Story Archive

Berserk Jerk Gets No Perk

The public library in Toronto, Ont., Canada, revealed the list of books that it was asked to remove from its collection last year included the 1963 Dr. Seuss tale, Hop on Pop. “The complaint was that it was violent and encouraged children to be violent with their fathers,” says Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library’s Director of Collections Management. And not just removed: the patron also asked for a public apology to “Greater Toronto Area fathers” and payment of reparations. (The offending language: “HOP POP We like to hop. We like to hop on top of Pop. STOP You must not hop on Pop.”) The library said the request was “surprising,” but they took it “very seriously” just as it does every such complaint — but declined to remove the book from the children’s collection. (RC/CTV) ...NOPE DOPE. To give in to a dope on a silly trope is a slippery slope. HOPE The library gave us plenty.