Chance to make several hundred dollars...

[mefordis]

I'm sure many of us with kids have at least one of these Dr. Seuss books that are now going for $200-$1000+ dollars each.

https://apnews.com/article/dr-seuss-books-racist-images-d8ed18335c03319d72f443594c174513
Six Dr. Seuss books — including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo” — will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery, the business that preserves and protects the author’s legacy said Tuesday.

“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Associated Press in a statement that coincided with the late author and illustrator’s birthday.

“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,” it said.

The other books affected are “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra!,” “Scrambled Eggs Super!,” and “The Cat’s Quizzer.”

 

[White Cat]

Yes Dr Suess is now a very bad man. Who would have thought.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

So the issues of Geisel's stereotypical depictions of Asians and Africans as well as other nationalities dates back at least to Ruth K. MacDonald's biography, first published in 1988 (MacDonald, Ruth K. (1988). Dr. Seuss. Boston: Twayne Publishers. p. 71). This isn't new.

This announcement was made by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that bought the rights to Geisel's works in 1994.

 

[bethbuchall]

What I don't understand is why they made a big deal of it. Books go out of print all the time. If they had quietly stopped publishing those books, most people probably wouldn't have even noticed. They aren't the top books people think of when they think of Dr. Seuss.

 

[mefordis]

What I don't understand is why they made a big deal of it. Books go out of print all the time. If they had quietly stopped publishing those books, most people probably wouldn't have even noticed. They aren't the top books people think of when they think of Dr. Seuss.

They didn't just stop publishing them. They yanked them off of all shelves. Try to buy a copy - you can't (unless you get it on Ebay). Very different from letting them go out of print. I'm sure bookstores would want to know why they are told to clear their shelves of these books.

 

[bethbuchall]

They didn't just stop publishing them. They yanked them off of all shelves. Try to buy a copy - you can't (unless you get it on Ebay). Very different from letting them go out of print. I'm sure bookstores would want to know why they are told to clear their shelves of these books.

I meant the whole thing as the big deal. Just quietly stop publishing the books and allow the ones already out to be sold.

I feel the same way about the whole Mr./Mrs. Potato Head debacle. They weren't pulling Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head. They rebranded the overall company as just Potatohead. But once they made a big deal of it, everyone ran with the misunderstanding. If they had just changed that logo, it wouldn't have been such a big deal.

I guess it gets them publicity which companies consider good even when it's bad, but it's getting ridiculous.

 

[Kitty 34]

My 90 yr old Mom and I were just discussing this over afternoon wine today. I'm so glad that my one sister did my grandson's baby shower with a Dr Seuss theme. :

 

[MrsPete]

I just read that the Cat in the Hat is supposedly racist /is a take-off on an entertainer in "blackface". I honestly can't see it. The article also says that black kids are uncomfortable on Cat in the Hat day at school. Either this is far-fetched, or I'm missing something.

I grew up on Dr. Seuss books -- loved them. I've already bought a handful for my yet-to-be-born grandchild.

 

[Planogirl]

I always liked the Mulberry Street book. I am glad that DS got to enjoy it.

 

[Planogirl]

I just read that the Cat in the Hat is supposedly racist /is a take-off on an entertainer in "blackface". I honestly can't see it. The article also says that black kids are uncomfortable on Cat in the Hat day at school. Either this is far-fetched, or I'm missing something.

I grew up on Dr. Seuss books -- loved them. I've already bought a handful for my yet-to-be-born grandchild.

That is strange since his face is white. Maybe all tuxedo cats should be banned.

 

[hereyago]

I think people need to get lives, just saying.
You (general you are offended by something? Turn away, don’t buy, turn the station or channel.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think people need to get lives, just saying.
You (general you are offended by something? Turn away, don’t buy, turn the station or channel.

This doesn't sound like a case where they were forced to or "cancelled", it was their decision.

 

[prairie_girl]

nope, not worth it.

 

[hereyago]

This doesn't sound like a case where they were forced to or "cancelled", it was their decision.

Oops my mistake

 

[NYCgrrl]

Personally, I think everyone should get copies of the book(s) and fund their children’s college fund with it.
Makes perfect sense to me and you can still go to WDW too.

 

[barkley]

i read an article about this earlier today. i didn't realize i owned so many children's books that are controversial-

"Numerous other popular children's series have been criticized in recent years for alleged racism.

In the 2007 book, "Should We Burn Babar?," the author and educator Herbert R. Kohl contended that the "Babar the Elephant" books were celebrations of colonialism because of how the title character leaves the jungle and later returns to "civilize" his fellow animals.

One of the books, "Babar’s Travels," was removed from the shelves of a British library in 2012 because of its alleged stereotypes of Africans. Critics also have faulted the "Curious George" books for their premise of a white man bringing home a monkey from Africa.

And Laura Ingalls Wilder's portrayals of Native Americans in her "Little House On the Prairie" novels have been faulted so often that the American Library Association removed her name in 2018 from a lifetime achievement award it gives out each year."

 

[Olaf Myfrenzargay]

Btw, Cara Dune action figures are going for anywhere from $85 to over $250 on eBay.

 

[mefordis]

I meant the whole thing as the big deal. Just quietly stop publishing the books and allow the ones already out to be sold.

I feel the same way about the whole Mr./Mrs. Potato Head debacle. They weren't pulling Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head. They rebranded the overall company as just Potatohead. But once they made a big deal of it, everyone ran with the misunderstanding. If they had just changed that logo, it wouldn't have been such a big deal.

I guess it gets them publicity which companies consider good even when it's bad, but it's getting ridiculous.

The entire reason for doing it is PR.

 

[mefordis]

Personally, I think everyone should get copies of the book(s) and fund their children’s college fund with it.
Makes perfect sense to me and you can still go to WDW too.

I believe you are joking? They aren't going to be worth that much $$. However, there might be some money to be made in guessing the next thing to be banned and buying it up to sell on Ebay. Someone might be able to fund college that way.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just read that the Cat in the Hat is supposedly racist /is a take-off on an entertainer in "blackface". I honestly can't see it. The article also says that black kids are uncomfortable on Cat in the Hat day at school. Either this is far-fetched, or I'm missing something.

I grew up on Dr. Seuss books -- loved them. I've already bought a handful for my yet-to-be-born grandchild.

If Cat in the Hat is problematic, Mickey Mouse fans should all be a little bit nervous today.