The Sneetches

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: Disrespect and Insensitivity to Differences

Author/authors: Dr. Suess

Year of Publication: 1961

Book Title: The Sneetches

ISBN #: 0394800893

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: 25

Quality of illustrations: Great

Brief summary (a short paragraph is sufficient): The Star-belly sneetches think the Plain-bellied sneetches are not as good. Then a salesman comes and gives them stars so that everyone is equal, but the original Star-bellied sneetches are upset and pay to have their stars removed. The others then pay to remove theirs. The salesman ends up making a lot of money just for the sneetches to try to prove who is better.

Activities: In a group of students, divide the students into two groups and assign stars to one group. Direct them to act out the story as you read it again and talk about how it felt to be left out and why it was silly to spend money to try to be better.