'The Cat in the Hat' turns 65 and lives 'somewhere in between offensive and inoffensive'

One day long ago, a fiercely mischievous feline showed up at the house of two young children. Chaos ensued. Despite the high-pitched protestations of the home’s pet fish, the cat would not leave.

“'But I like to be here, oh I like it a lot,’ said the cat in the hat to the fish in the pot. ‘I will NOT go away, I do NOT wish to go!’”

Sixty-five years later this Saturday, Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” is still with us.

That longevity can't be taken for granted of late. The...