Hop on Pop

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Summary: Hidden political messages in Seuss
Review: Hop on Pop, besides being a brilliant learning tool for children, has the added dimension of a hidden historico-political message. Pop is not only the literal father of the hopping children, but a representation of monarchy. Kings are after all seen in a paternalistic role towards their countries. More specifically, Pop is Charles the First of England, and the "hoppers" represent Oliver Cromwell and his Roundheads, who not only hopped, but chopped the monarchy out of power in the 1600s.

When Pop declares "Stop. Stop. You can not hop on Pop," this is one of Seuss's most brilliant political statements. Here, the monarchy, now in the person of Charles the Second, is throwing off the rule imposed by Cromwell, and restoring to its rightful place the monarchy. "Pop" is asserting his paternal right and duty, his droit de seigneur." Le roi est mort, vive le roi!

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Summary: Come On People! Write those reviews! Don't Forget Dr. Seuss
Review: I always thought this was the best work that Dr. Seuss put on paper. It has always been a favorite of mine and it has come to mean a lot more to me than I ever thought it would.

I see less and less of his books on the shelf.

If there are any parents reading this attempt at a review, this pitch for our children, please don't forget Dr. Seuss.

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Summary: Great for adult literacy too!
Review: I am a literacy tutor for adults, and this is a fantastic book! I already had it in my collection, being one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books from childhood, and I brought it with me to my student's. With the simple words, the repetition of stems and the wonderful illustrations, my student was able to read a WHOLE book in only a couple days. She was thrilled, and shared it with her children who also have reading difficulties. It helps with word recognition, syntax, sounds of letters and had us laughing as well. I wish there were more such versatile books on the market. And as another reviewer said, it does make one want to hop on pop! (or play all day and fight all night!!)

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Summary: The Poems are way too short
Review: I bought Hop On Pop (1963)at Target drug stores around Dr. Suess' 99th birthday because I totally admire the books by Theodore Suesss Giesl (Dr. Suess)(1904-1991).But the poems are way too short.I don't HATE this book,but it's not really one of my favorites.The illustrations were well done but the poems wern't really much of poems.they just have two rhyming words then a sentance using the words.For example:"All/Tall/We are all tall".Sometimes there's a word in a sentance that's not in the rhymes(Example:"Pat/Sat/Pat sat on bat.").Sometimes they even use a rhyming wordthat is not used in a sentance(Example:"Ball/Wall/Up on a wall.").If you're gonna go buy a Dr.Suess Begginer or Bright And Early book,buy The Cat In The Hat (1957) or Oh,The Thinks You Can Think!(1975)because I like those two a lot more.

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Summary: Read it aloud to your children!
Review: I grew up with Dr Suess books so I couldn't wait to share them with my own children. The books are illustrated simply, the text is easy to read and creatively laid out and the silly rhymes make me and my children laugh.
What I've noticed from reading them Dr Suess books (they are 1 and 2.5 years) that it has really helped my 2.5 year old with increasing her vocabularly, saying words properly and recognising sounds that a letter or group of letters make. A wonderful series of books to read aloud to your children.

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Summary: Literal Man needs a good deprogrammer
Review: I had to write this review because I was AMAZED, DISTURBED,AND ANGERED that Literal Man would write a review that was so ridiculous that, even if it was a joke, could be dangerous to those who took it seriously {and note 2 people did !}. This is a great learning tool with a silly story, designed to keep the attention of the young. This book is designed to teach children how to read using rhyme. I read it as a child and miraculously did not abuse father, engage in group sex, or drug my dog {as Literal Man's review suggests}...I simply learned to read with the aid of the talented Dr. Suess. Generally, Dr. Suess' books contain a moral, which this doesn't, which is why I am only giving it 4 stars. However, it is a true classic, and your children will love it.

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Summary: Lots of easy words
Review: I like to use this book when my kids are at that stage where they can read really simple consonant-vowel-consonant words - like "pop, hop, dad, mad, cat", etc.

This is a really great book - it's big enough, that when they've helped me read it, they really feel like they have accomplished something. The rhymes, the funny subject matter, the cute illustrations, all communicate to children.

Perfect for kids 4 - 7.

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Summary: Not really a large-print book
Review: I ordered this book for my grandchild who is visually impaired and has low vision. I was really unhappy to discover that the print is no larger than the original version. Yes the print is somewhat bigger than most Dr. Seuss books, but this book should not be sold as a large-print book without that explanation. Also, I believe I paid more for it as a large-print book than I would have paid for the original.

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Summary: A virtual cornucopia of societal facets
Review: I read this book recently...and something was bothering me about it, so I read it two more times, after which I discovered what it was that was disturbing.

On the surface, it would appear that this book means to depict a fantasy world of gravity-defying creatures who take great delight in physically defining sentences comprised of two- to three-letter words. That these words rhyme further adds to the seemingly innocent message of this book.

But beware dear reader, this tome is not what it seems. For within its pages lurks a very different message. One that seems taken from the headlines of newspapers all over the country. In reality, its colorful, sing-song phrases cleverly camouflages a reflection of today's violent society that becomes more obvious the more you read the book.

Let me explain by way of quoting some of the book and then detailing what the messages are.

1. Up pup, pup is up: You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to know that this line is advocating one of two things -- either carelessly throwing a puppy in the air without regard to its possible injury, or administering narcotics (uppers) to a puppy, again endangering its life. I'm surprised PETA hasn't latched onto this.

2. Red, Ned, Ted and Ed in bed: If I have to explain this one, you have lived a sheltered life.

3. All ball, ball wall, we all play ball up on a wall: What irresponsible parent would let their children play ball on a wall? I can give you a few examples, but you only need to look around you on the freeway for the answer, where children can be seen bouncing around in the seats as they travel 65 miles per hour. The real question is, why would dear Dr. Suess even think of suggesting that this is an acceptable form of recreation?

4. And finally, the most blatant example of them all -- Hop pop, we like to hop on top of pop: As if those who have parents in the winters of their lifetime do not have enough burden to bear, here's a shrouded suggestion that one should actually physically abuse their father. Have we as a society sunk so low that we must resort to further demoralizing the paternal side of our senior citizen population?

I gave this book a 4 rating because it masks its true messages very well. I would read it again, but for some reason, I have this overwhelming urge to drug and juggle my cat, engage in risky sports-like behavior, and whip my father. I won't, however, get into bed with three other males.

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Summary: December#8
Review: I think that this book is a great one for kids to help them to begin to read. It has easy words and rythem so the kids can learn it better by clapping or tapping out the rythm. I enjoyed reading this book again and I also had the movie of it when I was little. The movie I think would help kids learn even better because of the interactiveness and they can read along with it at the bottom of the screen. this was always my fovorite Dr. Seuss book because of the movie that I had.