Dr. Seuss Enterprises

Yesterday, on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that last year they’ve ceased publication of six Dr. Seuss titles that “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

A lot of people have a lot to say about this decision. And I doubt that I have anything new to say, that hasn’t already been said by half a dozen people, at least. But, when blogging about the kid lit community, it’s hard to ignore news like this.

I applaud Dr. Seuss Enterprises for taking this step to provide books that, as they say, “represents and supports all communities and families.” I know the term “cancel culture” gets thrown around a lot these days. This was a decision made by an organization whose goal is to promote Dr. Seuss. One comment I read somewhere today summed it up best, “When you know better, you do better.” And I think that’s what Dr. Seuss Enterprises is trying to do – acknowledge that the stories are harmful and doing something about it.

Dr. Seuss’s Legacy

Are these six books important to Dr. Seuss’s legacy? Yes, they are. But, reading them to young children who may not even be able to comprehend a conversation about how race is portrayed in these books is detrimental. Should they be studied as part of the history of Dr. Seuss? Most definitely. Dr. Seuss also drew political cartoons during World War II, depicting Japanese and Japanese Americans in a racist and ugly way. At the same time, Dr. Seuss is also one of the highest-paid dead celebrities year after year. Not for his political cartoons, but as the beloved author of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat In the Hat. As in so many situations, how do we come to terms with both sides of a single person?

It’s important to talk to kids about how people are different – we know that being “color blind” isn’t the way to go. Kids see differences, why not talk to them about what makes people different and why we should celebrate differences? But, we have to do it in an age-appropriate way. My fear is that by sharing titles that are derogatory toward specific groups of people, kids may see that as acceptable behavior.

What Happens Next?

So, where do we go from here? Children’s librarians around the country are asking that same question. Do you pull the titles from the shelves immediately, do you change the call number and put them somewhere else in the collection, or do you leave them on the shelf? I have a feeling many librarians will leave them on the shelves for the interested patrons who are now curious to see what Dr. Seuss was all about. And in a few months or years remove them from the collection following their weeding guidelines.

It will be interesting to see if ALA or ALSC decide to change the name of the easy reader award. It’s currently named in honor of Dr. Seuss, but a few years ago they renamed the Lifetime Achievement Award, so I’ll be curious to see what happens next.

Personally, I make a choice as to what I promote on my blog. I try my hardest not to write a negative review, rather choosing to promote the books I love instead. With thousands of books being published every year, it’s easy for me to celebrate the good ones!