Hop on Pop

{{Short description|1963 children's book by Dr. Seuss}} {{Infobox book | name = Hop on Pop | image = Hop on Pop.jpg | caption = | author = Dr. Seuss | illustrator = Dr. Seuss | genre = Children's literature | publisher = Random House, The Living Books Company (1998) | pub_date = February 12, 1963<ref>{{cite web | title=Book | url=https://www.seussville.com/book/43028/hop-on-pop/ }}</ref> (Renewed in 1991) | pages = | isbn = 978-0-394-80029-5 | oclc = | dewey = | congress = | country = United States | language = English | preceded_by = Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book | followed_by = Dr. Seuss's ABC }} '''''Hop on Pop''''' is a 1963 children's picture book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), published as part of the Random House Beginner Books series. The book is subtitled "The Simplest Seuss for Youngest Use", and is designed to introduce basic phonics concepts to children.

==History== One of Geisel's manuscript drafts for the book contained the lines, "When I read I am smart / I always cut whole words apart. / Con Stan Tin O Ple, Tim Buk Too / Con Tra Cep Tive, Kan Ga Roo".<ref name= man>Thomas Fensch. ''The Man Who Was Seuss''. New Century Books, 2001. 149.</ref> Geisel had included the contraceptive reference to ensure that publisher Bennett Cerf was reading the manuscript. Cerf did notice the line,<ref>Judith and Neil Morgan. ''Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel''. Random House. 1995. 178-9.</ref> and the poem was changed to the following: "My father / can read / big words, too. / Like... / Constantinople / and / Timbuktu".<ref name=man/>

==Reception== A popular choice of elementary school teachers and children's librarians, ''Hop on Pop'' ranked sixteenth on ''Publishers Weekly''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 2001 list of the all-time best-selling hardcover books for children.<ref>Phillip Nel. ''Dr. Seuss: American Icon''. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. 3-4.</ref> Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association reported the book as being No.{{nbsp}}67 on their list of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children".<ref name=NEA2007>{{cite web |author= |title=Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children |publisher=National Education Association |year=2007 |url=http://www.nea.org/grants/teachers-top-100-books-for-children.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329075800/http://www.nea.org/grants/teachers-top-100-books-for-children.html |archive-date=2017-03-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

One of ''Hop on Pop''’s most notable advocates is former United States First Lady Laura Bush, who listed the book as her favourite in a 2006 interview with ''The Wall Street Journal''. Bush said this book with its illustrations and rhymes delighted her and her husband George and their daughters Barbara and Jenna after reading it.<ref>Laura Bush. "Pursuits: Books; Five Best". ''Wall Street Journal''. September 30, 2006. 8.</ref>

In 2013, an official complaint was made to the Toronto Public Library, which claimed that the book "encouraged children to use violence against their fathers". The library decided against removing the book, finding it a humorous and well-loved children's book designed to engage children while teaching them reading skills.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=O'Neil |title=Toronto library asked to ban 'violent' Dr. Seuss book Hop on Pop |work=CBC News |department=Your Community |date=2014-04-30 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/04/toronto-library-asked-to-ban-violent-dr-seuss-book-hop-on-pop.html |access-date=2014-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602020801/https://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/04/toronto-library-asked-to-ban-violent-dr-seuss-book-hop-on-pop.html |archive-date=2014-06-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== * ''Seussical''

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.seussville.com/ Seussville]

Category:1963 children's books Category:Books by Dr. Seuss Category:American picture books Category:Random House books