Customer Reviews

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

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I loved Dr. Seuss as a kid, but I have to admit, I don't always like reading him aloud now that I'm a parent. Don't tell my kids, but I know how Green Eggs and Ham ended up behind the sofa. Mom and Dad hid it there after they'd been forced to read about boxes and foxes and sockses too many times in a row one night. This new book, based on notes and sketches found among Dr. Seuss's papers after his death, might escape the fate of Sam-I-am, at least in our house. There are some definite funny moments. Discussing the cafeteria workers, the narrator says, "They make us hot dogs, beans, and fries, / Plus things we do not recognize." Although the food may resemble that found in some educational institutions, the philosophy does not. Instead of teaching the students the traditional canon and rote memorization, the teachers at Diffendoofer teach an eclectic mix. Extolling the virtues of his teacher, Miss Bonkers, the narrator says: She even teaches frogs to dance. And pigs to put on underpants. One day she taught a duck to sing -- Miss Bonkers teaches EVERYTHING! Of all the teachers in our school, I like Miss Bonkers best. Our teachers are all different, But she's different-er than the rest. Most of all, the teachers teach their students how to think. This works great, until the day of the dreaded standardized test. If the students at Diffendoofer School don't pass with flying colors, they'll be forced to go to Flobbertown, where everyone does everything the same. Amazingly enough, the test covers all the things the Diffendoofer teachers have been teaching -- and for those questions on material they haven't covered yet, the students use their thinking skills to come up with the right answers. Lane Smith's illustrations pay tribute to Dr. Seuss. Several characters from Seuss books walk the halls of Diffendoofer School, along with Smith's more angular characters. The library is stocked with Seuss books. At the end of the book, there's the story of how this book came to be. After reading the original verses and studying the original sketches, I re-read the story and marveled at how Prelutsky and Smith took a small amount of material and fashioned Hooray for Diffendoofer Day.

I LOVED this book so much, I have read it again and againbecause it is so good. Dr. Seuss had started this book before he died,but never got to finish it. Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith completed the book and did a TERRIFIC job at it. It is from the point of view of a student who goes to school at Diffendoofer. She describes each of the teachers and what they teach. But now the students of Diffendoofer school have to take a test, if they don't pass, everyone will be sent to another school, a dreary school. Read the book to find out what happens in the end, if Diffendoofer passes the test and keeps the school, or if the students fail and get sent elsewhere. I recommend this book to ANYONE!

I am the principal of a non-traditional public high school; I received the book as a present from a first year teacher. It should be part of every beginning teachers opening-of-school packet. It is all about teaching kids how to think, and how to be successful in "different-er" ways.

An wonderful book for the adult and child to share! Illustrations are incredible. For both student and teacher who are facing test anxiety. This book talks about two types of schools and the two schools of thought that they teach. One particular school, who is in the habit of using a "non-traditional" to teaching, and is in habit of teaching children "how to think" faces the BIG TEST DAY! and the principal is scared the children won't be ready for it...read it to find out the end!

Would you like to read about school where a lot of extraordinary stuff happens? Then Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is the right book for you. It is about a kid who tries to save the school. Find out if he does in the book, Hooray for Diffendoofer Day by Dr. Suess. I thought it was a fun book to read!

Student from G.P

Hooray!!! The genius of Dr. Suess is teamed with that of Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith to produce an outstanding book full of rhymes -- and reason. Diffendoofer School is a santuary for individuality. Why take spelling tests, when yelling contests are so much more fun? Everyone in the school has a unique talent they contribute - like Miss Bonkers, who teaches frogs to dance; and pigs to put on underpants! The students and Diffendoofer love its zany outlook, until a test threatens to send them to Flobbertown, where everyone's the same. But Miss Bonkers has faith in her pupils and chirps:

"We've taught you that the earth is round, that red and white make pink. But most importantly of all: We've taught you how to think..."

And when the test comes, it is filled with things they do know. And for the questions they didn't know, somehow they answered them, proving what Miss Bonkers said. This book is a great gift, and proves that a little fun can't hurt! Three cheers for Diffendoofer Day!!!

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

This book is as interesting for the section that explains its origins as it is the for story and illustrations themselves. Before he died, Dr. Seuss was working on a book about teaching. He couldn't get it quite right because "Miss Bonkers was driving him bonkers." After his death, the material was passed along to his long-time editor who filed it away. One day she had the good thought of inviting talented poet, Jack Prelutsky, and outstanding illustrator, Lane Smith, to complete the project. The book shows you the Seuss sketches and his work in progress. It's really quite interesting. Prior to the origins section, you get the actual story. The result is a book that is a combination of wonderful children's story and multifaceted paean to Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss's books are wonderful for celebrating differences among children. This book moves beyond that excellent base to point out the benefits of differences among adults as well as children. The creation of Flobbertown (where everyone does everything the same, and life is dreary) is a stroke of genius, for it creates an archetype to react against.

Near when the poem begins, a student is speaking. "My teacher is Miss Bonkers, She's as bouncy as a flea . . . I'm glad she teaches me." That's the sort of sincere flattery all teachers should receive from their students.

Miss Bonkers's specialization is summarized as follows, "Miss Bonkers teaches EVERYTHING!" She's a free spirit, as evidenced by her use of a trampoline. She does her own thing, and the principal (who worries a lot) "treats her like a queen." Most teachers would love that kind of support, as well!

The rest of the teaching and support staff are equally unique and interesting in their own ways. While many children's stories stick just to the main story line, this one develops many characters to establish a sense of place and context that build a very solid base for the plot.

Working from "some characters, a setting, and a few verses" the story revolves around the benefits of teaching children to think for themselves. This is a good theme, because you can use it as a starting point to encourage your children do the same. The story does a nice job of providing an interesting and amusing tale, with contemporary references that make it more relevant.

As much as I liked the poetry and its imaginative interweaving with Dr. Seuss's original thoughts, I must say I was even more impressed with the illustrations. You will see a vivid, exciting, Seuss-like world, yet this place is distinct from Dr. Seuss. But, Lane Smith incorporated many images from Dr. Seuss into the details for the illustrations, like cut-outs from the newspaper in a Picasso collage. The result is rather intriguing and richer than either style alone would be.

After you have finished enjoying the story with your child, I suggest that you encourage your child to notice the "invisible" people in her or his life. What are they like? What are they focusing on? How can thinking for themselves make a difference?

Encourage independent thinking!

If only there were a Diffendoofer School! I'd gladly send my children to a school where a sprited teacher named Miss Bonkers makes learning a delightful adventure everyday. ("She even teaches frogs to dance, and pigs to put on underpants.") I purchased this book with great enthusiasm because I was intrigued by the fact that Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel never had a chance to finish the story; only a handful of rough illustrations and verses existed. After Dr. Seuss passed away in 1991, his editor of 11 years, Janet Schulman, passed on the rough draft to Jack Prelutsky (a wonderful children's poet) and Lane Smith (an amazing illustrator with a surreal style). This brave team stepped up to the enormous challenge of fleshing out Dr. Seuss's story.

Prelutsky continues the Seussian tradition of wacky words and rhymes, a delight for the young and old. Children love the hilarious descriptions of all the folks who run Diffendoofer School, from the nurse, Miss Clotte, to the stressed-out principal, Mr. Lowe, whose "face is wrinkled as a prune from worrying so much."

Parents will appreciate the not-so-subtle pun on high-stakes assessment tests. The Diffendoofer kids are positively thrilled when they see that the test has "questions about noodles, about poodles, frogs, and yelling...about other things we'd never seen or heard, and we somehow answered them, enjoying every word." Dr. Seuss, Prelutsky, and Smith have created a book that celebrates the creative mind and the joy of learning.

The illustrations by Lane Smith are touched with a lighthearted surrealism. Each page is cotten candy for the eyes. In a touching and unique homage to Dr. Seuss, Smith included original Seuss drawings in many illustrations. It's fun to simply look at Smith's illustrations and try to remember in which books the Seuss drawings appeared.

Another treat for the Seuss fan comes after the story. Schulman, Seuss's editor, wrote "How this Book Came to Be," which includes many of Seuss's original rough sketches and handwritten text. It's a rare opportunity for one to peer into the mind of a brilliant writer.

I simply love reading this book to my children. Three cheers for Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky, and Lane Smith!

I have used this gift as a graduation gift for a high school student. I had each of his teachers sign on a page where their subject or job was mentioned. It not only was a hit with the student, the teachers thought it was a great idea. I also use The Places You'll Go for graduation written by Dr. Seuss

The concept of this book is from Dr. Seuss- he drew sketches and some verses before he died. The details of the story is from another writer who does a wonderful job. I believe the author did a terrific job keeping Dr. Seuss's touch on the book and really made it a wonderful story. But I dislike the art. I think the art makes the book one that I don't want to have. The art is done by Lane Smith, the same guy who did work on 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and he drew this book and the characters for that movie the same way. Some of the character drawings in the book, especially one of a clown that appears on one page, are rather scary-looking. I believe the artist strayed completely away from Dr. Seuss's concept for the book. In Seuss's sketches that he did before he died, he drew the main character, Ms. Bonkers as a sweet old, gray-haired teacher. He also drew a sketch of another lead character, the school's principal. Lane Smith drew Ms. Bonkers as a young, blonde teacher who I imagine, is supposed to be rather attractive. He draws the principal in the book somewhat scary. In Dr. Seuss's sketches for the concept of the book, Dr. Seuss drew and versed that the principal liked to watch Ms. Bonkers jump on a trampoline, which was cute and funny when you see a gray-haired woman in a long, bulky, old-lady dress down to her ankles jumping upside down in mid-air with the old principal watching humorously in the far background, as Dr. Seuss drew in his concept sketch. It is not so cute, and somewhat perverted I think, when Lane Smith draws a young Ms. Bonkers jumping up in the air in a not-so-long dress, with the scary-looking principal standing underneath, looking upwards. We own just about every Dr. Seuss book that he made. We got this one from the library to see if wanted to buy it... we don't. I think the publisher did a great job picking the author. But I belive the publisher really messed up when they chose Lane Smith as the artist and allowed him to draw like something from a 'Nightmare' and yet still think they can put Dr. Seuss's name on the book in order to sell it. Of course, that is just my opinion.