Context

The book was published and distributed at a very politically unstable time, being produced a couple of years before WW2. The Story of Ferdinand was one of the highest selling children's books at the time, selling 80 thousand copies in it’s first year (Bruce Handy). But because of what it was promoting it was quickly banned in Germany and Spain. Due to Germany and Spain being fascist and anti-rights leaders, the notion of freedom that Ferdinand poses in the children’s book isn’t something that would want to be promoted. To retaliate the democratic movement in the west during WW2, Germany would promote as much fascist and anti democratic propaganda as possible. This was necessary if Germany wanted to keep their troops from opting out of the war. For the influence of democrocy and freedom was a threat to Hitler’s fascist ideology. Hitler would constently promote vilence and revenge to get his people to fight in the war. For The Story of Ferdinand, the main character goes against what the fascist countries were trying to promote. 

Countries like Britain and America loved what the book stood for. Ferdinand won an oscar and was promoted in cartoon’s in Britain. For while Nazi Germany was promoting fear and war, the west was promoting freedom and peace.