Four must read Dr. Seuss books and some green ham
And adaptation to avoid
Theodor Seuss Geisel, know to the world as Dr. Seuss, has been immortalized for his use of wordplay, rhyme, and charming characters in his books that inspire millions of young readers throughout the globe. Some of his works teach important lessons while others teach young readers to speak in a fun and interactive way. We bring you four books that you should start with if you are looking to get into the colorful world of Dr. Suess.
Green Eggs and Ham
The premise of this book, on the surface, is simple. Mr. Negativity is a grumpy grouch who dislikes green eggs and ham, even though he never actually tried it. So, when Sam-I-am pesters him to eat a plate, we soon find out we can't really know what we'll like until we try it! It is said the original inspiration for this book was Bennett Cerf, co-founder of the publisher Random House, who challenged Seuss to write a book using only 50 unique words or less. Suess rose to the challenge, and the book indeed uses exactly 50 words. All in all, a great book that encourages children to try something before making a judgment, a trait that sadly many adults lack nowadays.
After you're done reading, check out the great Netflix adaptation. The show managed to break the curse of Dr. sues adaptation and is actually quite good.
The Cat in the Hat
If your one of the sad folks who got mentally scarred by the live-action adaptation, take Sam-I-am's advice and read the original book. Published in 1957, this kids' classic put Dr. Seuss on the map. The story follows the life of Sally and his brother, whose rainy day indoors turns into a crazy adventure with a giant cat in a giant hat and sidekicks, Thing 1 and Thing 2! The unique use of rhyming in the book encourages multiple reading, and the book's colorful illustrations capture the Cat's exuberant spirit.
The Lorax
A cautionary tale of how our behavior is hurting the planet, the message of the Lorax is more important than ever before. The story revolves around the little mustachioed potato-shaped crusader Lorax and industrialist Once-ler, with the latter being focused on cutting down every one of Lorax's beloved Truffula Trees because "everyone needs them". The environmentalist classic is a warning about how reckless exploitation of resources leaves the surrounding ecosystem hopelessly polluted and does irreparable damage to the ecosystem. A message that both children and adults should take to the heart.
Also, stay a forest length away from the animated adaptation. Its blatant product placements makes a mockery of the original message.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The timeless Christmas classic is a story of joy, love, and acceptance anytime, anywhere! The story revolves around the mean & furry Grinch, who for some unknown reason, hates Christmas and the whole festive season! He hatches a daring plan to rob Whos of Whoville of their Christmas, and goes on to discover that kindness, compassion, and a large dose of Christmas cheer can warm even a heart that's "two sizes too small."
Unlike the previous two adaptations on this list, Jim Carrey's live-action take falls in the middle of the road. Not terrible by any standards, but still leagues behind the actual book.