Gospel According to Dr. Seuss: Snitches, Sneeches, and Other Creachas

While reading this excellent book, I was taken back to my own childhood days, back to Green Eggs and Ham, The Sneetches, and of course, that loveable Cat in the Hat. Of course, author James Kemp brings out subtle details in the stories that I never saw as a child . . . a deeper truth that permeates the writings of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. A great way to use this book is to read one of the short chapters for yourself, then reread one of the Seuss classics with your kids. You'll be able to share spiritual truth with them in a fun way.

James Kemp has crafted a little devotional book with a substantial amount of meat. Based on the story within beloved and not so well known Seussian characters and books Kemp shares some the basics of the Christian life and faith. Topics like ecology, racism, forgiveness, humility and faith are covered in the thirteen short lessons. Only ninety pages, this is a perfect book for small groups. Though there are no follow-up questions, a creative person could easily craft some. Teens might find the writing a little adult but the ideas could easily be adapted for a youth group.

Our Sunday School class has used this wonderful book as a study in the past and will be using it again this spring. Although Kemp passed away last fall, his insights will live on through this book and the folks whose lives it touches.

In The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss, James W. Kemp (now retired from fifteen years service as a United Methodist pastor) reveals the popular children's stories penned by Dr. Seuss are more than simply imaginative and highly entertaining, a great many of them are also inspirational. Kemp finds parallels between the doings of cats in hats, Grinches, Snitches, Sneetches, and other whimsical creatures with lessons embedded within the Scriptures. The meaning and relevance of many Bible passages come to life within the originality of such stories as "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!", "Horton Hatches the Egg"; Yertle the Turtle"; "Green Eggs and Ham", and other Dr. Seuss tales of whimsey and rhyme. Highly recommended to the Christian community regardless of denominational distinctions, The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss is lively, entertaining, inherently fascinating, and spirituality enthusiastic reading.

Jim Kemp has skillfully woven passages of scripture with stories of Dr. Seuss. As the Bible is a moral document, the author compares passages from the Gospels to the morals of the selected books of Dr. Seuss. The reading is delightful and can inspire an adult or teach a child.