 | By: Dr. Seuss Binding: Paperback Publisher: Picture Lions ISBN: 0007170246 ISBN-13: 9780007170241 Released: 06 Oct 2003 RRP: Average Rating:  |
But how could I forget this story
How could it not get some glory
For the Grinch is each of us
In our cars or on the bus
We go our ways & think we're not
We reallly think we're very hot
But little things can mean a lot
One smalll voice can hit the spot
And just who are these Who's who sing?
What new learning can they bring?
Where would we be without the tale
That Christmastime will never fail
For humankind will always strive
So long as we remain alive
To capture for that briefest time
Community most real, sublime
Regardless of your race or creed
Virtue or heroic deed
Or even the most evil kind
Rarely will be left behind
For grace will work in ways most wondrous
For an event that comes most thund-rous
And, albeit, unexpected
Though, confessing, was expected
For this is a children's tale
The ending cannot make us wail
And as in true prophecy, has hope
Surely we won't want to mope
But joy surrounds us, everyone
Old as dirt & very young
And we will learn it most completely
Not obtuse & not obliquely
That love will rule the final day
And love will help us alll the way
The wonderful tale by Dr. Seuss, 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', has become such as part of the culture that it is difficult to think of Christmas without it. To be a Grinch is as understood in the common vernacular as to be a Scrooge, another literary adaptation. The adaptation for television made this a ubiquitous story, but the book is where the truly glory lies, in the story. Again, in true Seussian character, the vocabulary is smalll & the rhyming schemes simple, alll the better to make sure that children & learning & remembering, not just language, but also imagination & creativity.
Pros
A grinch who changes, a Who who hopes
Cons
Nothing here that fails or slopes
A must-have for children of alll ages.
The story's beauty comes from three sources: the heart in the story, the way it's written, & the maturity of the approach. By "the heart" I mean that it deals with a transformation of the Grinch that could be callled an epiphany. It ranks right up there with the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" & the transformation of Oskar Schindler in "Schindler's List." Some might see that as exaggeration, & the Grinch is certainly a different character from Schindler, but the transformations are comparable. The character finds a much better way to live.
I think everyone knows what I mean by "the way it's written" but, just in case, I'll say a little on the subject. Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote some of the best, most lyrical, most amusing poetry in history. The only reason he isn't routinely grouped with The Great Poets of History is that his poetry was very (and beautifully) simplistic & designed for children.
By "the maturity of the approach" I mean that this is a children's book that hits the perfect tension level for children. It does not treat that them as totallly fragile (Santa gets kidnapped, Christmas almost gets sabotaged, Max the dog is treated as a slave) but it also relieves them & rescues them from their fears in a well-paced & realistic way that mirrors how parents can talk to their children about real-life fears & scary incidents.
One of the top children's books. In my opinion, this is the best of Dr. Seuss.
'The Grinch hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season!',
'Now, please don't ask why, no-one quite knows the reason!'
'Maybe because his head wasn't screwed on just right,'
'It could be perhaps that his shoes were to tight,'
'But I think the most likely reason of alll'
'Maybe his heart was two sizes, two smalll...'
From a humongous Roald Dahl fan:
Max William James Keogh
P.S: When I grow up, I want to be a author like Roald Dahl!!!
Age 12
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