Six books by the beloved children's author Dr. Seuss will not see print because of racist imagery, the business managing the author's legacy said in a statement, according to ABC News on Wednesday.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises said it consulted with a group of experts, including educators, to examine the catalog of the iconic children's book writer and decided in 2020 to stop selling the six titles because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong."
The six books are: "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," "McElligot's Pool," "If I Ran the Zoo," "Scrambled Eggs Super!," "On Beyond Zebra!" and "The Cat's Quizzer."
The decision to stop publication and sales of the books was made last year following months of discussion, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which was founded by Seuss' family, told the Associated Press.
In a statement, Dr. Seuss Enterprises said stopping the sales of the books is part of its broader plan to "ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises' catalog represents and supports all communities and families."
The move was disclosed on what would have been the 117th birthday of the author, who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield in 1904.
While his books have sold hundreds of millions of copies for their memorable rhymes, they have been criticized for the way they depict Asian and Black people.
A February 2019 study by the Conscious Kid Library and University of California, San Diego examined 50 of the books and found that the presence of "anti-Blackness, Orientalism, and White supremacy span across Dr. Seuss' entire literary collection and career," the Boston Globe reported.
