For years, this debate has been going on in the homeschool circuits, various parents saying yes, others saying no.

The truth is, I think that Dr. Seuss both is and isn’t twaddle.

It really depends on your definition of twaddle!

If you consider twaddle, anything that is not literature in the deepest sense of the meaning, then Seuss certainly is.  He makes up words, his vocabulary is small and his grammar is not always perfect.  But then considering the circumstances, I think he did quite well with the vocabulary list he was given.

If on the other hand you consider twaddle to be anything that does not engage the child and encourage them to read, then Seuss most definitely isn’t.

There are children who love him and children who hate him, and it is definitely something determined by the childhood personality.

My DS loves Seuss books, and will often read them.

My DD is currently in love with Go Dog Go which I read to her in the bookstore the other day.  She sat, enthralled with it.  She loves dogs, so this was right up her alley.

Personally, I have love-hate relationship with him… I love his books for the excitement they bring when someone can read them… I hate the stilted vocabulary and odd words… but you can consider that the purist in me!

Dr. Seuss is definitely on my kids reading list, and I wouldn’t have it any other way… any book that encourages a child to read has my approval!