Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel) brought us over 60 tales covering topics like cats in hats, green eggs and ham, and elephants who can hear a Who. And soon, more than three decades after his death, we’ll be getting something new from the prolific children’s author: One of his long-unseen original manuscripts will be published for the first time by Random House Children’s Books.
Titled Sing the 50 United States!, the story helps readers learn the names of the 50 states in true Dr. Seuss fashion — with lots of rhyming and wordplay. It will feature some familiar faces, including the iconic Cat in the Hat, as well as excerpts and sketches from Dr. Seuss’ original manuscript and a map of the U.S. beneath the book jacket.
“To sing the 50 United States, you have to use your brain,” the publishing house said in a press release. “Massachusetts. Minnesota. Missouri and Montana. M-i-s-s-Mississippi. Maryland! Michigan and Maine!”
The states-themed story was discovered earlier this year in the archives of UC San Diego’s Geisel Library and will hit shelves June 2, 2026, just in time to celebrate the U.S.’s 250th birthday.
“Uncovering a new work from Ted is like finding a time capsule of his imagination,” Susan Brandt, the president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said in the release. “Sing the 50 United States! celebrates his boundless creativity, genius with words, and enduring ability to inspire young readers everywhere.”
In addition to the full manuscript, which is the first from the author to be discovered since What Pet Should I Get? was published in 2015, the book will include new illustrations in Dr. Seuss’ style from children’s book artist Tom Brannon. Dr. Seuss Enterprises will also release a music video on the Dr. Seuss YouTube channel that will pair with the text.
In honor of the first printing of 500,000 copies, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is partnering with Random House and nonprofit First Book to launch an initiative that will bring backpacks to kids. Participating students nationwide will receive a backpack with the new book, other Dr. Seuss works, and school supplies. And during next year’s back-to-school season, a special event will take place celebrating the project in Washington, D.C.
If you’re on the lookout for more Dr. Seuss-inspired content, a new The Cat in the Hat animated movie is also being released in November 2026. Visitors to UC San Diego’s library will also learn there’s plenty more memorabilia to discover: In 2014, over 1,500 materials from Dr. Seuss’ personal archive — including more unpublished projects — were donated to the institution’s Dr. Seuss Collection, which boasts more than 10,000 items.
“They add another dimension to the wealth of materials we already hold by illustrating how this amazingly creative man expanded on early ideas with new freshness,” Lynda Claassen, director of the library’s Special Collections & Archives, said in a news release at the time. “Clearly, he had many creative ideas that were never fully realized.”
Judith Haut, who oversees Dr. Seuss Publishing at Random House, said in the recent release that “finding an original Dr. Seuss story is something we dream of.” She added: “Sing the 50 United States! releasing in time for America’s 250th birthday makes for such a notable cultural and publishing moment, and we are so excited for young readers and their families to enjoy a special storytime together — a true hallmark of what makes Dr. Seuss books so enduring today.”
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