The Read Across America program, launched by the National Educators of America (NEA) in 1998 to promote children s literacy, has long been associated with Geisel’s birthday, both of which are celebrated on March 2. But this year even Dr. Seuss Enterprises is marking the day with an acknowledgement of the racism in the author’s children’s books.
“One of the reasons we partnered with Seuss 20 years ago in 1997 was to kick-start this program. That was the strategy up front, so kids would see Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat and spark some attention” Steven Grant, a NEA spokesperson and manager of the Read Across America program, told the School Library Journal in 2018, adding that “last year was the first year in my 14 years [with NEA] that I had seen so much bubble up as far as concerned interests.
Six Dr. Seuss books won t be published anymore because of harmful imagery
If I Ran the Zoo is one of the books being pulled. (Photo / via cnn)
Six Dr. Seuss books won t be published anymore because of harmful imagery Wed, 3 Mar 2021, 3:23PM
Six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published because they portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong, the business that preserves the author s legacy said.
The titles are: If I Ran the Zoo McElligot s Pool The Cat s Quizzer
In a statement, Dr. Seuss Enterprises said it made the decision after consulting educators and reviewing its catalogue.
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Several books by the late children s book author Dr. Seuss, including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo, will no longer be published due to racist and insensitive imagery, The Associated Press reports. These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong, Dr. Seuss Enterprises told the AP in a statement on Tuesday. Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises catalog represents and supports all communities and families.
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The rest of the books affected include McElligot s Pool, On Beyond Zebra! Scrambled Eggs Super! and The Cat s Quizzer.