Green Eggs and Ham is a best-selling and critically acclaimed book by
Dr. Seuss, first published in 1960. As of 2001, according to Publishers Weekly, it was the fourth-bestselling English-language children's book (novel) of all time.
Green Eggs and Ham became the fourth best selling English-language childrens' hardcover books of all time. In 1999, the National Education Association conducted an online survey of children and teachers, seeking the 100 most popular children's books. On both the children's and the teachers' lists, Green Eggs and Ham was ranked third, just above another Dr. Seuss book,
The Cat in the Hat.
The story is told wholly through images and rhyming dialogue. There is no descriptive narrative or analysis.
There are two main characters: The first is unnamed, the second is named Sam-I-Am, or simply Sam. Throughout the book, Sam constantly badgers the first unnamed character to try green eggs and ham. The unnamed character refuses to taste the dish, insisting that he would not like it. Sam then goes through an assortment of locations (house, car, tree, train, box, boat) and dining partners (fox, goat, mouse) trying to persuade the unnamed character to eat.
The conclusion of the tale occurs when the unnamed character, standing in shallow water after a boat sinks, surrounded by various people and beasts, finally agrees to try the green eggs and ham and upon such must admit that it is actually delicious. Although the character is ...
