How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The Real Grinch

He's right, of course. It's hard when a book you've been reading faithfully every year is made into a movie, and you see who Hollywood gives the lead part to. (Then again, who else would anyone cast in this rubber-faced role?)

This is the original story, with the real face of the scowling, mean-spirited Grinch. That face changes from bad to worse, and then to tender when he finally "gets" the meaning of Christmas.

But before he does, children and adults will read (and reread) in delight and shock as the Grinch disguises himself as Santa. The innocent townspeople of Whoville never seem to catch on as the Grinch forces his poor dog Max to help him steal all the toys and ornaments. He's so sure that once he's done away with the material goodies, the Christmas spirit will be gone.

A wonderful story with a message we can't hear enough. Add this to a child's Christmas bookshelf, or give it to that grumpy coworker who's ba-humbuging around.

This book is the classic (accept no substitutes)!

Charming tale!

The Grinch, for no apparent reason, REALLY hates Christmas and the Whos of Whoville love it. Angered by their holiday festivities and happiness, he plots to steal their presents and decorations, under the assumption that Christmas can't/won't exist without them. So he sets off with faithful but much-kicked canine Max to destroy Christmas. But is Christmas only presents and ornaments?

Dr. Seuss's delightfully-skewed rhymes and names are as enjoyable as ever, making the important message of Christmas infinitely more palatable than if it had been a much-regurgitated, cliched book. I admit it--at the beginning the Christmas season I tend to act Grinchish, and I felt much better after reading this book...

If you like this book, then check out the old cartoon special (though not the live-action one). "Grinch" is a treasure in kid's literature and can be enjoyed by anyone...

Yes, it comes round all the year, never fear, ye, never fear

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.

The Grinch found the strength of ten grinches...plus two!