# Is Dr. Seuss "a bit of a cliché, a tired and worn ambassador for children's literature"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530 "2017-09-28T16:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/21 "2017-09-28T17:46:18Z")
I’m wondering why this particular school was chosen. Doesn’t sound like they needed the books. Perhaps if they had been donated to a school in a less fortunate area, the response would have been a lot different. I didn’t grow up reading Dr. Seuss books, so I have no emotional attachment to them. But it does strike me as rude to reject a gift like this and in such a haughty manner. If the library didn’t need them, the school could have distributed them amongst the student body. I’m sure even fancy-pants schools still have students who are in need of books at home. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/22 "2017-09-28T17:52:23Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Aye; +1 from me. Yeah. And I mean, talk about tone deaf, too. It sounds like something a caricature of a Millennial hipster would say. Except an actual, real person said it. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/23 "2017-09-28T18:01:17Z")
That librarian is wrong As wrong as can be Dr. Suess is still cool Take it from me. My son read his books While he sat in my lap He read them at lunchtime Before taking a nap He’s a bigger boy now But he keeps those books yet And will give them away To his own son I bet ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/24 "2017-09-28T18:01:36Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > As I recall, while she did feel that the books are cliche etc, she had two objections: First, that the gift of the books went to their well-funded, successful school instead of one where the funds were limited that could really have used them; and only secondarily that there are a bunch of great, newer books that they could have given instead of ones they already had. Then … do one of the obvious things: Box up the books and drive them to a needier school. Or else donate them to individual children in various ways – battered women’s shelters, pediatrician’ offices, libraries in poorer communities, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/25 "2017-09-28T18:04:03Z")
I sort books for the local library, and one of the first things I was told was “Never throw out children’s books that you read as a child.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/26 "2017-09-28T18:08:41Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Then … do one of the obvious things: Box up the books and drive them to a needier school. Or else donate them to individual children in various ways – battered women’s shelters, pediatrician’ offices, libraries in poorer communities, etc. Or, if you’re somehow worried that giving away her gift will be seen poorly, keep the books and give your existing copy away to some other needier location. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/27 "2017-09-28T18:15:48Z")
Hipster librarian is hipster. Too bad she missed the opportunity to accept those fine books… in an ironic manner. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/28 "2017-09-28T18:18:58Z")
Reading the lady’s [editorial/blog thingie](http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/#_), I’m not inclined to think much better of her decision. It seems that the books were to serve as a sort of “usable award” for the school’s excellence, which is why this school received them and not some random low income school. The woman seems to miss that point. Then she gets into the whole “Pfft, Dr. Seuss” thing including calling his books racist and then offers her own list of curated politically correct stuff like “_Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation_” and “_Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation_”. Which may be wonderful books in their own right but comes across as eye-rolling when you’re saying “We don’t want your tired, cliché and racist ‘_Green Eggs & Ham_’ for our beginning readers” ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/29 "2017-09-28T18:23:33Z")
Oh, thank goodness. People have been sharing this librarian’s letter admiringly all over my Facebook feed, and I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought it was smug, tacky, and pretty much guaranteed to reinforce the worst stereotypes conservatives have about liberals. (In the original letter, she doesn’t just describe Dr. Seuss as cliched, but as “steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes” – offering as her evidence two very early books that weren’t actually included in the gift, plus the fact that somebody somewhere wrote an academic book that argues that _The Cat in the Hat_ draws on tropes of minstrelsy. This strikes me as a rare legitimate example of Political Correctness Gone Mad.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/30 "2017-09-28T18:30:53Z")
Refusing a gift is the height of bad manners. If the library didn’t want them, why didn’t they donate them to someone else. My library gets book donations that we don’t want, and we donate them to other causes, or put them on the free shelf, where people can take them, no questions ask. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/31 "2017-09-28T18:44:20Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > That librarian is wrong > As wrong as can be > Dr. Suess is still cool > Take it from me. > My son read his books > While he sat in my lap > He read them at lunchtime > Before taking a nap > He’s a bigger boy now > But he keeps those books yet > And will give them away > To his own son I bet Awesome. Also the Librarian is a nut I think. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/32 "2017-09-28T18:51:29Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Reading the lady’s [editorial/blog thingie](http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/#_), I’m not inclined to think much better of her decision. > > It seems that the books were to serve as a sort of “usable award” for the school’s excellence, which is why this school received them and not some random low income school. The woman seems to miss that point. Then she gets into the whole “Pfft, Dr. Seuss” thing including calling his books racist and then offers her own list of curated politically correct stuff like “_Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation_” and “_Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation_”. Which may be wonderful books in their own right but comes across as eye-rolling when you’re saying “We don’t want your tired, cliché and racist ‘_Green Eggs & Ham_’ for our beginning readers” She’s obviously never read _The Sneetches_, then. This comment me me roll my eyes: “And in the end, it appears that data — and not children — are what matters.” No, lady, it’s the children. It’s worth noting the school board called her decision wrong. > [@](#): > > The Cambridge school system says the opinions in the editorial do not represent the district and released a statement, saying “the employee was not authorized to accept or reject donated books on behalf of the school or school district.” > > We have counseled the employee on all relevant policies, including the policy against public resources being used for political purposes," the district said. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/33 "2017-09-28T18:53:10Z")
I personally think that quoting that part out of [the entire letter](http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/) makes it sound much worse than it is. The letter contains a bunch of paragraphs thanking them for the gesture behind it, and acknowledges how the children appreciated it. It then points out that they have a very large library, and that their school doesn’t really need the books. Only then does it include the comment about why Dr. Seuss is not a good choice. As an ambassador for reading, Seuss is a cliche. She then argues that there are racism issues in the illustrations and points out that certain other book organizations are moving away from using Seuss. She then follows with another very sincere thank you for the gesture. She just argues that the gesture could have been better thought out. She asks them to learn about children’s lives through other books. I’m not saying I agree with her, but I definitely agree that the letter was well-written. She comes off not like those quotes sound by themselves, but as quite respectful and appreciative of the gesture. And the context makes me think it’s not about the contents of the books that are cliched, but the idea of giving out Dr. Seuss. The racism arguments I could do without. But I do not see them as being hatefully articulated. And I do not think that the studies that have been done in this matter are invalid. I just think they muddy the waters unnecessarily, and will be read as claiming that the Seuss repertoire is racist in and of itself. Still, my take away from reading the letter is far different than my takeaway from the OP. I invite you guys to read it, and see if you agree. Here is an[Archive.org link](http://web.archive.org/web/20170928042734/http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/) in case the controversy results in the letter being taken down or changed. There’s another site that I can’t think of which would be better, but I’m not finding it on Google. (It lets you archive things on demand.) ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/34 "2017-09-28T18:54:33Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > That librarian is wrong … So the librarian should take This purple flownswaggler And shove it up the rear Of her turplewagmuzzler ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/35 "2017-09-28T20:07:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I personally think that quoting that part out of [the entire letter](http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/) makes it sound much worse than it is. The letter contains a bunch of paragraphs thanking them for the gesture behind it, and acknowledges how the children appreciated it. > > It then points out that they have a very large library, and that their school doesn’t really need the books. Only then does it include the comment about why Dr. Seuss is not a good choice. As an ambassador for reading, Seuss is a cliche. She then argues that there are racism issues in the illustrations and points out that certain other book organizations are moving away from using Seuss. > > She then follows with another very sincere thank you for the gesture. She just argues that the gesture could have been better thought out. She asks them to learn about children’s lives through other books. > > I’m not saying I agree with her, but I definitely agree that the letter was well-written. She comes off not like those quotes sound by themselves, but as quite respectful and appreciative of the gesture. And the context makes me think it’s not about the contents of the books that are cliched, but the idea of giving out Dr. Seuss. > > The racism arguments I could do without. But I do not see them as being hatefully articulated. And I do not think that the studies that have been done in this matter are invalid. I just think they muddy the waters unnecessarily, and will be read as claiming that the Seuss repertoire is racist in and of itself. > > Still, my take away from reading the letter is far different than my takeaway from the OP. I invite you guys to read it, and see if you agree. > > Here is an[Archive.org link](http://web.archive.org/web/20170928042734/http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump/) in case the controversy results in the letter being taken down or changed. There’s another site that I can’t think of which would be better, but I’m not finding it on Google. (It lets you archive things on demand.) I think that you’re reading more into my OP than I actually put there. I’m FAR more interested in the current thinking regarding the works of Dr. Seuss than the actions, motivations or political leanings of the librarian. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/36 "2017-09-28T20:30:31Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > A librarian at the Cambridgeport Elementary School rejected Melania Trump’s gift of some books and said, among other things, that “You may not be aware of this, but Dr. Seuss is a bit of a cliché, a tired and worn ambassador for children’s literature. As First Lady of the United States, you have an incredible platform with world-class resources at your fingertips.” There’s always some jackass who tried to prove their superiority by not liking what other people like. Dr. Seuss remains some of the most outstanding kid’s stuff ever written. Of course there’s other excellent children’s literature, but come on. Reading the whole letter, **I don’t think she gets the idea of a gift.** If someone gives you some honorary trinket, which is basically what this way,the correct response is “Thanks.” If you already have a copy of The Cat In The Hat, donate one copy to a thrift store so someone else can have it. If this woman won a gold medal, she’d complain that it’s not practical clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/37 "2017-09-28T20:32:10Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > But she managed to get the SDMB to unanimously defend a Trump so that’s certainly something. Defending a Trump is hardly the point, That’s not what has us all out of joint. The insult to FLOTUS is merely a ruse, The problem we have is dissing the Seuss. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/38 "2017-09-28T20:37:34Z")
I read out loud the entirety of Green Eggs and Ham in Target the other day to a friend. It was, as always whenever I read out loud, done with plenty of dramatic interpretation. Several people stopped to listen; at the end, I was cheered. If Dr. Seuss is cliché, may we all end up equally clichéd. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/39 "2017-09-28T20:45:09Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Hipster librarian is hipster. Hipster librarian is [finalist for the American Association of School Librarian’s 2017 Social Media Superstars – Social Justice Defender category](http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20170915/cambridgeport-school-librarian-receives-national-recognition). ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/40 "2017-09-28T21:03:27Z")
I’m sure I posted about this in another thread quite awhile ago, but our school district celebrates Dr Suess’ birthday week with readings, activities, decorations, and parent participation every year. I don’t think we are the only district that does it and the kids really enjoy it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530.md?page=3)