An “inclusive“ group of writers and artists from “diverse racial backgrounds“ will edit and review never-before-seen sketches drawn by Dr. Seuss before they are published for the first time.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises, a company created by the family of the iconic children’s book author — whose actual name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, made the news on Wednesday, which sparked claims of “woke-washing” on social media.
Following his recent “cancellation,” when six of his children’s books were removed from publication due to suspected racist content, the designs will serve as the basis for a new line of books written and illustrated by the group.
The books are part of a new Seuss Studio series aimed at readers ages 4 to 8. The first two titles are scheduled for release next year.
“We look forward to putting the spotlight on a new generation of talent who we know will bring their unique voices and style to the page, while also drawing inspiration from the creativity and imagination of Dr. Seuss,” Susan Brandt, the president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said in a statement.“The original Dr. Seuss sketch that serves as the inspiration for each of the new Seuss Studios books will be included in the book, along with a note from the creators explaining how they were inspired and their process,” she added.
It’s exactly one year after six of Seuss’s books were announced it wouldn’t be published, and the announcement comes on what would have been the 118th birthday of Dr. Seuss.
A year ago, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it was ceasing publication of around a dozen books because they “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”
“We believed that it was time to take action,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Post. “We listened and took feedback from our audiences, including teachers, academics, and specialists in the field, too, as part of the review process.”
The titles of the six books were: “If I Ran the Zoo,” “And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra!,” “Scrambled Eggs Super!” and “The Cat’s Quizzer.’’
