How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Dr Seuss Book & CD)

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!

Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.

It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.

It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight

When he spies the citizens of Who-ville enjoying their Christmas preparations, the Grinch comes down from his cave and makes a dastardly attempt to take all the joy out of the occasion by actually stealing Christmas.

With zany rhymes and distinctive black and red illustrations, this classic seasonal story has become a favourite for good reason. In the end, the story of the ghastly Grinch has something to teach us all about the true meaning of Christmas. --Rachel Ediss

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head just wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were just too tight. But I think the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes two small.

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 and think we're not
We really think we're very hot
But little things can mean a lot
One small 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 and very young
And we will learn it most completely
Not obtuse and not obliquely

That love will rule the final day
And love will help us all 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 small and the rhyming schemes simple, all the better to make sure that children and learning and remembering, not just language, but also imagination and creativity.

Pros
A grinch who changes, a Who who hopes
Cons
Nothing here that fails or slopes

A must-have for children of all ages.


'He himself, the Grinch stole Christmas!'   October 22, 2005
Max (England, Milton Keynes)
This is a glorious Dr. Suess tale! This story pokes out a few reminders of Scrooge, but nevertheless this book is the one for beginners! 'Dr. Suess's How The Grinch Stole Christmas' is about a black-hearted creature called, The Grinch and he loathes Christmas and he wishes to take Christmas on, and destroy this festive season! Until one dark night he has a wondeful, awful idea to steal Christmas once and for all! But will his evil plan work? Let's hope not...
Here's an extract from the story so that you have a few helpful hints so you know what the theme of the story is:

'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 all'
'Maybe his heart was two sizes, two small...'