25 Delightful Dr. Seuss Tattoos That Bring the Nostalgia

Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel published more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. In addition to his clever writing, he illustrated his children’s books in a singular, signature style that captured many imaginations. He’s considered one of the best children’s authors of all time and has sold over 600 million copies of his books. Due to his roundly celebrated career and unmistakable aesthetic, it should come as no surprise that many people have Seuss-inspired tattoos.

We decided to do some digging to learn more about what characters, books, and images are the most popular. We discovered Dr. Seuss tattoos come in all shapes and sizes and Truffula trees are the design du jour. The Lorax, Grinch, Things 1 & 2, and more are extremely coveted and constitute a great many tattoos. If you’re in the mood for a bit of child’s play and a touch of whimsy, check out these 25 fabulous Dr. Seuss tattoos!

Truffula

The Lorax brought us the invention of Truffula trees which many think were inspired by the Monterey Cypress. These wacky trees are some of the most common Seuss tattoos we encountered. Here, we find one with a touch of watercolor design that makes this tattoo feel fresh.

Dead Fish

One fish, two fish, red fish, dead fish? One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is one of the most popular children’s books of all time. Here, we find the familiar imagery subverted into fish skeletons, which we rather like. Why not?

Cute Horton

“A person’s a person, no matter how small” is the most popular line from Horton Hears a Who! and also serves as the major moral theme that Dr. Seuss conveys to his audience. This glorious tattoo of Horton is such a gem.

Canon

Someone got their entire leg decorated with Dr. Seuss’s characters and imagery. This full leg sleeve makes us feel like a kid in a candy shop. Chances are that your favorite character is featured here.

This Cat, This Hat

Take a look at this Cat in the Hat as a tatt! This sketchy 2-D design feels true to the original illustration. We love how this tattoo is bursting with energy and movement thanks to all of the comic elements. Bravo!

Things

Devilish twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2 sure no how to clear a path of destruction. Here, we find the characters lovingly tattooed with a subtle white ink border that makes them truly pop.

You Need to Lorax

“He lets something fall,” Seuss wrote. “It’s a Truffula Seed. It’s the last one of all! You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.” The Lorax is one of the most beloved characters ever and he looks fabulous in this colorful tattoo.

Fuzzy

Hello, again! We meet another Lorax in a very different style that almost looks feathered or painted on. However you Lorax, just be sure to Lorax.

Sharp

This magnificent quote tattoo has some of the sharpest lines we’ve ever beheld. We imagine we’re not the only ones who got a copy of the incredibly inspiring book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! after graduation. This tattoo serves as a hopeful reminder that the future belongs to us.

Really, You’re Going Places

Here’s another quote tattoo inspired by the same book. However, here, we see the words as they appear in the book. This is a much greater commitment and took a lot of skill to master all of the different shading and letter-styles.

Those Truffula Trees

These trees kept showing up again and again and it’s no mystery why. Here, we’re treated to an almost ombre-effect that looks like cotton candy or a Lisa Frank-inspired design.

A Mean One

Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a subtle nudge from the author asking readers to examine the true meaning of the holiday and its current commodification. We love this Grinch tattoo with glowing Christmas lights.

Mr. Grinch

Chuck Jones is a cartoonist and the person behind the 1966 television adaptation of Seuss’s beloved book. Here, we’re treated to his version of the Grinch. It’s fantastic.

Max to the Max

If you were a child who wanted a dog as a pet, we imagine you wanted Max as a friend every time you read How the Grinch Stole Christmas! He looks like a total dream here surrounded by chilly, blue snowflakes.

Precious

More Max! Here’s another tattoo of Max in a different style and we must say he looks positively divine. This very neat tattoo has it all.

Dress Code

What would that Cat be without his hat? Here, we find a clever tattoo that takes some visual elements from Cat and the Hat that are instantly recognizable. This micro tattoo is the perfect, subtle way to show your Dr. Seuss love.

Blue Star

This tattoo belongs to both a mother and daughter who got it to match one another. Take a look at that amazing dotwork that’s used for shading. This design stays very true to the book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Wow!

This is a blast of an interpretation of the hot air balloon from Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Color has been liberally and creatively applied here to give this design a ton of character and brightness.

Obsessed

Could you pick one over the other? We probably couldn’t either which is why we understand this person getting a tattoo of the Cat and the Grinch. We love them too.

Horton for the Win

What a stunner. This tattoo of Horton is very fresh the tattoo artist explains and notes that the “pink” you’re seeing here is actually redness from tattooing. It’s easy to see past it and realize that this is a remarkable tattoo.

Cindy Lou

Cindy Lou Who is such an adorable character and one of our very favorites from and of Seuss’s books. Here, we find her in a, now, iconic pose, face framed by a Christmas wreath. What a blast!

Nice Curls

One Fish, Two Fish inspires a ton of tattoos if you haven’t noticed yet. If only we could get our hair to look this fabulous!

Golden

Thing 1 and Thing 2 certainly knocked this fishbowl around when they came on the scene. This delicate micro tattoo is such a treasure. It’s cute cranked up to 1000.

Get on This Level

This tattoo incorporates so many of the characters and imagery that Seuss fans love. We love the idea of the frame that absolutely contains none of the magic inside of it. The Cat’s hat on top and a little fishbowl on the bottom are so endearing.

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The Doctor, Himself

Well, if you would have asked us if we’d expected to see a photorealistic tattoo of Dr. Seuss, we’d have guessed not. But, alas, here we are. This darling portrait in black and grey should signal to you that the Seuss had a big influence on this individual. Hat’s off!

There you go! 25 Dr. Seuss tattoos that bring the magic of childhood to life. We hope you feel inspired by these designs and will consider coming up with your own creative take on them.