Understanding The Reckoning Around Dr. Seuss’s Catalog

Dr. Seuss’ company said Tues. that it will no longer publish half a dozen of its titles on the grounds of racist and insensitive imagery, and some are criticizing the choice.

Books Dr Seuss
Holly Ramer / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Books Dr Seuss
Holly Ramer / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Understanding The Reckoning Around Dr. Seuss’s Catalog

Dr. Seuss’ company said Tues. that it will no longer publish half a dozen of its titles on the grounds of racist and insensitive imagery, and some are criticizing the choice.

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After consulting educators and reviewing the franchise, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced on Tuesday that it will stop publishing six of its lesser-known titles that “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

Reset brings on the head of the Illinois Library Association to talk about how libraries plan to handle these books, plus a child psychologist and bibliophile to share their take on the appropriateness of the company’s decision.

GUESTS: Veronica De Fazio, Illinois Library Association President 2020-21 and head of Youth Services at the Plainfield Library District

Tonya Bibbs, associate professor at the Erikson Institute

John Warner, weekly columnist at the Chicago Tribune, author of “Why They Can’t Write” and “Sustainable. Resilient. Free.: The Future of Public Higher Education.”