact.

30. You

You, the reader, are the main character in “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

One of Dr. Seuss’s most memorable books contains a character we all can relate to: ourselves. The young boy in “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” is referred to as simply “you,” following your own, confusing, glorious path through life.

The best line addressed to us, the readers, is probably, “Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98¾% guaranteed.)”

Unsurprisingly, the book is a popular choice to give to students graduating from high school or college.

29. Miss Bonkers

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day character image

Miss Bonkers is featured in “Hooray for Diffendoofer Day.” Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: Hooray For Diffendoofer Day!

This book was a collaboration with Jack Prelutsky after Dr. Seuss had already passed away, but the ideas and characters are all his.

Miss Bonkers, a teacher at Diffendoofer School, preaches the importance of thinking outside the box.

There are many types of intelligence, after all, and Miss Bonkers reminds us of that.

28. Guy-I-Am

Guy-Am-I was originally an unnamed character. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Green Eggs and Ham

Honestly, we like Guy-Am-I better than Sam-I-Am. Guy-Am-I was originally unnamed, but he’s the Seuss character Sam-I-Am keeps pestering to try green eggs and ham.

Trying new things is all well and good, but has Sam-I-Am never heard of boundaries? Sheesh.

Maybe the guy just isn’t into green eggs. Can you blame him?

27. This Anonymous Old Man

The characters from “Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?” are unique. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are

Who doesn’t need a motivational old man to remind us to be grateful now and again?

The mysterious old man in this Seuss classic tells young Duckie, a boy roaming the desert, not to sweat the things he doesn’t have and focus on the positives.

Considering he seems quite comfortable using a cactus as a chair, he’s either enlightened or nuts.

26. Mrs. McCave

Characters from ‘Too Many Daves’. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Too Many Daves

Mrs. McCave speaks to all of the parents out there who are too tired to care about details. Most of us just give up on making gorgeous baby books after baby number two.

Mrs. McCave, on the other hand, had so many kids, she didn’t even have the energy to give them unique names. All 23 are named Dave. Needless to say, this makes calling them by name rather problematic.

It’s not the most meaningful of Seuss’s stories, but the silliness and sing-songy rhythm are enough to delight the toddlers it was intended for.

25. Yooks and Zooks

The characters from “The Butter Battle Book” help deliver an important message. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Butter Battle Book

Many of the deeper messages behind Dr. Seuss’s characters go over the heads of young readers. “The Butter Battle Book” was published in 1984 as an anti-war story.

The Yooks and Zooks represent different cultures that live on opposite sides of a wall, divided by how they prefer to eat buttered toast.

Despite the lighthearted, buttery bread theme, the story is really about the risk of nuclear weapons and senseless destruction, and was named The New York Times Notable Book of the Year because of it.

24. Eric

Eric is a favorite character from “The King’s Stilts” by Dr. Seuss Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The King’s Stilts

Another noteworthy Dr. Seuss character is young Eric. He is the King’s page and a sensible young man in “The King’s Stilts.”

Like most pageboys in Dr. Seuss’s stories, Eric is one of the most rational, useful characters in the entire book.

23. King Birtram

King Birtram from ‘”The King’s Stilts” is not your average king. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: The King’s Stilts

King Birtram of Binn is quite a character. His kingdom itself is quirky, resting in a valley that would be flooded if not for a thick ring of trees.

The trees, however, are the favorite delicacy of some pesky birds called nizzards. King Birtram’s solution is to keep a troop of patrol cats on staff to keep the nizzards away.

He’s an oddball, but his unconventional problem-solving inspires young readers to think for themselves.

22. Conrad Cornelius O’Donald O’Dell

Conrad Cornelius O'Donald O'Dell makes the top character list

Conrad Cornelius O’Donald O’Dell has a mouthful of a name. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: On Beyond Zebra!

Any Seuss character with a name like Conrad Cornelius O’Donald O’Dell is bound to be a good one. Young Conrad’s creativity knows no bounds. Not even the conventional 26-letter alphabet can contain his imagination.

He decides to make a brand-new alphabet that starts with Z, challenging readers to push the limits and continue innovating.

21. Max

Max and Cindy-Lou Who helped The Grinch see the light. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Max, the Grinch’s companion in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” is just what the story needed to humanize the story’s unpleasant protagonist. Or is it antagonist? It’s hard to say, really.

The Grinch has a soft spot for Max, and in the movie, Max acts as both the Grinch’s loyal reindeer and his conscience.

20. Pop

Some of Dr. Seuss’s characters were clearly written for parents more than children. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Hop on Pop

Some of Dr. Seuss’s characters were clearly written for parents more than children. The rhyme scheme gets the kids, while the relatability of characters like Pop make the seventh reading of “Hop on Pop” more tolerable for grownups.

With phrases like the following, we begrudgingly admit that we have all been Pop:

“We like to hop.
We like to hop
on top of Pop.
Stop.
You must not
hop on Pop.”

19. Marvin K. Mooney

Pipe down, Marvin K. Mooney! Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!

Marvin K. Mooney is memorable because we all love to hate him. It’s unclear who the narrator is, but they keep suggesting ways for Marvin K. Mooney to pipe down and leave them alone.

Marvin K. Mooney reminds us of the times our kids insist on staying up after our patience has already turned in for the night.

“You can go by foot. You can go by cow. Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now!”

Seriously. We can have a tickle fight tomorrow. Just go to bed.

18. Hunches

“Hunches in Bunches” was published in 1982. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Hunches in Bunches

If you battle indecisiveness on the regular, meet the Hunches. They’re symbolic creatures that represent chronic indecision, offering up dozens of options that leave the young protagonist feeling stuck.

He had tons of ideas before the Hunches came to call, and you probably do, too. Just shoo those pesky Hunches away.

17. Sylvester McMonkey McBean

Sylvester McMonkey McBean from “The Sneetches and Other Stories.” Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Sneetches and Other Stories

Sylvester McMonkey McBean is a “fix-it-up chappie,” and he is a testament to the true genius of Dr. Seuss characters. On the surface, they’re simple. A closer look reveals surprisingly complex characteristics. The fix-it-up chappie is neither villain nor hero. He’s both.

Initially, he’s out to con the Sneetches and take all their hard-earned money. By the end of the story, however, he inadvertently puts an end to the prejudice he inspired.

16. Bartholomew Cubbins

Bartholomew is the protagonist from “The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins.” Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins, Bartholomew Cubbins And The Oobleck

Another famous Seuss pageboy, Bartholomew Cubbins is known for being stuck under dozens of hats, and later saves the entire kingdom from green, gooey Ooblek.

Bartholomew also reminds the reader that simple solutions are often the best.

15. The Sneetches

Plain-Belly Sneetches wise up in the end. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Sneetches and Other Stories

Sneetches don’t have much individuality, and that’s the entire point. These Seuss characters symbolize societal discrimination and prejudice, and how group-think can cause grievous harm.

“Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
had none upon thars.”

Eventually, the Sneetches wise up and realize that their similarities are more important than their differences.

14. The Once-Ler

The Once-Ler shows that people can change for the better. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Lorax

The villainous Once-ler is all about filling his own pockets, regardless of the consequences. He ignores the Lorax’s warnings, cutting down thousands of beautiful trees in the name of profit. Eventually, there are no more left, and it hits the Once-ler that the Lorax was right.

It’s unclear whether the Once-ler feels any genuine guilt for his actions, but he does realize that someone has to go against the grain to effect change.

With a change of heart, he offers a young boy the last seed he has in hopes that someone else will have the strength of character to do what he could not.

13. Yertle the Turtle

Yertle the Turtle is another Dr. Seuss character who teaches us a valuable lesson. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

Yertle the Turtle isn’t a likable Seuss character, but he’s an important one. He represents those in power who turn a blind eye to the suffering of the masses.

Yertle wants to be taller and more important than everyone else, forcing his royal turtle subjects to climb on each others’ backs to raise him up. One turtle, Mack, requests a break twice, but Yertle doesn’t care. Eventually, Mack has had enough. He brings Yertle tumbling back to Earth with one, well-timed belch.

If a burp were that powerful in human politics, we’d have a much healthier society.

12. Gerald McGrew

The Gerald McGrew character is a personification of a child’s imagination. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: If I Ran the Zoo

“But if I ran the zoo,” said young Gerald McGrew. “I’d make a few changes. That’s just what I’d do.”

Gerald McGrew is a personification of a child’s imagination. He lets his creativity run wild, filling the zoo with a long list of invented animals. Instead of ordinary tigers and lions, his zoo would be filled with a myriad of never before seen creatures.

Gerald McGrew’s story provides parents and educators with an easy springboard for imaginative writing assignments and craft projects.

11. Morris McGurk

“If I Ran the Circus” by Dr. Seuss is an underrated classic. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: If I Ran the Circus

Much like Gerald McGrew, Morris McGurk has a big imagination. His mind turns a dull, empty lot into a world-class circus.

If a kid named Morriss McGurk can keep his creativity alive like that, what’s stopping you from doing the same?

10. Sally

Sally from The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Sally from “The Cat in the Hat” is memorable and forgettable all at once. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Cat in the Hat

Sally, the little girl from Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat,” is simultaneously no one and everyone.

Her brother narrates, her pet goldfish tries to keep the peace and Sally acts as a passive observer.

She watches the Cat’s chaos unfold alongside us readers, both bemused and mildly disturbed.

9. Cindy-Lou Who

Who doesn’t love Cindy-Lou Who? Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

After watching the most recent remake of the Grinch’s timeless tale, it might surprise you that Cindy-Lou Who was originally only 2.

The innocent toddler sees the good in us all, even one as grouchy and unpleasant as the Grinch.

Funny how the smallest children can serve up the biggest life lessons, isn’t it?

8. Thing One and Thing Two

These Dr. Seuss characters make for popular Halloween costumes. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Cat in the Hat

Ah, the Seuss characters we love to hate. Thing One and Thing Two are the most annoying creatures Seuss ever invented. They’re not malicious, but that doesn’t stop them from clattering through the house like a bull in a china shop, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake.

As annoying as they are, dressing up as these two innocently irritating pests for Halloween is a popular choice for siblings, especially identical twins.

7. Fish

The fish is a memorable character from “The Cat in the Hat.” Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: The Cat in the Hat

Ever heard of Carlos K. Krinklebine? We hadn’t either, but that’s the official name of the fish in “The Cat in the Hat.”

Carlos, better known as just “Fish,” plays the voice of reason. The uncharacteristically bright goldfish is the only one with the correct amount of skepticism when the Cat in the Hat shows up.

If a giant talking cat isn’t suspicious enough, why is he trying to get into the house while the kids are home alone? We’re with you, Fish. The cat gives off some major creeper vibes.

6. Thidwick the Moose

The main character from Thidwick the Moose

“Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose” is an underrated Dr. Seuss book. Random House / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose

Thidwick represents anyone whose hospitality and kindness has ever been pushed too far.

The good-natured moose is no fool, and hates to be taken advantage of, but he also hates to say no. He lets creatures take up residence in his antlers until he can’t bear it anymore.

Set boundaries, folks, and don’t overstay your welcome.

5. Sam-I-Am

Sam-I-Am is one of the most obnoxious Seuss characters. Dr. Seuss / Seuss Fandom

Character appears in: Green Eggs and Ham

Sam-I-Am is one of the most obnoxious Seuss characters, but there’s something to be said for his persistence and optimism.

He really goes the extra mile to encourage a friend (if you can call him that) to broaden his horizons.

4. The Lorax

The Lorax is the Seuss character the world could use the most at the moment. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: The Lorax

The Lorax is the Seuss character the world could use the most at the moment. The grumpy old creature cares deeply about the fate of his world, particularly the lush forests of Truffula trees.

People viewed him as a negative, bossy know-it-all, but his grave predictions turned out to be dead on.

His lesson: If something matters, stick up for it, even if it makes you less popular.

3. Horton the Elephant

Horton is the most wholesome character Seuss concocted. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches an Egg

Horton is the most wholesome character Seuss concocted. There’s literally nothing bad about Horton the elephant.

He cares about everyone, even people too small to see. He stops at nothing to help them, and even adopts an abandoned egg while he’s at it.

If Horton decides to take up babysitting, we’d hire him instantly.

2. The Grinch

Love him or hate him, The Grinch is one of the most famous Dr. Seuss characters. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Grinch is a complex Seuss character. Kids tend to hate him, but young Cindy-Lou sees what most children, most people, do not — that the Grinch’s nasty behavior stems from heartbreak, not evil.

All the Grinch needed was a little empathy and compassion to turn his life around.

Don’t forget to smile at a Grinch today.

1. The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat makes the top of the character list

“The Cat in the Hat” isn’t Seuss’s most lovable or interesting character, but he earned the top spot because of sheer notoriety. Random House / Amazon

Character appears in: The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

The Cat in the Hat isn’t Seuss’s most lovable or interesting character, but he earned the top spot because of sheer notoriety. The face of the Cat in the Hat, who doesn’t look much like a cat at all, is instantly recognizable. It’s been immortalized as the official Seuss logo.

While the Cat’s actions are sketchy and more than a little illegal, they come from a desire to do good and have fun. He represents the comedic mischief that all children are known for.

If that’s not what Dr. Seuss is all about, we don’t know what is.

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