# 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:** 3
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/41 "2017-09-28T21:52:09Z")
The [full list](http://www.hbook.com/2017/09/blogs/family-reading/dear-mrs-trump-booklist/) of \*\*Phipps Soeiro’s recommendations. Also, here she is [being strangled by a large snake](http://lj.libraryjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Movers2017bigPhippsSoeiro.jpg). \*\* ---
**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, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/42 "2017-09-28T22:02:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’m not saying I agree with her, but I definitely agree that the letter was well-written. It was well-written, but it was also just bad. She misses the point that the books were an award for the school’s excellence. Instead of a useless plaque or piece of paper, they were awarded the books with the White House name plate and embossment. Her criticisms about Seuss seem misplaced – not only is she complaining about a gift that Melania says was meaningful to her because she shared the books with her own son (seriously, how fucking petty is that) but then she going on about racism and suggests a list of books that 100% completely miss the point of Dr. Seuss. Namely that his books are _just plain fun for early readers to read_ which in turn encourages reading. Two and three year olds aren’t captivated by bed time tales of your mother being snatched by the immigration police. Five and six year olds aren’t laughing at trying to wrap their tongues around the meter and rhymes of people living in poverty along railroad tracks. Even in the Seuss books with a nominal lesson, it’s secondary to the flow of the words and way they encourage children to follow along. So we have some woman who is tactless enough to let the White House know she’s giving their gift away, petty enough to shit on something the First Lady said was meaningful and she wanted to share and a librarian who bizarrely misses the whole point of the author she’s bitching about because she’s too wrapped up in Social Justice For Five Year Olds to understand why Seuss is a classic. Sure, but her letter was well-written. It was just an incredibly tone deaf and misguided well-written letter. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/43 "2017-09-28T22:21:37Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Call it a hunch this particular librarian would graciously have accepted the same gift from Michelle Obama. Exactly. It’s an ad hominem by the librarian - “Seuss books are good/bad because of who donated them.” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/44 "2017-09-28T22:31:31Z")
Check out Seuss’s work as a political cartoonist. Here’s a favorite that still resonates. [![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/174b2974e4c7e986ae96666ccd6ff26d13cd82e0/c=36-4-464-768&r=583&c=0-0-580-1031/local/-/media/2017/02/02/USATODAY/USATODAY/636216256290849787-seuss-siamese.jpg) ](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/174b2974e4c7e986ae96666ccd6ff26d13cd82e0/c=36-4-464-768&r=583&c=0-0-580-1031/local/-/media/2017/02/02/USATODAY/USATODAY/636216256290849787-seuss-siamese.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/45 "2017-09-28T22:59:40Z")
Librarian is out to lunch. You reject Dr. Seuss for one reason only: for a half hour after reading one I am physically unable to not speak in couplets. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/46 "2017-09-28T23:15:51Z")
What. A. Grinch. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/47 "2017-09-29T00:10:05Z")
Welcome to the real world Melaninia. I grew up in Cambridgeport. Good for them. (And congratulations on her honors) Maybe the baboon can show his face sometime. There’s a lot of the real world to discover. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/48 "2017-09-29T00:13:35Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Check out Seuss’s work as a political cartoonist. Here’s a favorite that still resonates. > > [https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/174b2974e4c7e986ae96666ccd6ff26d13cd82e0/c=36-4-464-768&r=583&c=0-0-580-1031/local/-/media/2017/02/02/USATODAY/USATODAY/636216256290849787-seuss-siamese.jpg](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/174b2974e4c7e986ae96666ccd6ff26d13cd82e0/c=36-4-464-768&r=583&c=0-0-580-1031/local/-/media/2017/02/02/USATODAY/USATODAY/636216256290849787-seuss-siamese.jpg) [And](http://www.weekendcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/seuss-4.jpg) [these](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2997036/images/o-UNN-facebook.jpg). Librarian’s still a twit. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/49 "2017-09-29T00:18:25Z")
“If I Ran the Zoo” is racist, but that’s one book. That’s the only book I’ve ever pulled from a library collection in a 26 year career. I prefer monetary donations or books that I choose, but there are enough things this family has done that merit complaining without complaining about a gnat on a dog’s pecker. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/50 "2017-09-29T00:46:29Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > [And](http://www.weekendcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/seuss-4.jpg) [these](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2997036/images/o-UNN-facebook.jpg). > > Librarian’s still a twit. And of course, he repudiated those a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/51 "2017-09-29T02:00:51Z")
Something I wish the librarian had been more clear about in her letter: I’m pretty sure the librarian is aware that FLOTUS did not go to the mall and pick these out as a personal gift – I believe her critique was one of the program itself, which I think is valid. I think she made a poor decision in framing it as a personal communication to Mrs. Trump; it takes away from her assertion that Dr. Seuss, like him or dislike him, is already adequately represented\* in children’s reading materials, and that the program missed an opportunity to think more intentionally and creatively about what other resources of value may be under-represented in children’s schools and libraries. \*I think he’s over-represented, but that’s just my opinion, man. I didn’t read a lot of Dr. Seuss as a kid, I have no nostalgic attachment to his books. Yet our house still has a lot of Dr. Seuss books in it, they seem to come with a lot of gifts and promos. My 6 year old hasn’t particularly gravitated toward most of them. We’re not absolute grinches – we both like the one about the pants with no one inside them. And regardless of my fairly neutral-to-bored opinion re: Dr. Seuss, I think it was a very strange choice on the part of the initiative to include only books by one author. If Mrs. Trump’s favorite children’s book is one by Dr. Seuss, then sure, include that as _one_ of the selections – it is a nice, personal touch. (aside: I was always sorry that Bush got so much criticism for his attachment to _The Very Hungry Caterpillar,_ I think it’s great that the president stuck with a book he found enjoyment in, I’m assuming from reading it to his own children). ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/52 "2017-09-29T02:14:55Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And of course, he repudiated those a few years later. And not just verbally: [![](https://www.tfaoi.org/am/8am/8am203.jpg) ](https://www.tfaoi.org/am/8am/8am203.jpg) And, of course, “The Sneetches” probably remains the best text on tolerance for the young audience ever. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/53 "2017-09-29T02:22:04Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And of course, he repudiated those a few years later. Curious where he repudiated them; I haven’t read that. On the one hand, yeah, her letter could’ve been handled a lot better. On the other hand, lady’s done a lot more for getting literature into the hands of kids than anyone here, so I gotta give her full respect for that. And the program’s emphasis on test scores rather than on need is a bit eye-rolly; and the choice of books is a bit lazy. Dr. Seuss did some great stuff, but so does Mo Willems, and so does Jacqueline Woodson, and so do so many authors published in the last quarter century. This gift is a bit like giving Willy Wonka a couple of Brachs butterscotch drops: a charming grandma move. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/54 "2017-09-29T12:22:33Z")
[Moderating] > [@drad\_dog](#): > > Welcome to the real world Melaninia. > > I grew up in Cambridgeport. Good for them. (And congratulations on her honors) Maybe the baboon can show his face sometime. There’s a lot of the real world to discover. **drad dog** , I’m not sure what to make of this post. Best I can figure out is that it’s meant to be a political slam against Donald Trump, though I’m not sure I’ve seen him called a “baboon” before. If that’s what it is, then cut it out: I realize that this thread inevitably has some connection to politics, but it’s only as regards this one specific action, by Melania rather than by Donald. If you meant this post in some other way, please explain more clearly what you meant. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/55 "2017-09-29T12:35:27Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > “If I Ran the Zoo” is racist, but that’s one book. “To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street” has a questionable page or two as well. But with a little care even Dr Seuss books with the odd unfortunate verse or picture are great reads for young children. I think there is much to recommend the books on the librarian’s alternative list but as an “addition to”, not as an “instead of”. That said, while there is a value to children’s books that talk about other cultures and struggles that people have faced, sometimes you just want a simple story. Better to get your kids “The Snowy Day” or “Peter’s Chair” if you want to subtly broaden their horizons on race. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/56 "2017-09-29T13:58:19Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > And regardless of my fairly neutral-to-bored opinion re: Dr. Seuss, I think it was a very strange choice on the part of the initiative to include only books by one author. Who said that there were only Dr. Seuss books in the donation? I don’t believe that to be true at all. ---
**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 29, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/57 "2017-09-29T14:20:24Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Who said that there were only Dr. Seuss books in the donation? The story in the OP did: > [@](#): > > One school from each state was chosen by the White House to receive 10 Dr. Seuss books as part of National Read a Book Day, CBS Boston reports. I don’t think it’s really “strange”: Dr. Seuss is a classic and there’s a wide catalog of books to choose from (especially if you get into the Seuss branded but not written by stuff). That’s not to say that they couldn’t have mixed it up but it doesn’t really excuse the reaction. I agree that the “alternate books” should have been presented as “in addition to” rather than “in lieu of” if they had to be mentioned at all. I’m sure they’re all simply wonderful books but, as I said, the librarian seems to completely miss what makes Seuss a classic in her rush to toss out a list of Social Justice for Kids titles. Had she at least said “Here’s some other, newer authors and works for you to consider adding to your own list”, it wouldn’t have come across as so incredibly tone deaf. ---
**Author:** ![pnschofield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@pnschofield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pnschofield)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/58 "2017-09-29T15:57:36Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Call it a hunch this particular librarian would graciously have accepted the same gift from Michelle Obama. Agreed, and I’m a leftie. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/59 "2017-09-29T19:56:19Z")
I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Would you, could you in a lift? Would you, could you as a gift? I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Would you, could you, in a library? Would you, could you, as a result of bribery? I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Would you, could you with a Trump? Would you, could you from a chump? I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Would you, could you for your school? Would you, could you from a fool? I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Would you, could you, from Stephania? Would you, could you, from Melania? I do not read _Green Eggs and Ham_, I do not read it, SamIam. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 29, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-seuss-a-bit-of-a-cliche-a-tired-and-worn-ambassador-for-childrens-literature/797530/60 "2017-09-29T21:02:42Z")
Someone has [dug up photos](https://twitter.com/Cport_Special/status/572793892287991810) of Phipps Soeiro supporting Seuss books before this. ([This before and after comparison is mine](https://imgur.com/a/zbjW4).) [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=2) [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=4)