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Did Dr. Seuss encourage violence against fathers? One reader thinks so

The Toronto Public Library reportedly received a complaint about Dr. Seuss book 'Hop on Pop,' with the patron saying the title encouraged violence against fathers.

'Hop on Pop' is by Dr. Seuss.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Dr. Seuss apparently displeased one Toronto resident this past year.

According to CTV Toronto, Seuss’s book “Hop on Pop” was one of seven titles that people requested Toronto Public Library take off their shelves. In the case of “Pop,” the person who complained said the book was “violent and encouraged children to be violent with their fathers,” the Toronto Public Library director of collections management Vickery Bowles told CTV Toronto.

The person asked that “Pop” be removed from the library and that the library pay damages caused by the book’s allegedly violent themes as well as give an apology to area fathers.

The library declined to do so.

In fact, as CTV pointed out, part of the text of Seuss’s book reads, “STOP You must not hop on Pop,” discouraging children from jumping on their parents.

“Pop” was first released in 1963 and Seuss’s other popular titles include “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish,” and “Green Eggs and Ham.”

According to the American Library Association, more than 300 titles were challenged in the US last year. The books that received the most challenges were the titles in the “Captain Underpants” series by Dav Pilkey.

The ALA celebrates Banned Books Week every year and this year’s celebration will be held beginning Sept. 21.

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