Hop on Pop not being cropped

The Dr. Seuss classic ‘Hop on Pop’ has appeared on a number of ‘best of’ children’s books lists since it was first published in 1963. But now, more than 50 years later, it’s become an unlikely spark to reignite the conversation about intellectual freedom.

The Toronto Public Library revealed its annual review committee notes this week. And on the list of 7 items customers had formally asked the library to remove from their collection — Hop on Pop. The reason? The reader felt it encourages children to use violence against their fathers.

Last year, the Hamilton Public Library circulated over 7 million items.

Chief Librarian Paul Takala says each year, they receive about 20 complaints. And staff respond with the library’s intellectual freedom policy: “We’re not endorsing the opinion of the materials that we have. At the same time, we need to make them available. And most times people understand that.”

In 2001, that wasn’t good enough for one reader who appealed an R. L. Stine ‘Goosebumps’ novel.

Paul said: “I think they found some of the humour quite offensive and over the top.”

Someone else once complained about Joan Rivers’ ‘I Hate Everyone Starting With Me’. No, it’s not politically correct, but that’s not the point.

Paul said: “We certainly don’t endorse Joan Rivers views and she certainly does have a right to express her opinion and people have a right to read it whether they disagree with it or not.”

But it’s a book for a much younger audience, that a Toronto Public Library customer has a problem with.

The pages in question read: “Hop. Pop. We like to hop. We like to hop on top of pop.

The reader said it encouraged children to use violence against their fathers. And asked the library to yank it from shelves.

The complainant felt the book was mean; much too violent, in parts obscene. They wanted the library to give it the chop, but they would not, could not ban ‘Hop on Pop’

The library’s review committee determined not only does the book encourage kids not to hop on pop. But it’s also humorous, well-loved and is designed to engage children while teaching them how to read.

“What do you think? I don’t get why it would be too violent.”

“From what I recall, they’re very educational and and helpful for young people to read.”

“I don’t… I mean, this is something kids normally do. They jump on their father.”

Hop on Pop remains in the library. But if you are concerned about a chidren’s book, Takala says have a family conversation and remember to find things your kid enjoys reading to encourage them to do so.

The Hamilton Public Library has never banned a book. Takala says it follows Canadian law. So if something is found obscene or hateful by a Canadian court, that’s when they would not include that material in their collection.