At the age of 23, Dave Szalay had just begun to tackle a lot of firsts. 

First house. First year of marriage. First advertising job. Then, for reasons that had little to do with his in-the-moment ambitions, he wrote a letter to one of the authors who inspired him as a child growing up in Akron. 

Szalay, as an elementary school student, was introduced to rhythmic books — from “Horton Hears A Who!” to “Fox in Socks” and others  — by his grandmother, who worked at a bookstore. A village of teachers and librarians at Rimer Elementary School also made an impact on the creative pupil.  

In his 20's, Dave Szalay wrote a letter to one of the authors who inspired him as a child growing up in Akron. Today, the brownish, creased letter he received back from Dr. Seuss hangs in Szalay’s campus office — a daily reminder of his unexpected career journey.
In his 20’s, Dave Szalay wrote a letter to one of the authors who inspired him as a child growing up in Akron. Today, the brownish, creased letter he received back from Dr. Seuss hangs in Szalay’s campus office — a daily reminder of his unexpected career journey. (Courtesy of Dave Szalay)

In his letter, Szalay credited the famous writer’s whimsical worlds of striped hats, ambitious turtles and neon-bright fish with pulling him toward reading, sounding out words for hours, when he was still struggling with the fundamentals. Szalay proclaimed he hoped to one day inspire kids too. 

Dr. Seuss wrote him back. 

“Hi David! Greetings and all top best wishes from all of us here in La Jolla, to all of you cats in Cuyahoga Falls! 

Dr. Seuss” 

Within 10 years, Szalay moved out of advertising and started teaching graphic design at the University of Akron. Then, in 2010, everything aligned.

He established his portfolio and presented it to several publishing companies in New York. In 2018, through a lottery matchmaking process, Szalay received an offer to illustrate his first book, “The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t.” From one book to the next, he was writing up and submitting book ideas, waiting to be matched. 

A village of teachers and librarians at Rimer Elementary School also made an impact on Dave Szalay, who is about to publish his ninth book.
A village of teachers and librarians at Rimer Elementary School also made an impact on Dave Szalay, who is about to publish his ninth book. (Courtesy of Dave Szalay)

Today, Dr. Seuss’ brownish, creased letter hangs in Szalay’s campus office — a daily reminder of his unexpected career journey.

“Take Back My Yak,” Szalay’s ninth book and the first he’s illustrated and authored, has been acquired by Penguin Random House. It will be released in the Spring of 2027. 

“You know,” Szalay, 60, said, thinking back, “It felt like I kind of made a promise to him.”

University of Akron art professor Dave Szalay is the author and illustrator of “Take Back My Yak,” his ninth book.It has been acquired by Penguin Random House and will be released in the Spring of 2027.
University of Akron art professor Dave Szalay is the author and illustrator of “Take Back My Yak,” his ninth book.It has been acquired by Penguin Random House and will be released in the Spring of 2027. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Culture and Arts Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University.