Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
New Dr. Seuss Book Will Celebrate the U.S.’s 250th Anniversary
I’m not in a particularly celebratory mood, but the Cat in the Hat is here for it. A Dr. Seuss manuscript featuring the popular character has surfaced from the Geisel Library at The University California San Diego just in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. Sing the 50 United States, which sets out to teach the names of the states, will be posthumously published on June 2, 2026. Maybe David Donald Doo Defended Democracy is hidden somewhere in the archives too.
Nobel Prize-Winning Writer Says His U.S. Visa was Revoked
Wole Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, told the press that his U.S. non-resident visa was revoked. Soyinka, a playwright and writer of poetry, fiction, and memoirs, recently criticized Trump and, in 2017, destroyed his green card in protest of his first presidential term. The letter revoking Soyinka’s visa notified him that “additional information became available after the visa was issued,” but failed to elaborate. PEN America has released a statement condemning the cancellation of his visa with a warning that it will “further weaken the United States’ position as a leader on free expression and the open exchange of ideas with cultural figures from across the world.” This is what Soyinka had to say about this all-too familiar move:
“It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” he said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”
A Gothic Fiction Starter Pack
Today’s Halloween treat is for anyone who wants to get into Gothic fiction, or take a more curated approach to reading these works. The New York Times published a starter pack that offers some historical context alongside must-reads. You’ve got classics, contemporary works, Southern Gothic, and reads for people with particular leanings or desires. It’s a great way to get started with this category of fiction and to explore just how broad it can be. Go on and scare yourself up some spooky season reads.
Why Did These Authors Have Their School Visit Canceled? They Were Talking About Their Book About Book Bans.
Imagine, then, putting together a book tour only to find one of those school visits canceled because administrators did not want authors Kusin Pritchard and Ho to talk about the contemporary landscape of book censorship that inspired their book. That’s exactly what happened to the duo at Country Club Elementary School in San Ramon, California.
What are you reading? Let us know in the comments!