Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss is the main person that Nel is criticizing in his work, however he brings to attention several other children's authors of the mid-20th century. Dr. Seuss grew up reading books that greatly influenced his view on the world. One such book was The Hole Book, which included racist descriptions and actions of a black family. Nel argues that growing up in a culture where this type of writing is acceptable greatly influenced Seuss' work, and led a mass audience to believe that The Cat in the Hat is more "white" than "black".
Philip Nel
The author of the book, Nel is the one that brings most arguments and counterarguments to the table. He argues that there should be more diversity in children's literature, as it could influence how they view the world as they mature. He also criticizes Seuss for not including diversity in his work. Much of what Nel is arguing are things that have already been established, but he brings them together to express the urgency of including more diversity in children's literature.
