Sales of six books by Dr. Seuss will cease on account of racist and insensitive images, in line with the business that preserves and protects the author’s legacy.
The news arrives Tuesday on the National Read Across America Day, when schools across the U.S. celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2 to commemorate the popular children’s author, who died in 1991.
“These books portray people in harmful and wrong ways,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told the Associated Press in a statement.
“Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure that the Dr. Seuss Enterprises catalog represents and supports all communities and families,” continues the statement.
A copy of Dr. Seuss’ book “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” rests on a chair, Monday, March 1, 2021, in Walpole, Massachusetts. (AP Photo / Steven Senne)
Copies of “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street”, “If I Ran the Zoo”, “McElligot’s Pool”, “On Beyond Zebra!”, “Scrambled Eggs Super!” And “The Cat’s Quizzer” will no longer be published.
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The decision to stop publishing and selling the books was made last year, after months of discussion, the company told AP.
“Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened to and received feedback from our audience, including professors, academics and experts in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our title catalog,” said .
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A school system in Virginia recently decided to discourage recognition from National Read Across America Day in light of the controversy, which led to a discussion about the author and a decision to “cancel” his work on social media. The school system clarified in a February 27 statement that it is not banning the author’s books.
CORAL GABLES, FL – JULY 28: Dr. Seuss’ never before published book, “What Pet Should I Get?” is seen on display. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Dr. Seuss’s books – born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904 – are sold in more than 100 countries.
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The article “How the Grinch stole Christmas!” The author remains popular, earning about $ 33 million before tax in 2020, compared to just $ 9.5 million five years ago, the company said. Forbes listed him as second among the highest-paid dead celebrities of 2020, behind only the late pop star Michael Jackson.
As much as Dr. Seuss is adored by millions around the world for the positive values in many of his works, including environmentalism and tolerance, there has been growing criticism in recent years about the way blacks, Asians and other characters are attracted in some of his most beloved children’s books, as well as in his previous advertising and publicity illustrations.
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The National Education Association, which founded Read Across America Day in 1998 and deliberately aligned it with Geisel’s birthday, for several years did not emphasize Seuss and encouraged a more diverse reading list for children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.