Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) writes and illustrates The Butter Battle Book. The picture book contains fifty-six pages. The target readers’ ages are four through eight-years-old. It is appropriate for all ages.

Dr. Seuss' humorous rhymes and whimsical characters teach children valuable lessons. He teaches children not to dislike others because of differences. Also, he teaches them how tit-for-tat violence can escalate to dangerous proportions.

The Butter Battle Book starts with the Yooks and Zooks. They live on opposite sides of a wall. Their dislike for each other is based on how each group butters their bread. One group butters the top-side and the other butters the bottom-side. To force their views on the other and have superior power, they build bigger and better weapons. This continues until both sides have a bomb which will not only kill the citizens on the other side, but their own citizens, too.

Many adults view The Butter Battle Book as a commentary on the Cold War. The United States of America and the Soviet Union (Russia) had a continuous build up of weaponry. The two nations built bombs capable of not only destroying each other, but the world.

Parents of young children can use the book to teach tolerance. Also, use the picture book to teach correct behavior in school and on the playground. Fighting is not necessary. Today’s children allow violence to escalate to guns.

High School teachers can incorporate The Butter Battle Book into a history lesson. Dr. Suess’s humorous rhymes will capture the students' attention. They will learn valuable lessons about past wars and gain insight into current events.



In Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, Dr. Seuss shares his views on education in the United States of America in his characteristc manner.


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