One of my recent
Seuss finds is the wonderful book Hooray
for Diffendoofer Day, completed posthumously by children’s poet Jack
Prelutsky and children’s book illustrator and author Lane Smith from Theodor
Geisel’s notes and sketches.
I found Diffendoofer Day at a local library and was immediately in love. An undiscovered Seuss and one with a wonderful, encouraging, important message at that. An exciting discovery indeed.
I found Diffendoofer Day at a local library and was immediately in love. An undiscovered Seuss and one with a wonderful, encouraging, important message at that. An exciting discovery indeed.
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is set in Diffendoofer School in
Dinkerville, an usual school with an unusual philosophy on teaching. The
teachers are quirky and the subject choices bizarre. Even the cafeteria is fun.
In comparison, the neighbouring town of Flobbertown has a school where everyone
looks and acts the same dreary, boring way.
When a surprise
test is held, the students panic. Failure will mean that Diffendoofer School
will be closed and all the children will be forced to attend school in
Flobbertown. The irrepressible teacher Miss Bonkers reassures the students that
they don’t need to panic because they have been taught what is really important
– ‘We’ve taught you how to think’.
Strongly based on
Seuss’ notes, the illustrations also include elements of his sketches as well
as some images from other Seuss books. The story is followed by an explanation
by Seuss’ editor Janet Schulman of how the book developed from the original
notes and features some of Seuss’ draft sketches and scribbled story ideas.
I have bought
several copies of this book over the years to give to my children’s class
teachers as Christmas gifts. The story is silly and entertaining and the
message is simple – it is important to value learning, creativity and
individualism. Hooray for Diffendoofer
Day is a Seuss book with a message for both children and adults and it has
been one of my favourite book finds in recent years.
