Raising Voices in Honor of Dr. Seuss

      It's sad that current society's "experts" are going  down the path of banning books, thoughts and censoring.  Not just music, films and books.  Just about anything that is contrary to what the popular trend on social media is for any given day.     On Read Across America Day, no less, experts and pundits are lining up to take their shots at Dr. Seuss and claiming that the author is racist.  My, my my  the pendulum has shifted and swung wildly into the wrong direction.  It is particularly painful for me  to hear library professionals utter the same sentiments towards dear old Dr. Seuss.  His memory deserves to be treated better.  His stories, each of them, are diverse romp into an imagination filled with magical impossibilities that make a rainy day better.    To set the record straight, once and for all, Seuss is good for children of all ages, in any era.  How can this be said?  Horton Hears A Who. proves beyond a doubt that every voice matters. 

    In case memories need to be reminded, Horton is the sweet elephant who discovers a "tiny" world that no one else can see or hear.  All his jungle friends are claiming that he is silly, filling his head with nonsense about the world that no one can hear, see or even know about Whooville.   The elephant should just keep quiet.  Horton does not agree.  He feels a sense of duty to protect his new found friends in Whoville and he will stop at nothing to protect them.   Horton encourages the Mayor of Whoville to gather everyone together to make their voices heard.  With all the voices in Whoville raised,  the animals of the Jungle  finally are convinced of Whoville existence.  This is a story that has been a favorite for years.   Each story time that features Horton, is always a delight for young and old alike.  At the end they cheer for Horton.  They cheer for Whoville.  The story is a  gentle reminder that we all need to be like Horton, standing up for what is right even when the world is not listening. 

    What is maddening, is no one is listening now.  Not the folks at Dr. Seuss International or the "experts."  It is just a matter of time that  Horton  will cease publication, along with the other six. Somewhere, someone may find these stories offensive too.    The attempt to find diversity in everything in art is ultimately going to crash upon itself.  Meaning?  Eventually, each book will not be diverse enough.  Each painting will not have a the perfect balance of culture depicted.  Each thought will be found to have a trace of hate because it has to be the under current of each human being, right?    When stories are read about running a Zoo, or what was seen on Mulberry Street the questions that come to children's minds is what cool zoo would they want to run  or what are the neat things that happen on my street.  Reading is suppose to take us to places we want to visit.  In the case of children's books, they are places to re-visit again and again.  Dr. Seuss does just that with all his books.  More importantly than that, he inspired and encouraged a germinations to read, learn and laugh.  Never be afraid to take a trip because the places you will go are worth the trip. 

    If we begin buying into the notion that a book is "racist" or "sexist" or  "offensive", the slippery slide to banning books has begun and sadly difficult to be stopped.  As librarians it is our duty to protect the rights of everyone to read the books they choose.  Whether it be something we agree with or not.   If we see racism in everything we teach children to view the world cynically and see the worst in our society.   There simply has  be a moment when a zoo is just a zoo.   A cat is a cat.  Fun is just fun being with the characters that are cherished and beloved.   That is the lasting gift that Dr. Seuss gave to the literary world.   To see the world as a child sees it daily.  It is a shame to throw that timeless gift into the trash.  

A Pledge to Read Dr. Suess 

 I will Read to a Child on my lap 

I will  Read Dr. Seuss, with my cap

I will read it here, I will read it there

I will read without fear, I will read it cuz I dare

I will read it in my room, I will read it in the library

I will read it on a broom, I will read it on a ferry

I will read it, yes I can.  I will read it with a friend

I will read it that's my plan, I will read it till the very end

You can read it too ,When you read to me I'll read to you!