I have examined a number of lists naming the works of literature most often recommended by scholars. These lists claim to officialize which novels, plays, and poems throughout history qualify as works of “literary merit.”
Most of these exalted writings seem to have been selected for quintessentially portraying a place or time period, exploring timeless themes, masterfully demonstrating a particular style of writing, or innovating with a new style altogether.
However, rarely did I find on these lists any work that would be considered a “children’s book.” With a few exceptions (such as Alice in Wonderland), books and poetry written for young audiences have largely been ignored by professors of literature. Yet many times I have asked myself, “Why is this so?”
With the countless number of brilliant children’s authors found among both the dead and the living, surely there are more than just a couple of children’s books that last the test of time. Surely many poems, even being designated for children, convey profound messages. And most certainly, numerous children’s authors have innovated in the art of writing—just as much as Poe and Hemingway ever did. Dr. Seuss is an excellent example of such a case. His books contain most (if not all) of the elements present in works of “literary merit,” and therefore his name ought to join the ranks of academically recognized authors.
Like other notable works, Dr. Seuss displays a mastery of the written language. His bouncy, smooth-flowing verse presented in titles such as One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and Green Eggs and Ham evidences not only a thorough understanding of the mechanics of poetry, but a powerful ability to appeal to the human mind, even if his target audience happens to be children.
In addition, Seuss utilizes an impressive—if unorthodox—vocabulary. Rather than succumbing to the limited word choice available to him with any particular rhyme, he ingeniously inverses this relationship. Instead of creating the poems to fit the words, he creates words to fit the poem. This expanded lexicon includes terms ranging from “Beezlenut Trees” to “Winkibus,” asserting Seuss’s Chuck Norris-caliber dominion over language that has scarcely been applied to such an appealing effect. Children’s writer or no, his writing versatility appears to be quite impressive.
Beyond writing skill, Dr. Seuss presents timeless themes in his works that connect with people both old and young. Horton Hatches the Egg extols the practically inarguable virtues of honesty and patience.
The Sneetches engages in a not-so-subtle attack on racism and discrimination, brilliantly illustrating how ridiculous such prejudices are with his allegory of the Star-Bellied Sneetches’ rivalry with the Plain-Bellied Sneetches.
In Butter Battle Book, Seuss comically portrays the nuclear arms race between the United States and Russia by impersonating them with the conflict between the Yooks and the Zooks, who are prepared to enter a war of Armageddon over which side of a slice of bread the butter should go on.
And, perhaps even more notably, The Lorax describes an environmentalist perspective on what will happen to the natural beauty of the world if capitalist entrepreneurs reign supreme. The list goes on, but suffice it to say that many of Seuss’s books are extremely thematic and occasionally controversial. Are they still technically children’s books? Yes. But a simple story can speak to us about complex issues, as Seuss’s literary achievements demonstrate.
Accordingly, Dr. Seuss’s work has had significant impact on American culture. Several of his novels have been adapted into films, television shows, musicals, and theme parks. The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, and Horton Hears a Who! have hit the big screen, the first and last enjoying remarkable success.
Seussical, a collaboration of a variety of Seuss’s creations, performed on Broadway and remains popular with school and amateur performance groups. Seuss Landing in Universal Studios Florida is dedicated to taking advantage of Dr. Seuss’s massive appeal to children with a number of quirky attractions based on the books.
And finally, to top it off, teachers are using Dr. Seuss’s literature in high schools. For example, I watched and discussed The Sneetches with my Honors English class as a sophomore—and it was actually part of the lesson. Seuss’s colorful stories have pervaded multiple levels of our society—not just children.
Perhaps the most compelling factor of all in favor of Seuss’s literary significance is his immense originality and imagination. After all, how many other authors have created their own extension of the alphabet? Who else causes ham to be green and elephants to hatch eggs, dresses a cat in a hat and bowtie, and envisions a skyscraping tower of turtles? With so many unique ideas credited to his name, Dr. Seuss has so distinctly set himself apart from the rest of the writing world that his name has nearly become its own adjective.
And on top of his unfathomable creativity, Seuss has accomplished what most adult authors never could: he has brought his own books to life through illustrations. The nasty, holiday-hating Grinch; the odd yet benevolent Cat in the Hat; the sincere elephant Horton who is convinced an entire civilization is living on a speck; all have become iconic characters as easily identifiable as Ronald McDonald or Harry Potter. Ultimately, the ways in which the author’s books stand out are what make him such an outstanding writer. If Seuss’s innovative spirit is not worthy of literary merit, then red is not a color of the rainbow.
Though Dr. Seuss and many other authors have chosen to direct their work to a younger audience, by no means should this discredit them or exclude them from being considered for general literary excellence. It takes a great deal of talent to capture the attention of mature human beings through writing; but perhaps it takes a great deal more to entertain millions of giddy, hyperactive kids when a book is not a television screen, a Nintendo controller, or a crawling insect.
The example of Seuss flies directly in the face of the assumption that children’s books are trivial. He was able to cater to the child’s craving for wonders and marvels while simultaneously inventing stories relevant to society as a whole, shaking the literary world with all the force of a walloping wizz-zinger.
The Commonplace Notebook 