Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is based on an idea by Dr. Seuss. He passed before completing the book. Jack Prelutsky completed the text. Lane Smith illustrated the book.

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is the celebration at the school, Diffendoofer. The school does not conform with the program of teaching children only facts to pass standardized tests. There is a popular view that the reason for schools, is to produce students who have high scores on national tests.

Diffendoofer school believes differently on the subject. It takes the creative approach. The children are taught to think for themselves. The school has unusual teachers and curriculum. One teacher teaches listening. Another teacher teaches smelling. Laughing is another lesson. Yelling is a subject.

One day, the Diffendoofer students are told there is an upcoming standardized test. The students are nervous. If the students fail the test, the Board of Education will demolish the school. Failure means school in dreary Flobberton where imagination is not allowed.

Test day arrives. The students take the test. They ace the test. Their success is due to the fact the students can think and reason for themselves. Teachers are not daily drilling test answers into their heads.

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is a commentary on educational programs that measures children learning by test score results and nothing else. Dr. Suess shares his theories on standards-based programs with his readers. There is a special section at the end of the book with his notes.

A creative child who can think for himself is our future inventor or protector of our liberties. A child who learns only what is drummed into their head is likely to believe anything told him by those in power.

Problems can be solved by different means. Remember the saying, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.”

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day has rhyming verse. Jack Prelutsky’s poetry captures Dr. Suess’ lively banner. There is a blend of Lane Smith and Dr. Seuss’ characters on each page. The vocabulary is advance for the average picture book reader to read on their own. Therefore, the book is for ages’ seven-years-old and up. This book like Theodor Suess Geisel’s, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, is a good book for young people and adults. It should be a staple in teacher colleges.



Picture Books for Children

More Children Books

List of Dr. Seuss Books
Don Freeman's Books
Stan Berenstain's Books
Magic Tree House Books
Chronicles of Narnia Books
A Series of Unfortunate Events Books