Author: Dr. Seuss

Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd

Synopsis: The Sneetches is about two types of creatures, separated by having or not having stars on their bellies. The Star-Belly Sneetches think they are the best, and look down upon Sneetches without stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches remain depressed and oppressed, prohibited from associating with their star-bellied counterparts, until Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes along with his Star-on and Star-off machines. He begins to give stars to the Plain-Belly Sneetches, and soon they are happy, for they look like their elite counterparts. The original Star-Belly Sneetches are angry at no longer being different and special, so they get Sylvester to remove all their stars. This continues back and forth until no one can remember which Sneetches were originally what, and an epiphany strikes them all at once: that it really doesn’t matter whether a Sneetch has a star belly or not – they are all really the same, and can coexist and be friends with one another.

Debrief Questions:

• How do the Sneetches treat those who are different from themselves?
• Is it okay to treat someone different based on the way they look? Why or why not?
• What do the Sneetches decide to do at the end of the story? Do you think it solves the conflict between star-bellies Sneetches and those without?