Before there were Sneeches and Wockets and Who's, before there were two fish, one red and one blue. Before Horton, Aunt Annie and a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, there was Dr. Seuss, the political cartoonist, yes there waser, waser was.

"You can see in these early cartoons in World War II, the two children from the cat in the hat are represented at various times in these cartoons warning of Adolf Hitler," Churchill Memorial Executive Director Rob Havers said. "So, its very interesting to see the progressive origins of these characters that we know so well and we love so well to see them used in a wholly differently setting in World War II."

The Churchill Memorial is hosting an exhibit that highlights Theodor Geisel's, or Dr. Seuss, works before his children's books.

Seuss drew more than 400 political cartoons centered around World War II for PM Magazine.

"What these cartoons try and do is awaken the American people to what's going on in the wider world," Havers said. "So, it has a particular relevance for Winston Churchill because of one of Churchill's aims in particular is to engage President Roosevelt into coming in to World War II." Seuss frequently depicted Churchill, along with other world leaders, especially Hitler. He did this to raise awareness. Seuss made it well known he did not agree with the United States' isolationist tactics of staying out of the war. He likened the United States to an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

The Churchill Memorial staff hope the Seuss element will excite younger kids about World War II history.

"A lot of the topics he used in his political cartoons he moved over into his children's books like racism, bigotry, a lot of adult topics that he changes over into a format that are related to children," Mandy Plybon, the Churchill Memorial Education Coordinator said.

Before Mr. Brown was a Wonder making thunder. Before the Cat in the Hat turned his visit into a blunder. Before the "Z" stood for the Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, there was Dr. Seuss, the political cartoonist, yes there waser, waser, was.

The exhibit opened on Monday and will run through Feb. 22. There will be a children's program on Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to noon.