BPL: March 2 Is Read Across America Day

From the Birmingham Public Library:

March 2, 2021

Read Across America Day, held annually on beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss’ birthday, was a bit different today, March 2, 2021 – and not just because many students are studying virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the nation celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday, publisher Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that in order to preserve the author’s legacy, it will no longer publish six of his books because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong."

The six Dr. Seuss books that will no longer be in print 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!"

• “The Cat’s Quizzer”

In a statement, Dr. Seuss Enterprises said it reached the decision after consulting with educators and reviewing its book catalog.

"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.

Born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Mass., Dr. Seuss is one of world’s best-known authors. His best-selling children’s classics include "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Dr. Seuss died in September 1991 at age 87. Over 650 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide, according to media reports.

Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. Though most of the focus is on March 2, Read Across America is a year-round program that focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

This press release was produced by the Birmingham Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.