Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat
As stated in the prompt, there is a certain "tension" present in The Cat in the Hat. The mind wants to give in to the crazy imaginings and flights of fancy that appear on the surface. However, the adult reader can't quite ignore the subtle references to anarchy included in the story. I can't think of a specific contemporary book that includes a similar tension. One book that may be comparable is The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This book is somewhat fanciful yet also includes the overshadowing presence of Count Olaf. I think that The Cat in the Hat still appeals to children and will likely continue to appeal to children for many years to come. Although I don't think that kids probably pay much attention to the underlying message about anarchy, I think that they enjoy this book because it is funny, has colorful illustrations, is fun and easy to read, and because of its rhyming pattern.

The Lorax
I think that The Lorax is didactic because it tries to teach the reader a lesson about environmental conservation. Although there are still some didactic books for children being written and published today, they are few and far between. I think this is because writers and publishers are afraid to publish didactic books because they think that children will not like them. Although this may be true, it's important to remember that just because a book teaches a lesson doesn't mean that it has to be boring. The Lorax is the perfect example. It is a fun and wacky story but still manages to teach a valuable lesson.