Book Review: The Sneetches By Dr. Seuss
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The Story of the Sneetches
The Sneetches are a group of yellow bird-like creatures that live on a beach in a far away land. And on this beach there are two types of Sneetches: One type with green stars on their bellies and one type without. The Sneetches that do not have green stars on their bellies were always looked down upon by the Green-Star-Bellied Sneetches, as it was very fashionable to have green stars on one's belly. The Sneetches without green stars on their bellies were very saddened by this as they very much wanted to be a part of the "in-crowd" and wanted to be liked by everyone, especially like the Green-Star-Bellied Sneetches, but it was just not possible...
That was until one day, a "fix-it-up chappie" named Sylvester McMonkey McBean shows up and offers to the discontented star-less Sneetches a solution: For only three-dollars he will allow each of them to venture through his "Star-On" machine. Sylvester McMonkey McBean's "Star-On" machine was quickly a huge success and in no time at all, the star-less Sneetches were no longer star-less, because they were finally happy with how they looked! But this did not go over so well with the original Green-Star-Bellied Sneetches because they could no longer discriminate against the once star-less Sneetches who were now looked exactly like them! So just when they were stumped on what to do, Sylvester McMonkey McBean offers to go through his "Star-Off" machine for a paltry ten dollars and so, the Sneetches who originally had green stars on their bellies comply and venture through McBean's second and newer machine.
However, here arose another problem: Being that McBean had no problem letting any of the Sneetches through his newest machine--originally starred Sneetches or not--so long as they paid him. In essence, McBean allows even the recently starred Sneetches through and this further escalates more and more as all the Sneetches are running back and forth between his first machine to his second, newer machine:
Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Star-On Machine
"...until neither the Plain nor Star-Bellies knew
whether this one was that one or that one was this one
or which one was what one...or what one was who."
This goes on until all of the Sneetches on the beach are flat-broke and Sylvester McMonkey McBean is rich and so leaves while laughing at the absolute silliness he observed by all the Sneetches. McBean shakes his head and concedes, "You can't teach a Sneetch." But in spite of this, the Sneetches do learn from this experience and all the Sneetches come to realize that neither green-starred bellied Sneetches nor star-less bellied Sneetches were superior and so were all the same as they were ALL SNEETCHES, no matter what. It is because of this that they are all able to become friends and coexist peacefully with one another.
The Moral of the Story
I absolutely enjoyed this book as a kid and as an adult. It is my firm belief that this is truly one of the most important books to ever be published, including Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree because of the valuable lessons it continually teaches us. I'm overwhelmed by the power of what just a few colorful pictures and letters bound together by cardboard can do...By the way, did I mention that I like books? Please take the time to look at my other review of The Giving Tree at your convenience!
There are many factors involved when reading The Sneetches. Obviously, an adult should read this book with a broader view on certain topics not up to but including racism, materialism, imperialism and diplomacy. What Seuss' Sneetches teach us is that whether or not green stars are on their bellies or not is rather a silly reason to mistreat or disenfranchise other Sneetches who don't have such things. The way in which the Green-starred Sneetches carried themselves with their chins in the air and their uppity-attitude is the much the same way in which those who think they are more "privileged" than others carry themselves.
What Seuss is teaching us is that it is silly to make such irrelevant fusses about trivial things because we are all components of the human race. Think of the period of the New Immigrants in America that bought over the massive wave of Irish, or the Jim Crow laws of the Twentieth Century and the Japanese Internment Camps during the Second World War. Speaking of which, what about the Holocaust? In my religion, I learned that "Hate only breeds more Hate and that Love only breeds more Love. So since The Sneetches is in fact a children's book that normally should be read to and given to children by parents, doesn't it make sense that parents should share this book with their children? Shouldn't Dr. Seuss' message be conveyed to the tender minds of children? I believe so and I hope you do too. Thank you so much for letting me share this with you.
Amazing!
- Agency of NATO and United Nations to Distribute Dr. Seuss Stories to Foster Racial Tolerance in War-
Agency of NATO and United Nations to Distribute Dr. Seuss Stories to Foster Racial Tolerance in War-Torn Bosnia from Business Wire provided by Find Articles at BNET
I'm Doing It For Hub Love, Love (Hub 1/30)
Sneetches Are Now On Sale!
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The Sneetches and Other Stories
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Sneetches Are Sneetches: Learn about Same and Different (A Dr. Seuss Beginner Fun Book, Preschool - Grade 2)
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Sneetches Are Sneetches (Dr. Seuss Beginner Fun Books)
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The Lorax (Classic Seuss)
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Comments
Thanks, UW. Yeah, you're not the only one! Hopefully I'll change that though, right? Thanks for the love!
I've never seen that one. Definitely will check it out next time I go to the book store :) Thank you!
You better. Your daughter will love it, and let's not forget the bun in the oven too!
As I mentioned in the forum, this is my favorite Dr.Seuss book for exactly the reason you mentioned. It is such a powerful tale the demonstrates an even more powerful lesson. Thanks for sharing this great hub!
Not a problem. Thank you for reading it. I got a few more Ideas on the horizon. Hopefully I'll be able to pull it off! Just 1 hub per day and I'll reach my goal!
Seems like a very interesting story. I shall bookmark it so that when I come back online I will read this in detail.
Thanx for posting it though.
True, this is a nice symbolic story. I read it all and applied it to many situations in life.
Great morallay based story by Dr. Suess. That dude was a genious I think.
Great hub john...my favorite Seuss story. It reminds me of what the McBean banks have done to us now. Thanks! :)
Yeah the Dr was pretty slick at getting sublime messages across. Great hub
UH-Please do. One of my goals when writing book reviews is to remind others of the valuable lessons books can teach us. Thanks.
shamelabboush-I gotta find the link, but NATO shipped something in the neighborhood of 50,000 copies of the Sneetches to a third country that was in racial turmoil to quell a conflict believe or not...I'll have to find the article. Thanks again.
wesleycox-Seuss was definitely a genius! Literally masters today are still deconstructing his books that were meant for 4 year olds! I appreciate your comment.
Tom-Mine too, as it's also one of his most important. And yeah, McBean is definitely live and kicking! I use to think you put money in the bank to make money! Thanks.
ralwus-Yes, he was. His messages although simple should never be taken lightly. His books will forever continue praise and will continue to sell. Think about all of the high school and college grads that receive the book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Thank you for reading!
Awesome..
I was entertained reading this..
Thanks as always, HP Writer, as I had a great deal of fun writing this too!
hey that hit a note with me, it is 5a.m. and I think this is a good time for me to read hubs.... concentration good.
I enjoyed reading your hub a lot. Lessons and experiences for all.
Thank you, Chris and I enjoyed reading yours. Isn't it amazing how such a small book can have convey such a significant message?
Great hub, I love Dr. Seuss!!
Thanks Carla. I'm just glad that I've beaten everyone else to the punch, at least at Hubpages to write a hub on this amazingly simple yet profound work!
This was a great book review. I want to read the book now! When was this book published? I'm thinking there's some World War II symbolism going on in this story, since the Jews in Germany, Poland, France, and other places occupied by the Nazis were required to wear stars as a symbol of their supposed "inferiority." It was just like Dr. Seuss to go beyond the straightforward story and make a stand. I'll be sure to read this to my kids.
Hi, wannabwestern. Don't hesitate, please read this to you children and/or better yet, buy this book for them. It should be an heirloom for years to come (and don't let them color it in like I used to with some of my books when I was a kid). Thanks for reading!
Great review - Dr Seuss is one of my favourites and I've read and re-read this to my daughter so many times when she was young. Yes, I agree with you - we need to pay attention as adults as well to the lessons books like these teach.
Thank you, shalini for the comment. I look forward to the day when I have children just so I can teach to them everything that I've learned.
I gave another point up...this is my favourite!!!
Thank you, Carla. I'm glad that you enjoyed it! I believe this to be a "Must Have" for every parent to give to their child.
This is such a great story! I agree it must be read by all children and adults. In fact it should be part of the obligations in schools. It teaches kids how to respect all human beings equally and not judge them by their appearance, or religoun. Unfortunatly, we live in a crazy world, full of wars based on descrimination, racism and lots of hate. The one important thing we ought to teach our children, and our selves, is how to heal our world from this kind of hatered. How to love and respect all sneetches, even if some have stars on, or not. We are all people. I think this book can explain this issue in a fun and exciting way, not to mention- very coloful, like humans are! So, even if u dont like sneetchers- remember- Never judge a book by its cover!
This is one of the best comments I've heard yet. Being of Asian descent, I actually experience (notice I'm not referring this experience in the past tense) reverse-racism in which some people simply assume that I'm good at math, know martial arts or can speak either Chinese and/or Japanese (Some people think that there are only two or three countries in Asia, Korea being the probable third). But reverse-racism is racism nevertheless. It is ignorant to really assume anything about a person. It's much better to get to know a person first before making any preconceived notions.
Thank you for your comment.
OMG! I love Dr Seuss, this book is totally awsome. You are very clever to write about it. Have you read 'oh the places you'll go'. Maybe I should do a review later today when I need a bit of fun, so again thanks for the idea. You have helped to create an impression on me that this site has a wonderful community, you really do add to the friendliness of the community making this site what it is, addictive!
Thanks, Kirsten. Yes, this place definitely has a wonderful community of writers. I read "Oh, the Places You'll Go" a long time ago, but I think I remember it. It's one of those books almost every college graduate receives as a gift for Commencement. I for one did not receive it:( But that is a great idea for a hub! Go for it! I promise that it'll be "one of the places I will go" if you do, ha ha ha.
Very well done!!
I've always enjoyed Dr. Seuss. I think he's smarter than most folks. :)
Thanks for the comment, WildEyes. Yes, he certainly was. I don't think any of his books should be taken lightly as they all send a powerful and provocative message in a profound way. All adults should take the time to do a close reading of his works and relay what they've learned to their children.
The Sneetches is my all-time favorite Dr. Seuss book! You have captured the essence of it exactly. When my children were young we had a VHS that had this story as a cartoon. We wore it out! I can't remember reading this as a child, but when I first got it for my daughter, I fell in love with it as an adult! :D
Thank you K@ri! The Sneetches was one of my favorites too, as it taught me the magic and power of storytelling. Seuss did a remarkable job of teaching us to love each others' similarities rather than despise each others' differences. He's certainly one of the best authors of all time in any genre.
I used to read all of Dr Seuss to my children and now I share them with my granddaughters. The Sneetches were always favorites.
Great hub
regards Zsuzsy
Thanks Zsuzsy Bee! There really aren't that many important children's books that I know of, but The Sneetches is definitely one of them! I hope that I'll be as lucky in life as you to be able to share this book with your grandchildren. I thank you for fanning me!
You make many cogent points about how children's books can even teach adults lessons about greed, racism, and bigotry. Actually many of Doctor Seuss's stories were intially written for adult audiences, but later caught on with kids.
Seuss's use of a rhyming style made his writing popular with children, which is a big reason these stories are still beloved today. If I ask kids most of them do not know what the Sweet Valley Twins are, a popular kid's book of my day, but most know of the Dr. Seuss characters, which are timeless.
Thank you, SweetiePie. Nothing good ever came out of hate, and people must understand this before any blood can be spilled. I'm not sure if you noticed, but I added a link concerning the U.N. who sent thousands of "The Sneetches" books to war-torn Bosnia to heal them! It's absolutely incredible what just one little book can do!
I will take a look at the link.
Hi Dohn, I don't think I've read this one - how did I miss it?! I love Dr Seuss and I've so enjoyed sharing them with my children. My favourite is green eggs and ham, but I am going to have to buy this to add to my collection :)
Please do. It's my belief that it's one of the most important books you can buy for your kids. It's great as a gift for other young/old children too! Thanks for commenting.
OMGSH, LOVE The Sneetches! haha wonderful hub. I'm rating it "UP"!
Yes, I'd go as far as to say it's one of the most important children's books ever published and one of the best books to discourage racism. Thank you, cosette.
you know, i was going to write about harold and the purple crayon, another great! i think i just might now.
No, don't think! DO IT! That's a great idea...You know I'll read it;)
I love this book and enjoyed your review. Dr. Suess was a genius and there is such a less here--an important one. Look at all the response to a Dr. Suess book. So cool!!
Thank you so much Pamela. The response has been pleasantly overwhelming. I'm happy that so many people have read this book and hope more and more parents will share it with their children. It's quite amazing the power within the subtext of this ingenious work!
Cool hub! Going to keep this book in mind for my son. Thanks
You definitely should, silverlining. Like I said, there are very few children's books out on the market today that are deemed "important" per se. I hope he enjoys it! Thank you.
This is really good! I love Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein!! YAY :D I should read this to Yortis ;)
Thank you for taking my advice (or unsolicited link!) I'm glad that you enjoyed it! I left you some fan mail by the way and also posted another riddle...Hopefully this time, you won't solve it in a half a second!
Our son loved the story of the sneetches and it does have a great moral doesn't it? How about reviewing the cat in the hat that would be a fun one too!!!! :)
You know, I might take you up on that request! We shall have to see...I'm glad you enjoyed this, Julianna and appreciate your comment! Thank you.
My favorite Dr. Seuss stories are the ones in which he subtly offers important life lessons. The Sneetches, The Lorax, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who and Yertle the Turtle are some of my favorites. There's also a great short story called "What Was I Afraid Of?" in the book we have that has the Sneetches story. Its message is similar to that of Sneetches - just because people are different, we don't need to be afraid.
I haven't hear of,"What Was I Afraid Of?" I'll certainly take a look at it as it sounds interesting. He has such a broad range of stories that it's difficult to not long every single one of his books. Thank you for sharing that with me, Lisa. I appreciate your comment!
My favorite Dr. Seuss stories are the ones in which he subtly offers important life lessons.
Yeah, mine too, Skydweller! I really do appreciate your comments! Thanks for all of your support!
For sure, Dr. Seuss was a genius in creating children's tales...and anyone can really enjoy them, as well...
Thanks Fiery! He certainly was one of the great literary lights of the 20th Century. The worst thing any of us can do is take his work for granted!
Wow, dohn, it sounds like Dr. Suess was a communist! What with all that fairness and sharing at all. Haha, only kidding. One of the best thing about having kids is that you get to read all those great kids books and Dr. Suess was the master, handing out beautiful moral lessons while entertaining in a manner that keeps you coming back to read him over and over. This book was one of my boy's favorites.
Thank you, Dolores. Even as an adult, I still enjoy reading his stories and enjoying the pictures almost as much as I did when I was a child. There are some things that we never forget nor should ever forget. Deep inside all of us is a child that still enjoys all the little, simpler things in life. Thanks again for your comment!
Alright, Dohn, I'm growing weary of all your good writing ;) This has to be one of the most necessary reviews--which I consider to be a tribute-- of an evanescent literary necessity. When I obtained my associates degree just last year, one of two things my parents gave to me was another Dr. Suess book, "Oh The Places You'll Go". Inspiration, especially in the case of Dr. Suess, knows no age. Kudos dohn.
Hey, thanks for the compliment, zadrobi. I've always enjoyed this book and hope that its message does not go unheeded. We can delve into the advent of plastic surgery and materialistic wealth in addition to the race issue. "Oh The Places You'll Go" is one of the most gifted books given to recent grads and rightly so. Thank you again. I'll always look forward to your comments.
Dr.Seuss was one of my all time favorite authors as a child. It was so wonderful to be able to share his books with my children as they were growing up and in many (many) years to come I hope to share them with grandchildren too.
Wonderful book review!
Yes, he's is by far one of my favorite children's authors too. Once we look past his silliness and analyze he seriousness, we see that he's much more than a rhyming artist, but a master scholar and benevolent intellectual. Thank you, Vicoria. I hope to hear from you again.
I love Dr. Seuss and you did such a great review!
Thank you very much, Song-Bird. I'm glad that you enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed writing it as well!
Great review of a wonderful book! I look forward to reading your review of The Giving Tree. :)
Hey, thanks, Lissa Lynn. I really do appreciate your readership. Whenever the urge comes over me, I'll write a review on a book I deem worthy, I guess you could say.
I understand, I do that with music sometimes, I've only published one hub on the subject so far, but feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. :)
Dohn, you know I have to go buy this book now for my son (and me). Great review, loved it. You are very talented!
Thanks, Lissa. I'll be sure to read your hub! My resolve since joining HubPages has not changed, as I still write what I love and have a passion for. Keep on hubbing!
Thanks, Ladybird33. I really do believe that this is one of the most important books ever published and should be shared with everyone we love. I'm sure that he'll enjoy it in all phases of life like I still do.
I loved this book as a kid also. In high school, I took a creative writing class where one of the assignments was to write our own version of this story based on our lives. It was a very interesting challenge! Thank you for reminding me of the book and that challenge.
You're welcome, Blogurl. I'm glad I was able to bring you back to that time. I really do like this book and it is a treasured keepsake to me. I like the writing challenge that you were given by the way! Thanks for the comment!
Hey, I've bookmarked this one! - I've read all of Dr. Suess, including his political cartoons, seen his paintings, and such. Thanks!
Hey, Patty. Thanks for doing that! I think the toughest thing to do is to pick a favorite by Dr. Seuss, as it's very much like picking which of your children you love most :) I appreciate that, Patty, thank you!
As a kid I was very proud of my Dr. Seuss collection. Somehow, though, I never managed to read this one until just recently. I did get so much out of it, though, and now I see the McBeans all around. Good review!
Hey, Jeffrey. Thank you for the comment. You're right, those pesky McBeans are everywhere, aren't they? This book just further argues why Dr. Seuss was a genius. It's funny. I was poor growing up and so didn't have much of a collection of anything, but as an adult, I finally went to Walt Disney World and have a sizable library!
It seems that adults as well as children could learn from the Sneetches. Very good overview.
Thank you, Bedbug. I really appreciate that.
A very popular theme, I see dohn
Thank you, Katyzzz. I enjoy it.
Great hub! My 2-year-old niece is just getting into Seuss. so I'm getting to relive all of my childhood favorites.
Thanks, Naomi. I'm sure that you'll have the opportunity to spoil her the way I spoil my niece and nephews. As a child, I loved receiving books as gifts almost as much as I enjoyed receiving toys: They were never enough!
Like you dohn, I always loved receiving books as gifts. The Dr. Seuss books came later but I enjoyed them with my niece. This one was new to me and it certainly teaches good lessons. If all the children of the world could read and absorb its meaning.....we could have a much better world in the years ahead.
Yes, that would be something, wouldn't it? It really does bother me that there is so much hate in this world. Just today, I watch a special on CNN about the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks that occurred a year ago. It saddens me to learn of such hatred in this world, due to such differences and beliefs. Thank you, Peggy.
Uninvited Writer says:
4 months ago
This is an excellent hub. What a great story that is; I'm ashamed to say I've never read it. I love Dr. Seuss.