Dr Seuss books to be axed due to racist imagery
Who didn't grow up with Dr Seuss books? Well, six of them will no longer be published because of what is now viewed as racist and insensitive imagery and more are being assessed - even The Cat in The Hat.
Dr Seuss Enterprises announced the decision this week.
Copies of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo will stop being published because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong", the company said.
"Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr Seuss Enterprises' catalogue represents and supports all communities and families," a spokesperson for Dr Seuss Enterprises said.
Other books affected are McElligot's Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super! and The Cat's Quizzer.
The Cat in the Hat, one of Seuss's most popular books, has been criticised, but will continue to be published for now.
The company said it had discussed the issues for months before agreeing to cease both publication and sales of the books.
"Dr Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalogue of titles," it said.
There had been increasing criticism over the way some races are drawn in some of the books.
Books by Dr Seuss, who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on 2 March 2, 1904, have been translated into dozens of languages as well as in braille and are sold in more than 100 countries.
Do you have a Dr Seuss book?
An amazing children's author. Read his books often. Loved their humour and gentle digs. Checked the so-called "offensive" illustrations and found them indicative of his style and the time ... however, Seuss certainly wasn't averse to tackling contemporary cultural issues in his works.
Despite that, I can't see why banning them is of any use today ... we learn from the past ... trying to eradicate it won't change what actually happened or views held in various times gone by, including those of Theodor Seuss Geisel, good or bad.
Geisel's books express his views on a remarkable variety of social and political issues: The Lorax (1971), about environmentalism and anti-consumerism; The Sneetches (1961), about racial equality; The Butter Battle Book (1984), about the arms race; Yertle the Turtle (1958), about Adolf Hitler and anti-authoritarianism; How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957), criticising the materialism and consumerism of the Christmas season; and Horton Hears a Who! (1954), about anti-isolationism and internationalism.
Theodor Seuss Geisel, 1904 – 1991, was an American children's author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, and filmmaker. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. His work includes many of the most popular children's books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.
I think I heard the name 'Dr. Seuss' but no I never had or have seen one --even as a kid I never liked fairy tales and to this day I only like to watch or read fact -- maybe they were not out in my day anyway?