Seussian Liberal Propaganda

There are three great books from Seuss that I can't read (and discuss) enough with Lily.   Glenn Beck would probably frown on these books since they are filled with liberal propaganda about stuff like protecting the environment and acknowledging that we are all the same inside, but my daughter and I both love them.

Yertle the Turtle - The story of Yertle a power hungry turtle and king of the pond, who will stop at nothing to make his throne larger.   Unfortunately it's a throne built by stacking up all the other turtles in the pond.   Eventually, just your average everyday turtle at the bottom topples Yertle from his throne.

When we read this we tend to talk about how our actions can hurt or help others.   I used it to point out things like how it's OK for her to carry her brother, but she has to stop if cries.   The lesson is to take other people's feelings into account.

What she doesn't understand with this story is some deeper meaning about man and the excesses taken by governments and kings.   That's probably the least important part, as it should come naturally if you have empathy on an individual level.


Sneetches -  The Sneetches appear to live on beaches, eat processed meats and party (they like Frankfurter roasts).  They have settled into a caste system dividing those with stars on their belly and those without.  This book tells the story of how a huckster teaches them an expensive but priceless lesson -- that, star on the belly or not, they are all Sneetches.

This opens a really amazing range of conversations when reading the book.   We talk about the differences in each person - how everyone has a different face, body shape and moles, but everyone has the same emotions inside.   We also talk about empathy, and how the star-less Sneetches feel bad when left out of the Frankfurter roasts, etc.

What I sense she doesn't understand is the motivations of the con man/carnival barker who's actions precipitate the end of this caste system.   She appears to understand why someone might be excluded because of an external difference, but it's not clear if she gets how scrambling that criteria could teach a lesson.


The Lorax - Told as a flash back in the bleak and desolate present, this is a blunt force argument for the tree-huggers.   The Lorax is the penultimate tree-hugger, as the 'voice of the trees' and is unable to convince the greedy Once-Ler from destroying a beautiful forest and its joyous and vibrant denizens.

Ok, while I love this one, it's mostly over her head.   She doesn't appear to understand the greed or the motivation for capitalism (much like the Huckster from Sneetches).    What she appears to get is how cutting down the trees ruins the environment for the animals on the land, sea and air though.   That's a start, and with repeated readings this book will eventually be just a vivid allegory rather then a lesson.  

Cognition comes quick.  It wasn't so long ago that Green Eggs and Ham was over her head.  I still know Pooh Loves You by heart, cover to cover (and haven't read it in months, thankfully).    We still read under and over her head now, and will keep doing that, just so long as she's listening.