Dr. Seuss Controversy Lands At Minot Library

The World-famous Dr. Seuss was an American children's author, a poet that wrote and illustrated more than 60 books. Our ways of life have changed quite a bit since he passed away thirty years ago. Words are chosen more carefully, and not just for the sole purpose of entertainment. The past was filled with different structures, cultures, and races that were abused.

Dr. Seuss has been under fire recently, and around the country, some of his books have been pulled. According to the NYTimes six books so far have been on the list, and will no longer be published because of their use of offensive imagery. Dr Seuss Enterprises said that it had decided last year to end publication and licensing of the books by Theodor Seuss Geisel.

The names of the books are “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.”  The controversy has reached Minot, North Dakota. According to KFYRTV, their library has strict policies when it comes to collection development, and Janet Anderson, the director, says this about the books that were mentioned “Stereotypes and prejudices. They are real and they are definitely in these books, they show their ages, they show perhaps hurtful or harmful prejudice especially against Asians against African Americans,” 

As of right now, the library does have several books that are no longer published and they are still on their shelves.