TM & copyright © 1990 by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of
Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York. Originally published
by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, in 1990.

Random House and the colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.

Visit us on the Web!

Seussville.com

randomhouse.com/kids

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at
RHTeachersLibrarians.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Seuss, Dr.   Oh, the places you’ll go!

Summary: Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion;
and being in charge of your actions.

ISBN: 978-0-679-80527-4 (trade) ; ISBN: 978-0-679-90527-1 (lib. bdg.) ;

[1. Success—Fiction. 2. Stories in rhyme.] I. Title.
PZ8.3.G2760g   1990   [E]   89-36892

eBook ISBN: 978-0-385-37198-8

Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

TM & copyright © 1990 by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of
Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York. Originally published
by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, in 1990.

Random House and the colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.

Visit us on the Web!

Seussville.com

randomhouse.com/kids

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at
RHTeachersLibrarians.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Seuss, Dr.   Oh, the places you’ll go!

Summary: Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion;
and being in charge of your actions.

ISBN: 978-0-679-80527-4 (trade) ; ISBN: 978-0-679-90527-1 (lib. bdg.) ;

[1. Success—Fiction. 2. Stories in rhyme.] I. Title.
PZ8.3.G2760g   1990   [E]   89-36892

eBook ISBN: 978-0-385-37198-8

Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.

About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you’ll head straight out of town.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.

About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there

in the wide open air.

It’s opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don’t worry. Don’t stew.

Just go right along.

You’ll start happening too.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don’t worry. Don’t stew.

Just go right along.

You’ll start happening too.

OH!

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

OH!

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.

You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.

You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so

but, sadly, it’s true

that Bang-ups

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so

but, sadly, it’s true

that Bang-ups

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch

with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,

you’re not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done.

You’ll come down from the Lurch

with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,

you’re not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right . . .

or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right . . .

or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused

that you’ll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place . . .

You can get so confused

that you’ll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place . . .

. . . for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

. . . for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

NO!

That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

NO!

That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,

once more you’ll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.

Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

With banner flip-flapping,

once more you’ll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.

Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.

Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

Except when they don’t.

Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance

you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance

you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go

though the weather be foul.

On you will go

though your enemies prowl.

On you will go

though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up many

a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.

But on you will go

though the weather be foul.

On you will go

though your enemies prowl.

On you will go

though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up many

a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike.

And I know you’ll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.

On and on you will hike.

And I know you’ll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life’s

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life’s

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So . . .

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,

you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So . . . get on your way!

So . . .

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,

you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So . . . get on your way!

DR. SEUSS wrote and illustrated forty-
four world-famous books for children and
their lucky parents. Here they are in the
order of their publication:

And to Think That I Saw It on

Mulberry Street

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

The Seven Lady Godivas

The King’s Stilts

Horton Hatches the Egg

McElligot’s Pool

Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

If I Ran the Zoo

Scrambled Eggs Super!

Horton Hears a Who!

On Beyond Zebra!

If I Ran the Circus

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

Happy Birthday to You!

The Sneetches and Other Stories

Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book

I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew

The Cat in the Hat Songbook

I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today!

And Other Stories

I Can Draw It Myself

The Lorax

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

Hunches in Bunches

The Butter Battle Book

You’re Only Old Once!

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Beginner Books

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Green Eggs and Ham

Hop on Pop

Dr. Seuss’s ABC

Fox in Socks

The Foot Book

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please

Go Now!

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff

There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

The Cat’s Quizzer

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

Oh Say Can You Say?

TM & jacket art © 2010 by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

DR. SEUSS wrote and illustrated forty-
four world-famous books for children and
their lucky parents. Here they are in the
order of their publication:

And to Think That I Saw It on

Mulberry Street

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

The Seven Lady Godivas

The King’s Stilts

Horton Hatches the Egg

McElligot’s Pool

Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

If I Ran the Zoo

Scrambled Eggs Super!

Horton Hears a Who!

On Beyond Zebra!

If I Ran the Circus

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

Happy Birthday to You!

The Sneetches and Other Stories

Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book

I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew

The Cat in the Hat Songbook

I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today!

And Other Stories

I Can Draw It Myself

The Lorax

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

Hunches in Bunches

The Butter Battle Book

You’re Only Old Once!

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Beginner Books

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Green Eggs and Ham

Hop on Pop

Dr. Seuss’s ABC

Fox in Socks

The Foot Book

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please

Go Now!

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff

There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

The Cat’s Quizzer

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

Oh Say Can You Say?

TM & jacket art © 2010 by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.