Written by: Tim Glenn
Last week, I visited a local elementary school to read to kindergartners through second graders for the National Education Association’s Read Across America campaign. It’s the 5th year that I’ve been invited to read Dr. Seuss classics to kids. It is seriously one of the highlights of my year.
I read Gerald McBoing Boing (my personal favorite), Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, and, of course, the ever-popular, Green Eggs and Ham. I don’t know what it is, but it seems that when you open up a Dr. Seuss book, you immediately become a child yourself…and the children you are reading to are transported to a magical world where non-sensical rhymes suddenly make sense…and imaginary characters come to life.
As I was reading to the kids, I wondered what it would have been like if Dr. Seuss had written some stories about children in poverty. What a great opportunity to teach kids today about the conditions that their counterparts in other parts of the world live in! What would that look like? Perhaps:
I do not like that the Sneetch children cry
with empty star bellies that growl all night
I do not like that they can’t drink
of water as clean as I have in my sink.I don’t like famine, disease and war
I wish they didn’t exist anymore.
I don’t like the heartache, come to think of it,
I do not like poverty,
not one little bit.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Dr. Seuss book if it just focused on the sad. No, indeed the Cat in the Hat turned dreary, rainy days into wonderful, happy, if not misguided, adventures. Maybe something like this:
Then all the Sneetch children would wipe away frowns
To laugh with each other on Flozzle playgrounds
They’d swing and they’d sing and they’d dance in a ring
‘Tis the end of poverty–what a wonderful thing!
Unfortunately, we don’t have such a book. Perhaps it’s because poverty is far too real and dark to capture in whimsical rhyme. But maybe, just maybe, we can all be a Dr. Seuss by rewriting the stories of real children in poverty. It’s not that hard. Sponsoring a child gives them the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. It gives them the chance to believe in a world where poverty comes to an end. And that is a wondrous thing indeed.
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March 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I presume you wrote that poem about the Sneetch children–? I’m no expert, but I think it is good! Maybe you could incorporate that into some of Compassion’s materials for children. And if you can come up with any more, throw them in!
Pretty pleeeeeze?
March 29th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Vicki,
Yes, I did write it! I’m glad you like it. It was actually pretty fun to do!
Right now, the US Advocacy team is working on a website for kids that will launch sometime this summer. (shhhh! I’s a secret!) Maybe we can come up with a book for kids too!
Thanks for reading…and for commenting.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Reminds of a CS presentation
I once wanted to do,
Based on that wonderful book
Called, “Horton Hears a Who!”
It began…
“How true! Yes, how true,” said the big kangaroo.
“And, from now on, you know what I’m planning to do?
From now on, I’m going to protect them with you!”
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, “Me too!
From sun in the summer. From rain when it’s fall-ish,
I’m going to protect them.
No matter how small-ish!”
But Wess wrote that book,
“No Matter How Small-ish?”
Oh no, I’m mistaken…
Twas, “To Small to Ignor-ish.”
March 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Brilliant!
I love it!
In our US Advocacy communications pieces, we have used a Dr. Seuss quote from Horton…
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Great quote.
Very well done, Compassion Dave!
Thanks for sharing.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Dave: Pretty cool!
Tim: Okay, I’ll keep your secret, but I’m looking forward to the addition to the website!
Um…by the way, you realize you published your “secret” on a public website, right? :o)
March 31st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Doh!
:?)
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Tim - this is great! I was going to suggest that perhaps you ought to do some ‘Dr.Tim’ books for kids. Glad to know you are thinking about it. A website for kids - now you are talking! What took you so long?
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Hey Sidney!
“Dr. Tim”….Hmmm….yeah, it’s got a nice ring to it! But I think I’d probably get in trouble for that one!
I do, however, have a couple of children’s books in me. I think I could put something together!
Thanks for reading…and for commenting.