Six Dr. Seuss books — including popular titles like And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo — will no longer be published due to the fact that they contain racist and insensitive imagery, the company which oversees the late author’s business and legacy announced Tuesday.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises issued a statement, which coincided with children’s book author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday, explaining the decision. “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” the statement reads in part. “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.”
“Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process,” it continues. “We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalog of titles.”
In addition to the aforementioned titles, McElligot’s Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, The Cat’s Quizzer and Scrambled Eggs Super! will be pulled from publication. The Cat in the Hat, one of Dr. Seuss’s best-known works which has also been a source of controversy, will continue to be published.
However, that could still change, as Dr. Seuss Enterprises stressed that it is “committed to listening and learning and will continue to review our entire portfolio.”
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