The Sneetches

 In The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss, a group of 'people' (or things rather) think they are above everyone else in their society because of the way their bellies have stars on them. Those without stars on their stomachs are looked down upon and thought to be lesser in the society. The plain bellied sneetches remain oppressed and sad- never feeling like they belong anywhere, let alone in their society. I think this is a really great yet simple metaphor for children to understand. Such a basic difference in appearance pins these two groups against each other, and most kids probably assume it to be silly. When a kid can reflect and apply this to their real life, they see that maybe the reason they dislike someone is silly too. This story teaches a great moral lesson of acceptance and differences. When Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes in with his machine and changes everyone, forcing people to forget who had a star and who didn't, its a perfect way of telling kids to see passed their differences- because in the end, everyone is really the same. I personally believe this is one of Dr. Seuss' best stories, although his other stories are short and simple and also teach a lesson, this one is relatable at any age, to all people. Not only does it teach acceptance and coexistence, but it gets the reader thinking about the perspective of those who are looked at differently, and puts them in those shoes, only to see how ridiculous biases can be.