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The Sneetches and Other Stories
Some of the Sneetches have bellies with stars, but the plain-bellied ones have none upon thars! But an unexpected visitor soon leads them to discover they’re not that different after all, in the first tale in this classic collection of stories.
(This ebook is optimised for Kindle tablets and the Kindle App. It is not suitable for e-Ink kindle devices, such as the PaperWhite. We recommend you download a sample to your device before purchase if in doubt.)
The Star-Bellied Sneetches have bellies with Stars, but the Plain-Bellied Sneetches don’t, and the two just can’t seem to get along. Rivalries rocket when Sylvester McMonkey McBean steps in to prey on their prejudices, but in the end we realise that prejudice is nothing more than a ridiculous waste of time. The first in a series of splendiferous Seussian stories.
As part of a major rebrand programme, HarperCollins is relaunching Dr. Seuss’s bestselling books, including such perennial favourites as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and Fox in Socks. In response to consumer demand, the bright new cover designs incorporate much needed guidance on reading levels, with the standard paperbacks divided into three reading strands – Blue Back Books for parents to share with young children, Green Back Books for budding readers to tackle on their own, and Yellow Back Books for older, more fluent readers to enjoy. The Sneetches and Other Stories belongs to the Yellow Back Books range
(This ebook is optimised for Kindle tablets and the Kindle App. It is not suitable for e-Ink kindle devices, such as the PaperWhite. We recommend you download a sample to your device before purchase if in doubt.)
The Star-Bellied Sneetches have bellies with Stars, but the Plain-Bellied Sneetches don’t, and the two just can’t seem to get along. Rivalries rocket when Sylvester McMonkey McBean steps in to prey on their prejudices, but in the end we realise that prejudice is nothing more than a ridiculous waste of time. The first in a series of splendiferous Seussian stories.
As part of a major rebrand programme, HarperCollins is relaunching Dr. Seuss’s bestselling books, including such perennial favourites as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and Fox in Socks. In response to consumer demand, the bright new cover designs incorporate much needed guidance on reading levels, with the standard paperbacks divided into three reading strands – Blue Back Books for parents to share with young children, Green Back Books for budding readers to tackle on their own, and Yellow Back Books for older, more fluent readers to enjoy. The Sneetches and Other Stories belongs to the Yellow Back Books range
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1961
300 people are currently reading
19081 people want to read
About the author
Dr. Seuss
967 books18.3k followersAlso wrote as Theodore Seuss Geisel, see https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,134 reviews
April 25, 2017
One of the greatest Dr. Seuss' stories!
NEVER AGAIN, REMEMBER THE SNEETCHES
Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.
It’s not rare that Dr. Seuss came up with this charming tale in 1961, at the beginning of the decade where the civil rights were in a mass turmoil.
This story reminded me about the classic TV episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” from Star Trek: The Original Series where the last two individuals from the same planet were still battling against each other, since they consider themselves “different” from the other one, just because their faces have black-white colors in opposite sides (and not surprising that it was aired in 1969, still in this convulsive decade).
Here, is the same concept (eight years before) just using stars in the bellies (curiously enough, a couple of decades before, in our messy world, stars were used to make look people as different, just in that time, nobody would want to interchange stars).
And in the middle of the ignorance and prejudice, always...
...ALWAYS...
...somebody makes profit out of our foolish desires to be “different”, “better”, than others.
A sad truth about our species, but we have Dr. Seuss to educate the future generations.
NEVER AGAIN, REMEMBER THE SNEETCHES
Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.
It’s not rare that Dr. Seuss came up with this charming tale in 1961, at the beginning of the decade where the civil rights were in a mass turmoil.
This story reminded me about the classic TV episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” from Star Trek: The Original Series where the last two individuals from the same planet were still battling against each other, since they consider themselves “different” from the other one, just because their faces have black-white colors in opposite sides (and not surprising that it was aired in 1969, still in this convulsive decade).
Here, is the same concept (eight years before) just using stars in the bellies (curiously enough, a couple of decades before, in our messy world, stars were used to make look people as different, just in that time, nobody would want to interchange stars).
And in the middle of the ignorance and prejudice, always...
...ALWAYS...
...somebody makes profit out of our foolish desires to be “different”, “better”, than others.
A sad truth about our species, but we have Dr. Seuss to educate the future generations.
March 2, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
HAPPY SEUSS DAY!
I tried to bake a fabulous cake like this in order to celebrate . . .
but ended up with a bit of a wreck . . .
We’re all supposed to be reading Oh, The Places You’ll Go! today too, but Anne pretty much wrote the best review ever for that one, so I’m eating a birthday donut in lieu of cake and reviewing my favorite Dr. Seuss book, The Sneetches, instead.
In a world where bullying happens nearly upon birth, this is a story that should be required reading for all. With constant reminding, maybe kids will realize that there is no need to worry about having the hottest new trends . . .
Hear that little one? THESE . . .
were kinda a waste of your Christmas money.
One day you will see that:
“No kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.”
One day you will forget all about stars. And whether, or not, you have one upon yars ; )
HAPPY SEUSS DAY!
I tried to bake a fabulous cake like this in order to celebrate . . .
but ended up with a bit of a wreck . . .
We’re all supposed to be reading Oh, The Places You’ll Go! today too, but Anne pretty much wrote the best review ever for that one, so I’m eating a birthday donut in lieu of cake and reviewing my favorite Dr. Seuss book, The Sneetches, instead.
In a world where bullying happens nearly upon birth, this is a story that should be required reading for all. With constant reminding, maybe kids will realize that there is no need to worry about having the hottest new trends . . .
Hear that little one? THESE . . .
were kinda a waste of your Christmas money.
One day you will see that:
“No kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.”
One day you will forget all about stars. And whether, or not, you have one upon yars ; )
December 7, 2007
Why 5 stars? Why rate a children's book? Because there is still prejudice in the world, that's why. If we got the world leaders together, and brainwashed them with this book, war would disappear. Segregation, discrimination, prejudice, sophistry, bias and artificial prominance would go away. In his unique way, Theodore Giesel points out the folly of judging anybody by physical characteristics, or any other inaccurate method.
Lessons learned from this book:
Whether we have stars or not, no matter the color, race, language, gender, religion or orientation, we are all similar, with similar wants and needs. In addition, we CAN all be taught.
Sometimes, our best friends may come in a package that we may not accept unless we are open-minded enough to accept them. Even the strangest of bedfellows, in this book empty green trousers, have feelings, and great potential.
If we fail to give up those afore-mentioned biases, we will relegate ourselves to an immobile state. We will stubbornly stand, unrelenting, while the world passes us by, building roads and highways around us while we stagnate based on principle alone as the Zax characters did.
Never name your children all the same name. It causes confusion.
This book is a classic, appropriate for all ages. And, if you are careful enough to see past the ever-so-cute artwork, you just might learn something as you read it.
Lessons learned from this book:
Whether we have stars or not, no matter the color, race, language, gender, religion or orientation, we are all similar, with similar wants and needs. In addition, we CAN all be taught.
Sometimes, our best friends may come in a package that we may not accept unless we are open-minded enough to accept them. Even the strangest of bedfellows, in this book empty green trousers, have feelings, and great potential.
If we fail to give up those afore-mentioned biases, we will relegate ourselves to an immobile state. We will stubbornly stand, unrelenting, while the world passes us by, building roads and highways around us while we stagnate based on principle alone as the Zax characters did.
Never name your children all the same name. It causes confusion.
This book is a classic, appropriate for all ages. And, if you are careful enough to see past the ever-so-cute artwork, you just might learn something as you read it.
January 11, 2023
Those empty pants are fucking terrifying. What the hell, Geisel?
March 29, 2021
Sneetch Scandal! Crazy Yellow Birds Discover Indifference to Differences! "Well, once they discovered that the presence or absence of a little green star on their bellies didn't mean anything and they focused on their common Sneetchiness - I was out of business!" - Sylvester McMonkey McBean - The Exploiter Echo.
An enduring classic of a story that highlights that social division will be exploited for profit, and that social division will be promoted by the unscrupulous, because when people are focussed on their differences they can be endlessly exploited by evil people for fun and profit.
This remains an enduring classic precisely because people are vulnerable to being divided by those who desire to exploit them.
People wedded to the idea of social division and exploitation, will hate the fundamental message of this book - that the cure for social division and its attendant hatred is indifference to differences, and a focus on the common humanity that unites us all.
Sadly, the message of the uniting nature of our common humanity is lost amongst the insane babble of the media matrix.
Strongly Recommended: 5 'Sneetches are the Best,' stars.
An enduring classic of a story that highlights that social division will be exploited for profit, and that social division will be promoted by the unscrupulous, because when people are focussed on their differences they can be endlessly exploited by evil people for fun and profit.
This remains an enduring classic precisely because people are vulnerable to being divided by those who desire to exploit them.
People wedded to the idea of social division and exploitation, will hate the fundamental message of this book - that the cure for social division and its attendant hatred is indifference to differences, and a focus on the common humanity that unites us all.
Sadly, the message of the uniting nature of our common humanity is lost amongst the insane babble of the media matrix.
Strongly Recommended: 5 'Sneetches are the Best,' stars.
April 9, 2020
One of the first books I ever read. so many amazing lessons!
May 7, 2017
The Sneetches and The pale Green pants were favourites of my children and grandson, I have to admit they are favourites of mine too, paticularly the pale green pants, what a message that gets hammered home to children. Absolute classic Seuss!!
October 22, 2016
This book is one of the first books that I understood had a message behind the story. As such it will always hold a special place on my life long bookshelf.
January 15, 2012
I was reading this book for the Readers Against Prejudice and Racism Club and it was fantastic!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
I have been reading many of Dr. Seuss’ books ever since I was a child, but out of all the books I have read from him, this book was the most effective book I have ever read! “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a short collection of stories by Dr. Seuss where each of them detailed how to accept other people for who they are. “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a truly memorable book that displays some of Dr. Seuss’ best works!
Alright, not only will I talk about how I felt about this book, I will also discuss about the various themes in this book from my viewpoint on the situations. Dr. Seuss has certainly done a brilliant job at both illustrating and writing this memorable book about the importance of accepting other people for their different qualities and the consequences if we do not accept them for who they are. Let me discuss about my thoughts on the stories “The Sneetches” and “What was I scared of?” as they were my most favorite stories out of the entire book. In “The Sneetches,” it was obvious that this story was discussing about accepting other people’s differences, or in a more general sense:
RACISM AND PREJUDICE
The Star-Belly Sneetches believed themselves to be far more superior than the Plain-Belly Sneetches because they possessed qualities that the plain-belly sneetches did not possessed, which were the stars on their bellies. I am guessing that this story was relating to the extreme racism and prejudice going on during the 1960s at the time, since this book was written during the 60s. I really enjoyed this story because it seemed to have a solution at the end of the story, that it is pointless to see who is better than the other and it shows that no matter what your skin color (or in this case, whether you have a star on your belly or not) everyone is still a human being and we are all equal in every way. The other story I wanted to talk about is “What Was I Scared of?” and this story talks about how a young boy was scared of a “pair of pants” when walking through the night on an errand and what was so interesting about this story was that this story was about the fact that it expresses the whole “the person I am afraid of is just as scared of me as I am of him or her” situation. I really loved how the situation was handled at the end of the story and how becoming friends with a person you were once afraid of is the best solution in trying to connect with a person who is different from you. Dr. Seuss’s illustrations are just as creative in this book as they were in his other books! I just loved how the sneetches’ appearances in this book as they are shown as tall and yellow creatures who all look alike, except that some of them have blue stars on their bellies which indicates the differences between the Star-Belly Sneetches and the Plain-Belly Sneetches. I also loved in the story, “What Was I Scared of?” where the majority of the story is illustrated in blue colors, giving this story a spooky mood.
The only problem I had with this book was with the two stories, “The Zax” and “Too Many Daves.” I know that Dr. Seuss is well known for his nonsensical works, but I felt that “The Zax” and “Too Many Daves” were not as memorable as “The Sneetches” and “What Was I Scared Of?” since there was no real solution to the characters’ problems in those stories and they also kind of had abrupt endings that sort of left me feeling incomplete with the stories.
Before I give my final verdict on this book, I like to give my opinions on the issue of racism and prejudice. Personally, I think that racism and prejudice is pretty pointless in society and it will just make more people unhappy with the world and not accept other people for who they are. Does racism and prejudice exist even in today’s society? It definitely does and it is so sad because it seems that people who are against other cultures and races do not want to experience the cultures’ differences and I always think that everyone is equal, no matter what country, culture or race they are apart of. We are all human beings and we should try to learn to get along with other countries and races instead of fighting each other because of fear and hatred. This issue really affects me to the core and I would love to see more people try to get along with each other instead of despising each other for their differences. So, basically overall “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a great children’s book to use to discuss racism and prejudice issues for young children and I think the more people read this book, the better they gain an understanding about how ugly racism and prejudice really is. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
I have been reading many of Dr. Seuss’ books ever since I was a child, but out of all the books I have read from him, this book was the most effective book I have ever read! “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a short collection of stories by Dr. Seuss where each of them detailed how to accept other people for who they are. “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a truly memorable book that displays some of Dr. Seuss’ best works!
Alright, not only will I talk about how I felt about this book, I will also discuss about the various themes in this book from my viewpoint on the situations. Dr. Seuss has certainly done a brilliant job at both illustrating and writing this memorable book about the importance of accepting other people for their different qualities and the consequences if we do not accept them for who they are. Let me discuss about my thoughts on the stories “The Sneetches” and “What was I scared of?” as they were my most favorite stories out of the entire book. In “The Sneetches,” it was obvious that this story was discussing about accepting other people’s differences, or in a more general sense:
RACISM AND PREJUDICE
The Star-Belly Sneetches believed themselves to be far more superior than the Plain-Belly Sneetches because they possessed qualities that the plain-belly sneetches did not possessed, which were the stars on their bellies. I am guessing that this story was relating to the extreme racism and prejudice going on during the 1960s at the time, since this book was written during the 60s. I really enjoyed this story because it seemed to have a solution at the end of the story, that it is pointless to see who is better than the other and it shows that no matter what your skin color (or in this case, whether you have a star on your belly or not) everyone is still a human being and we are all equal in every way. The other story I wanted to talk about is “What Was I Scared of?” and this story talks about how a young boy was scared of a “pair of pants” when walking through the night on an errand and what was so interesting about this story was that this story was about the fact that it expresses the whole “the person I am afraid of is just as scared of me as I am of him or her” situation. I really loved how the situation was handled at the end of the story and how becoming friends with a person you were once afraid of is the best solution in trying to connect with a person who is different from you. Dr. Seuss’s illustrations are just as creative in this book as they were in his other books! I just loved how the sneetches’ appearances in this book as they are shown as tall and yellow creatures who all look alike, except that some of them have blue stars on their bellies which indicates the differences between the Star-Belly Sneetches and the Plain-Belly Sneetches. I also loved in the story, “What Was I Scared of?” where the majority of the story is illustrated in blue colors, giving this story a spooky mood.
The only problem I had with this book was with the two stories, “The Zax” and “Too Many Daves.” I know that Dr. Seuss is well known for his nonsensical works, but I felt that “The Zax” and “Too Many Daves” were not as memorable as “The Sneetches” and “What Was I Scared Of?” since there was no real solution to the characters’ problems in those stories and they also kind of had abrupt endings that sort of left me feeling incomplete with the stories.
Before I give my final verdict on this book, I like to give my opinions on the issue of racism and prejudice. Personally, I think that racism and prejudice is pretty pointless in society and it will just make more people unhappy with the world and not accept other people for who they are. Does racism and prejudice exist even in today’s society? It definitely does and it is so sad because it seems that people who are against other cultures and races do not want to experience the cultures’ differences and I always think that everyone is equal, no matter what country, culture or race they are apart of. We are all human beings and we should try to learn to get along with other countries and races instead of fighting each other because of fear and hatred. This issue really affects me to the core and I would love to see more people try to get along with each other instead of despising each other for their differences. So, basically overall “The Sneetches and Other Stories” is a great children’s book to use to discuss racism and prejudice issues for young children and I think the more people read this book, the better they gain an understanding about how ugly racism and prejudice really is. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
November 6, 2020
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Oh, Dr. Seuss! You wonderful man. . .(nope. I won't subject you to my attempts at Seussian) !
The members of my group are well-read for kids, and so have read this book many times and it has cycled through in their collections, dependent on their ages. However, I hadn't ever had the chance to read this one with them - which is my personal favorite.
It begins with The Sneetches, (the lengths to which we will differentiate in order to elevate, and how to identify lurking McBeans in our lives) and while a reader’s brain cells absorb meaning from that primary tale, Seuss marches straight into a no-holds-barred fable stated in Aesop's manner of telling of the consequences coming from unbridled stubbornness (The Zaks), followed by the parental misstep of Mrs. McCave, which reminds us that if we don't think before we act facts will take over ( Too Many Daves), and finally my 2nd personal favorite - What Was I Scared of?, a saga of the true nature of fear, the power of kindness and personified pants.
I was a bright kid, there’s no doubt about it. It was Seuss who knocked me over with that Learning Feather that set me running to Mother, reporting straightway! The message for all kids and grownups alike is still just as loud and clear now as any I’ve learned all these years later:
1. There is no difference in a being’s value (equality worthiness) due to shape, size, kind, peculiarity, color or origin (or anything).
2. Every story told has at least one agenda. My job as reader is to find why the author did write it!
There are standouts in the body of Seuss’s work – and the Grinch is one of our favorites. The animation we love best is Halloween is Grinch Night featuring (besides Himself, The Grinch) the beloved Max, and Euchariah Who, who along with his grandparents Josiah and Mariah, and his sibs Obediah and Mathiah, deal with the effects of the Sour-Sweet wind. . .oh those gree-grumps and hakken-krakks. . . .I wish that had been in a book (not just a show), and I'm looking for the sheet music. . .(any help welcomed!)
5 stars. Every one a treasure!
Oh, Dr. Seuss! You wonderful man. . .(nope. I won't subject you to my attempts at Seussian) !
The members of my group are well-read for kids, and so have read this book many times and it has cycled through in their collections, dependent on their ages. However, I hadn't ever had the chance to read this one with them - which is my personal favorite.
It begins with The Sneetches, (the lengths to which we will differentiate in order to elevate, and how to identify lurking McBeans in our lives) and while a reader’s brain cells absorb meaning from that primary tale, Seuss marches straight into a no-holds-barred fable stated in Aesop's manner of telling of the consequences coming from unbridled stubbornness (The Zaks), followed by the parental misstep of Mrs. McCave, which reminds us that if we don't think before we act facts will take over ( Too Many Daves), and finally my 2nd personal favorite - What Was I Scared of?, a saga of the true nature of fear, the power of kindness and personified pants.
I was a bright kid, there’s no doubt about it. It was Seuss who knocked me over with that Learning Feather that set me running to Mother, reporting straightway! The message for all kids and grownups alike is still just as loud and clear now as any I’ve learned all these years later:
1. There is no difference in a being’s value (equality worthiness) due to shape, size, kind, peculiarity, color or origin (or anything).
2. Every story told has at least one agenda. My job as reader is to find why the author did write it!
There are standouts in the body of Seuss’s work – and the Grinch is one of our favorites. The animation we love best is Halloween is Grinch Night featuring (besides Himself, The Grinch) the beloved Max, and Euchariah Who, who along with his grandparents Josiah and Mariah, and his sibs Obediah and Mathiah, deal with the effects of the Sour-Sweet wind. . .oh those gree-grumps and hakken-krakks. . . .I wish that had been in a book (not just a show), and I'm looking for the sheet music. . .(any help welcomed!)
5 stars. Every one a treasure!
May 6, 2008
This is my favorite book to read to my kids. It has "Sneetches" that teaches that "No kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches." Then there's "The Zax" that teaches us how unproductive it is to never compromise. "Too Many Daves" - Scott and I talked about this one last night and how it is a fun little story, but doesn't have and underlying message. Then we decided that it does have a message. It's about making all of your kids feel special and letting them be different. Then there is "What Was I Scared Of?" (aka - "Pale Green Pants"). I LOVE reading this to Taz and Ash, because I bring out my inner actress (or story-teller, I guess). This story is all about not being afraid of people who are different. They may seem scary, but once you get to know them you may find you have a lot in common. I love Dr. Seuss and the fun way that he teaches lessons that we all need to be reminded of.
June 25, 2011
Dr. Seuss, you were one crazy man.
First, I'm giving this 4 stars, because my youngest son really likes the story about the Sneeches.
Second, the story about the empty pair of pants that follows that furry little dude around is just weird.
Third, well... I guess there is no third.
First, I'm giving this 4 stars, because my youngest son really likes the story about the Sneeches.
Second, the story about the empty pair of pants that follows that furry little dude around is just weird.
Third, well... I guess there is no third.
August 29, 2020
Dr. Seuss explains how racism fills the pockets of those flaming it.
April 21, 2009
SUMMARY
This collection of short stories touches on themes like the value of diversity, the get-nowhere-fast of stalemates, the value of individuality, and confronting fears. There are two kinds of Sneetches in The Sneetches: those who have stars on their bellies, and those who do not. When a man comes along with a star-on / star-off machine, the Sneetches get all mixed up and the resolution is that all sneetches are equal. In The Zax, two Zaxes (a north-going one and a south-going one) meet, and neither one will budge an inch to the east or west, so the world ignores them and cities and roads are built around them while they stand where they are forever. This teaches the value of compromise. In Too Many Daves, a woman has 23 sons, all named Dave. Humorously, when she calls one, they all come running, and she is left wishing that she'd named them all differently. This teaches the value in everyone being different. And in What Was I Scared Of?, a boy is afraid of a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them, but he finds out that the pants are just as afraid of him and they become pals. This teaches children to confront their fears and to not be afraid of someone just because they happen to be different than them.
EVALUATION
Of all the Dr. Seuss books, this one is my favorite. Its commentary is more subtle than some of the other books, but I think that the message—that diversity is valuable—is such an important one. My nephew loves Too Many Daves, and I think that there are many opportunities to extend this book into classroom activities, or family activities. The language is fun and flamboyant, and it is a joy to read aloud. Because it deals with imaginary creatures and impossibilities, it inspires Wonderment, and that is important for the very young, and maybe for the old as well.
This collection of short stories touches on themes like the value of diversity, the get-nowhere-fast of stalemates, the value of individuality, and confronting fears. There are two kinds of Sneetches in The Sneetches: those who have stars on their bellies, and those who do not. When a man comes along with a star-on / star-off machine, the Sneetches get all mixed up and the resolution is that all sneetches are equal. In The Zax, two Zaxes (a north-going one and a south-going one) meet, and neither one will budge an inch to the east or west, so the world ignores them and cities and roads are built around them while they stand where they are forever. This teaches the value of compromise. In Too Many Daves, a woman has 23 sons, all named Dave. Humorously, when she calls one, they all come running, and she is left wishing that she'd named them all differently. This teaches the value in everyone being different. And in What Was I Scared Of?, a boy is afraid of a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them, but he finds out that the pants are just as afraid of him and they become pals. This teaches children to confront their fears and to not be afraid of someone just because they happen to be different than them.
EVALUATION
Of all the Dr. Seuss books, this one is my favorite. Its commentary is more subtle than some of the other books, but I think that the message—that diversity is valuable—is such an important one. My nephew loves Too Many Daves, and I think that there are many opportunities to extend this book into classroom activities, or family activities. The language is fun and flamboyant, and it is a joy to read aloud. Because it deals with imaginary creatures and impossibilities, it inspires Wonderment, and that is important for the very young, and maybe for the old as well.
September 25, 2016
I highly recommend to everybody, to once in a while read a Dr. Seuss book (no matter what your age is). It is just pure genius. All of these ideas, not only funny but touching important topics masked as a kids book. This book has stories about prejudices and races, unnecessary stubbornness, and fear from the foreign.
The Sneetches tell us the tale of two different cultures/races. The Plain-Belly Sneetches and the Star-Belly Sneetches. Those two do not mix together, they keep apart (and the Star-Belly Sneetches have so much fun). Until one day comes Sylvester McMonkey McBean, the Fix-it-up Chappie, and helps to fix the current state (and he gives the star to the starless Sneeches). But everything gets more complicated, because mixing cultures can be a messy thing when it happens. It says above, pointless prejudice can be costly, and since when did that prevent from people to do so? A great story to explore this topic.
The Zax story is kind of related. Hard headed South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax are not planning to budge and move aside to let one another keep walking through prairie of Prax. It's a bit of a problem since they face one another and not one of them is ok with a step to east or west.
What I was scared of deals with fear. But fear from someone/something you don't really know because you see it from afar. Cute adventure of meeting empty pants with nobody inside them.
5 stars. (and I am happy that my daughter understands that she is not too old for Dr. Seuss).
The Sneetches tell us the tale of two different cultures/races. The Plain-Belly Sneetches and the Star-Belly Sneetches. Those two do not mix together, they keep apart (and the Star-Belly Sneetches have so much fun). Until one day comes Sylvester McMonkey McBean, the Fix-it-up Chappie, and helps to fix the current state (and he gives the star to the starless Sneeches). But everything gets more complicated, because mixing cultures can be a messy thing when it happens. It says above, pointless prejudice can be costly, and since when did that prevent from people to do so? A great story to explore this topic.
The Zax story is kind of related. Hard headed South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax are not planning to budge and move aside to let one another keep walking through prairie of Prax. It's a bit of a problem since they face one another and not one of them is ok with a step to east or west.
What I was scared of deals with fear. But fear from someone/something you don't really know because you see it from afar. Cute adventure of meeting empty pants with nobody inside them.
5 stars. (and I am happy that my daughter understands that she is not too old for Dr. Seuss).
November 13, 2022
The Sneetches is the only Seuss story alluded to in a song by the Dead Kennedys. This should tell you how cool this book is. When Jello Biafra steals it, it's worth stealing.
October 15, 2021
THE SNEETCHES
"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches / Had bellies with stars. / The Plain-Belly Sneetches / Had none upon thars." This collection of four of Dr. Seuss's most winning stories begins with that unforgettable tale of the unfortunate Sneetches, bamboozled by one Sylvester McMonkey McBean ("the Fix-it-up Chappie"), who teaches them that pointless prejudice can be costly.
THE ZAX
Following the Sneetches, a South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax seem determined to butt heads on the prairie of Prax.
TOO MANY DAVES
Then there's the tongue-twisting story of Mrs. McCave--you know, the one who had 23 sons and named them all Dave. (She realizes that she'd be far less confused had she given them different names, like Marvin O'Gravel Balloon Face or Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate.)
WHAT WAS I SCARED OF?
A slightly spooky adventure involving a pair of haunted trousers--"What was I scared of?"--closes out the collection. Sneetches and Other Stories is Seuss at his best, with distinctively wacky illustrations and ingeniously weird prose.
"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches / Had bellies with stars. / The Plain-Belly Sneetches / Had none upon thars." This collection of four of Dr. Seuss's most winning stories begins with that unforgettable tale of the unfortunate Sneetches, bamboozled by one Sylvester McMonkey McBean ("the Fix-it-up Chappie"), who teaches them that pointless prejudice can be costly.
THE ZAX
Following the Sneetches, a South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax seem determined to butt heads on the prairie of Prax.
TOO MANY DAVES
Then there's the tongue-twisting story of Mrs. McCave--you know, the one who had 23 sons and named them all Dave. (She realizes that she'd be far less confused had she given them different names, like Marvin O'Gravel Balloon Face or Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate.)
WHAT WAS I SCARED OF?
A slightly spooky adventure involving a pair of haunted trousers--"What was I scared of?"--closes out the collection. Sneetches and Other Stories is Seuss at his best, with distinctively wacky illustrations and ingeniously weird prose.
November 27, 2021
Love the Sweetheart, we've read it 3 times already since gobbling down our turkey!
May 22, 2011
The Sneetches is my absolute favourite Seuss story. The rhythm trumps all other Seuss stories, and when I am reading this out loud to my kids I joyfully shift from Star-belly Sneetch voices to Plain-belly Sneetch voices to Sylvester McMonkey McBean's voice without even a hint of having to think about the shift. Seuss's rhythm invites that. I can speed up to warp, I can slow down and leave an octo-pregnant pause, and still the rhythm is flawless. Plus, the story's pretty meaningful too. This is the perfect mix of fun, readability and content. Me loves it.
The Zax is a damn fine follow up, and the fact that it has two of Seuss's crabbiest, most stubborn characters, characters who bring themselves to a permanent halt while the world moves on around them (a cautionary tale for all those who believe unswervingly in their chosen dogma) makes it more than a match for The Sneetches moral strength.
Too Many Daves is just plain fun. Super fun. All I can say is "Zanzibar Buck Buck McFate!" If we have another boy, I am going to do everything I can to convince Erika to name hm ZBBMcF. Or at least Zanzibar.
What Was I Scared Of? is the only weak link in The Sneetches, but that's not a bad thing to be when the stories are so strong. It's cute. It delivers a good message, teaching us how silly it is to be afraid of the dark. But it remains, at least around here at our house, the least read of the four stories. We finish Too Many Daves and we close the book.
I think I will start there next time. What Was I Scared Of? deserves a little more love.
The Zax is a damn fine follow up, and the fact that it has two of Seuss's crabbiest, most stubborn characters, characters who bring themselves to a permanent halt while the world moves on around them (a cautionary tale for all those who believe unswervingly in their chosen dogma) makes it more than a match for The Sneetches moral strength.
Too Many Daves is just plain fun. Super fun. All I can say is "Zanzibar Buck Buck McFate!" If we have another boy, I am going to do everything I can to convince Erika to name hm ZBBMcF. Or at least Zanzibar.
What Was I Scared Of? is the only weak link in The Sneetches, but that's not a bad thing to be when the stories are so strong. It's cute. It delivers a good message, teaching us how silly it is to be afraid of the dark. But it remains, at least around here at our house, the least read of the four stories. We finish Too Many Daves and we close the book.
I think I will start there next time. What Was I Scared Of? deserves a little more love.
October 2, 2021
SO EXCITED to have gotten a chance to introduce this (my favorite!) Seuss book to our two beautiful grandsons! They’re both 3yo now & loooooove this as much as our 4 sons did…it’s adorable! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
January 24, 2019
I read this to my niece and nephew last night for a bedtime story. I chose it from Over Drive's Civil Rights & Human Rights (In memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, January 22, 2019) collection.
I read this online in my browser and the print was super tiny.
The Sneetches is the best story in the collection. In typical Dr. Seuss fashion, the silly, rhyming text teaches kids about acceptance and tolerance of others. The Star Bellies Sneetches are snobby and exclude the plain bellied Sneetches. The stars in the story made me think about the Holocaust but it could also be segregation or any other type of society that excludes those who don't look like them. In the end, differences don't matter because they're all the same. The yellow, blue and green illustrations are eye-catching and the children liked the funny looking Sneetches and pointed out the fix-it man was a different sort of creature.
THE ZAX
Following the Sneetches, a South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax seem determined to butt heads on the prairie of Prax. This is a very very short story about two stubborn creatures. I didn't see as much value in the message as with The Sneetches.
TOO MANY DAVES
A quick, nonsense story about a woman who names all her children Dave and comes to regret it. Perhaps this is commentary on the importance of individuality? Niece and nephew both have uncommon names. Niece is pretty much the only one with her name, while nephew will encounter other boys with his given name. They thought this story was silly but didn't really get it.
WHAT WAS I SCARED OF?
5-year-old nephew's favorite story. He knew this one but hasn't quite absorbed the moral of the tale: fear of the unknown is greater than the thing one is afraid of. I didn't get this story AT ALL. I don't understand how pants can get up and walk around without anyone inside but nephew thought it was funny and liked pointing out the pictures to me.
Overall, an enjoyable collection. You can't go wrong with Dr. Seuss!
I read this online in my browser and the print was super tiny.
The Sneetches is the best story in the collection. In typical Dr. Seuss fashion, the silly, rhyming text teaches kids about acceptance and tolerance of others. The Star Bellies Sneetches are snobby and exclude the plain bellied Sneetches. The stars in the story made me think about the Holocaust but it could also be segregation or any other type of society that excludes those who don't look like them. In the end, differences don't matter because they're all the same. The yellow, blue and green illustrations are eye-catching and the children liked the funny looking Sneetches and pointed out the fix-it man was a different sort of creature.
THE ZAX
Following the Sneetches, a South-Going Zax and a North-Going Zax seem determined to butt heads on the prairie of Prax. This is a very very short story about two stubborn creatures. I didn't see as much value in the message as with The Sneetches.
TOO MANY DAVES
A quick, nonsense story about a woman who names all her children Dave and comes to regret it. Perhaps this is commentary on the importance of individuality? Niece and nephew both have uncommon names. Niece is pretty much the only one with her name, while nephew will encounter other boys with his given name. They thought this story was silly but didn't really get it.
WHAT WAS I SCARED OF?
5-year-old nephew's favorite story. He knew this one but hasn't quite absorbed the moral of the tale: fear of the unknown is greater than the thing one is afraid of. I didn't get this story AT ALL. I don't understand how pants can get up and walk around without anyone inside but nephew thought it was funny and liked pointing out the pictures to me.
Overall, an enjoyable collection. You can't go wrong with Dr. Seuss!
Read
February 8, 2023Shout out to my bio teacher for spending 20 minutes of class to read this 🥰
August 21, 2015
To make it easier I will rate this book based on the individual stories. I found this to be such a different Dr. Seuss book because while you learn a valuable lesson there was still some messed up things that aren't discussed in this book.
The Sneetches: 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story but the ended was a little bit screwed up in my opinion. I found this story to be remarkable and suggest for every child and adult to read it because Dr. Seuss was smart at addressing discrimination. In this story we meet these Sneetches who are separated into two groups: Sneetches who have a star in their bellies and those who don't. If you have a star then you get all the wonderful perks in life and are treated as first class citizens. If you are plain looking one you are not allowed to play at the beach or enjoy nice camp fire events. The plain looking Sneetches are tired of it all and here comes Sylvester McMonkey McBean. He has this devices that allow these creatures to add and remove stars and essentially help break out a major fight against the two groups. If you pay the con artist a fee you can get a star or remove one and he becomes filthy rich. When the Sneetches are broke, he packs up and leaves and finally they learn that it doesn't matter whether you have a star or not because you are equal.
While I love the message and all I can't help myself that I'm angry McBean got away with it. I felt like Dr. Seuss should have changed it and made them get their money back because I feel it teaches children that being a con artist and manipulating people's discrimination and turn it into profit is the wrong message to deliver to kids. I remember watching the cartoon version of this story about over a decade ago and I love how simple Dr. Seuss uses his imagination to illustrate an issue that invades all cultures and societies.
The Zax: 5 stars
I remember watching this short cartoon animation years ago and didn't understand the message until now. I found this brilliant and creative in terms of how time doesn't wait for you to catch up. We meet these Zax creature, one is walking from the North and the other is from the south. They are walking in the same path and meet each other at a crossroads. None of them want to move to the side because then they are walking east and west and decides that they can stand there for weeks and years before surrendering and giving up. While they are stubborned and hot-headed, the world around them doesn't wait for them and the people have created highways the surrounds them. I love that message for a relatively short story! I know some people in my lifetime who are always waiting for tomorrow to accomplish something whether it be a goal or a dream and I always tell myself you have to accomplish dreams now if it is possible, you are only young once and the older you get sometimes those dreams cannot be accomplished anymore due to lack of mobility and strength. I don't think a kid for understand the message of this story but I believe this in life awakening for many people.
Too Many Daves: 4 stars
This story is extremely short which is a mother had 23 sons and she named them all Daves. Because of this issue she can't single out each child individually and starts daydreaming other names she could have named them. My question is why didn't you name them different names idiot? I would rate this 3 stars but since it is such a short story I'll pretend that this story never existed.
What was I Scared of?: 5 stars
I love this story as I have with the others and how it dealt with how when we are afraid of a person we are frighten because we are confuse and we haven't walked in their shoes to understand how they might feel towards us or our reactions towards them. This creature is walking in the forest one night and boast that they are not afraid of anything. Then out of nowhere a floating pants appears and scares the living day lights of this creature. They run away but over the course of the story as the creature is doing other activities, they keep bumping to this until they realize that the pants is equally scared as them. So they change their ways and become friends no longer afraid and even they wave and smile and say hello.
The illustration for this book is lovely and I practically loved almost all those stories. Dr. Seuss did his beautiful magic again!
The Sneetches: 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story but the ended was a little bit screwed up in my opinion. I found this story to be remarkable and suggest for every child and adult to read it because Dr. Seuss was smart at addressing discrimination. In this story we meet these Sneetches who are separated into two groups: Sneetches who have a star in their bellies and those who don't. If you have a star then you get all the wonderful perks in life and are treated as first class citizens. If you are plain looking one you are not allowed to play at the beach or enjoy nice camp fire events. The plain looking Sneetches are tired of it all and here comes Sylvester McMonkey McBean. He has this devices that allow these creatures to add and remove stars and essentially help break out a major fight against the two groups. If you pay the con artist a fee you can get a star or remove one and he becomes filthy rich. When the Sneetches are broke, he packs up and leaves and finally they learn that it doesn't matter whether you have a star or not because you are equal.
While I love the message and all I can't help myself that I'm angry McBean got away with it. I felt like Dr. Seuss should have changed it and made them get their money back because I feel it teaches children that being a con artist and manipulating people's discrimination and turn it into profit is the wrong message to deliver to kids. I remember watching the cartoon version of this story about over a decade ago and I love how simple Dr. Seuss uses his imagination to illustrate an issue that invades all cultures and societies.
The Zax: 5 stars
I remember watching this short cartoon animation years ago and didn't understand the message until now. I found this brilliant and creative in terms of how time doesn't wait for you to catch up. We meet these Zax creature, one is walking from the North and the other is from the south. They are walking in the same path and meet each other at a crossroads. None of them want to move to the side because then they are walking east and west and decides that they can stand there for weeks and years before surrendering and giving up. While they are stubborned and hot-headed, the world around them doesn't wait for them and the people have created highways the surrounds them. I love that message for a relatively short story! I know some people in my lifetime who are always waiting for tomorrow to accomplish something whether it be a goal or a dream and I always tell myself you have to accomplish dreams now if it is possible, you are only young once and the older you get sometimes those dreams cannot be accomplished anymore due to lack of mobility and strength. I don't think a kid for understand the message of this story but I believe this in life awakening for many people.
Too Many Daves: 4 stars
This story is extremely short which is a mother had 23 sons and she named them all Daves. Because of this issue she can't single out each child individually and starts daydreaming other names she could have named them. My question is why didn't you name them different names idiot? I would rate this 3 stars but since it is such a short story I'll pretend that this story never existed.
What was I Scared of?: 5 stars
I love this story as I have with the others and how it dealt with how when we are afraid of a person we are frighten because we are confuse and we haven't walked in their shoes to understand how they might feel towards us or our reactions towards them. This creature is walking in the forest one night and boast that they are not afraid of anything. Then out of nowhere a floating pants appears and scares the living day lights of this creature. They run away but over the course of the story as the creature is doing other activities, they keep bumping to this until they realize that the pants is equally scared as them. So they change their ways and become friends no longer afraid and even they wave and smile and say hello.
The illustration for this book is lovely and I practically loved almost all those stories. Dr. Seuss did his beautiful magic again!
June 12, 2022
Too Many Daves is spectacular and the other stories are good too
September 22, 2013
The reason I decided to read this book was because it was written from one of my favourite authors: Dr Seuss. I have always loved reading his books as they are very adventurous, exciting and I like how he always rhymes his sentences together. I don't think Dr Seuss just aims his books at children but I think he aims them for the whole family.
The category this book represents from the bingo board is: a book with themes related to those we've studied in class in the 1st half of the year. The theme we studied at the start of the year was racism. Racism plays a big part in our society today as lots of people are being discriminated against all over the world. When people think about children's books they think of happy stories but I'm glad to see authors like Dr Seuss who are creating books about racism and how it is not morally right and giving us ways we could fix it.
The thing I have learnt from this book was it made me realise how judgemental our society is today. People judge you by what you wear, what you look like and who you hang out with. It should never be like this, instead of judging someone of how much money they have, people need to start accepting people's personalities because that is what really matters.
My favourite quote from this book is: "Those stars weren't so big. They were really so small, you might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all." This was my favourite quote because it just showed how snobby and ridiculous the sneetches who had stars were. Just because they had stars on their stomachs they thought they were special and had power over the sneetches who had no stars on their stomachs. This quote fits in to our society today because people compete with each other and buy really expensive things so then they can get more attention.
My favourite character from this book was Sylvester Mc Monkey Mc Bean. Sylvester was my favourite character from this book because if it wasn't for him then the two groups of sneetches (one group with stars on their stomachs and the other group without) didn't matter whether you had stars on your stomachs or not. Sylvester created a machine that if you walked through it then you would end up with a star on your stomach. When the original sneetches who has stars on their stomachs saw them, they didn't feel unique and special anymore so they paid Sylvester so they could get their stars removed. Sylvester ended up with a lot of money and the sneetches finally realised that it didn't matter whether you had a star on your stomach or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2012
Reviewed for THC Reviews
I've been a huge fan of Dr. Seuss since I was a child, but until I read The Lorax for the first time a few years ago, I had never realized that he was an author with the heart of an activist. Much like The Lorax, The Sneetches and Other Stories tackles mature themes in a non-threatening, even humorous, way that kids can understand. All four stories in the book have the underlying message of tolerance, acceptance and compromise with those who are different from us or with whom we may not see eye to eye.
In The Sneetches, we have the story of how the Star-Belly Sneetches think they are better than the Plain-Belly Sneetches, and as a result, the Plain-Belly Sneetches are excluded from the Star-Belly Sneetches's activities. That is until Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes to town with his magical machine that adds or removes stars, creating utter chaos, and eventually rendering stars irrelevant. I really liked this story about how our differences don't really matter. The illustrations are cute, and I was especially moved by how incredibly sad the Plain-Belly Sneetches looked when they were being shut out.
In The Zax, we have two Zaxes who each have their own way of thinking and both absolutely refuse to alter their course. This leaves them at a stubborn impasse as the world goes on around them. I thought this was a great story about the importance of compromise.
Too Many Daves is about a mother who named all of her twenty-three sons Dave. I have to admit that I wasn't entirely certain of the meaning behind this one, but I think it was about how we are all the same and yet each one of us is also unique.
Last but not least, in What Was I Scared of? the cute, little, nameless protagonist is afraid of a pair of pants that walks around by itself, because it's so different than anything he's ever seen before. When he realizes that the pants are as scared of him as he is of them, the two are able to offer comfort to one another and become friends. I thought this was another great story about the importance of accepting those who are different from ourselves.
Overall, The Sneetches and Other Stories was an enjoyable book that managed to address some serious issues in a fun, easy to understand way. I highly recommend it for “kids” of all ages.
I've been a huge fan of Dr. Seuss since I was a child, but until I read The Lorax for the first time a few years ago, I had never realized that he was an author with the heart of an activist. Much like The Lorax, The Sneetches and Other Stories tackles mature themes in a non-threatening, even humorous, way that kids can understand. All four stories in the book have the underlying message of tolerance, acceptance and compromise with those who are different from us or with whom we may not see eye to eye.
In The Sneetches, we have the story of how the Star-Belly Sneetches think they are better than the Plain-Belly Sneetches, and as a result, the Plain-Belly Sneetches are excluded from the Star-Belly Sneetches's activities. That is until Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes to town with his magical machine that adds or removes stars, creating utter chaos, and eventually rendering stars irrelevant. I really liked this story about how our differences don't really matter. The illustrations are cute, and I was especially moved by how incredibly sad the Plain-Belly Sneetches looked when they were being shut out.
In The Zax, we have two Zaxes who each have their own way of thinking and both absolutely refuse to alter their course. This leaves them at a stubborn impasse as the world goes on around them. I thought this was a great story about the importance of compromise.
Too Many Daves is about a mother who named all of her twenty-three sons Dave. I have to admit that I wasn't entirely certain of the meaning behind this one, but I think it was about how we are all the same and yet each one of us is also unique.
Last but not least, in What Was I Scared of? the cute, little, nameless protagonist is afraid of a pair of pants that walks around by itself, because it's so different than anything he's ever seen before. When he realizes that the pants are as scared of him as he is of them, the two are able to offer comfort to one another and become friends. I thought this was another great story about the importance of accepting those who are different from ourselves.
Overall, The Sneetches and Other Stories was an enjoyable book that managed to address some serious issues in a fun, easy to understand way. I highly recommend it for “kids” of all ages.
July 8, 2024
The Sneetches
5 stars. The theme of The Sneetches is apparent from page one, and it is excellent. Seuss does a great job of showing how cruel, ridiculous, and useless racism is. I did not know until afterwards that this book was particularly targeted at antisemitism (hence the stars, I’m sure). The writing style is lovely and still very humorous. Really, I think this is the best of Seuss’s stories.
I’m quite happy to say
That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day,
The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches,
And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.
That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars
And whether they had one, or not, upon thars.
The Zax
4 stars. Super short, but quite fun to read and full of quotable quotes!
Of course the world DIDN'T stand still. The world grew.
In a couple of years, a new highway came through
And they built it right over those two stubborn Zax
And left them there, standing un-budged in their tracks.
Too Many Daves
5 stars. Oh. My. Heart. This is SO hilarious! I never laughed so hard at anything Seuss wrote. I laughed almost too hard to keep reading, and everyone hearing it laughed too. This is pure comedic gold!
Did I ever tell you how Mrs. McCave
Had twenty-three sons, and she named them all Dave?
Well, she did. And that wasn’t a smart thing to do.
What was I Scared of?
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I was super impressed about this one. What a great way to a) talk about the dangers of letting your imagination run away with you, b) discuss fear of strange things, and c) explain how important it is to actually get to know someone. An excellent little story!
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
5 stars. The theme of The Sneetches is apparent from page one, and it is excellent. Seuss does a great job of showing how cruel, ridiculous, and useless racism is. I did not know until afterwards that this book was particularly targeted at antisemitism (hence the stars, I’m sure). The writing style is lovely and still very humorous. Really, I think this is the best of Seuss’s stories.
I’m quite happy to say
That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day,
The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches,
And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.
That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars
And whether they had one, or not, upon thars.
The Zax
4 stars. Super short, but quite fun to read and full of quotable quotes!
Of course the world DIDN'T stand still. The world grew.
In a couple of years, a new highway came through
And they built it right over those two stubborn Zax
And left them there, standing un-budged in their tracks.
Too Many Daves
5 stars. Oh. My. Heart. This is SO hilarious! I never laughed so hard at anything Seuss wrote. I laughed almost too hard to keep reading, and everyone hearing it laughed too. This is pure comedic gold!
Did I ever tell you how Mrs. McCave
Had twenty-three sons, and she named them all Dave?
Well, she did. And that wasn’t a smart thing to do.
What was I Scared of?
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I was super impressed about this one. What a great way to a) talk about the dangers of letting your imagination run away with you, b) discuss fear of strange things, and c) explain how important it is to actually get to know someone. An excellent little story!
And I began to see
That I was just as strange to them
As they were strange to me!
April 3, 2016
This is a collection of four stories about silly superiorities, too stubborn for your own good, being lazy and not thinking ahead, and confronting your fears.
The Stories
"The Sneetches" are divided. Some have green stars for belly buttons while others do not. Naturally, the Star-Belly Sneetches are far superior to the Plain-Belly Sneetches…until…one day…an enterprising Sneetch comes along and offers to help the Plain-Belly Sneetches by giving them stars on their bellies. Well, this just won't do. How are the Star-Belly Sneetches supposed to tell who is who?
"The Zax" is a meeting of two immovable idiots around whom freeways and roads are built because each refuses to step aside and allow the other to move forward. The South-going Zax refuses to budge to the east or the west while the North-going Zax never takes a step to the side
This, of course, explains why our roads are so silly and twisty.
"Too Many Daves" is a rather stupid story of a mother who birthed 23 babies and named them all Dave. She eventually figured out that it would have been easier if she had named them each individually.
"What was I Scared of?" is a cute story of being afraid of someone you don't know. Everywhere he went he kept encountering a pair of trousers with no one inside them. And everywhere he went, he kept running away until finally he stopped and discovered the trousers were afraid of him as well. Is this what they mean by a meeting of the minds?
The Stories
"The Sneetches" are divided. Some have green stars for belly buttons while others do not. Naturally, the Star-Belly Sneetches are far superior to the Plain-Belly Sneetches…until…one day…an enterprising Sneetch comes along and offers to help the Plain-Belly Sneetches by giving them stars on their bellies. Well, this just won't do. How are the Star-Belly Sneetches supposed to tell who is who?
"The Zax" is a meeting of two immovable idiots around whom freeways and roads are built because each refuses to step aside and allow the other to move forward. The South-going Zax refuses to budge to the east or the west while the North-going Zax never takes a step to the side
This, of course, explains why our roads are so silly and twisty.
"Too Many Daves" is a rather stupid story of a mother who birthed 23 babies and named them all Dave. She eventually figured out that it would have been easier if she had named them each individually.
"What was I Scared of?" is a cute story of being afraid of someone you don't know. Everywhere he went he kept encountering a pair of trousers with no one inside them. And everywhere he went, he kept running away until finally he stopped and discovered the trousers were afraid of him as well. Is this what they mean by a meeting of the minds?
September 24, 2024
I said, "I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them." I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them.
—Dr. Seuss, The Sneetches: And Other Stories
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Age: 4+
I read this little collection of stories today and I love it! I read it to my youngest brother today and I think we found a new favorite read aloud book. Each of the stories are wonderful, funny, a bit of a tongue twister and full of great lessons. The final story, “What Was I Scared Of?” I have already read four times today as it is my youngest brother’s favorite of the stories.
I love Dr. Seuss’s writing and after reading this I want to read more of his writing with my siblings! I think this is a delightful read and perfect for read aloud story time!
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