The Lorax - Softcover

Dr Seuss

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000170012X ISBN 13: 9780001700123

Publisher: Collins, 1997

Synopsis

A new edition of the classic story from Dr Seuss's much loved The Lorax. Ideal for children learning to read on their own."Mister!" he said with a sawdusty sneeze,"I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees."In this haunting fable about the dangers of destroying our forests and woodlands, the long-suffering Lorax struggles to save all the Truffula Trees from the wicked Once-ler's axe. A hilarious story with typical zany humour and silly rhymes, that packs a punch with its ecological message without feeling heavy-handed or worthy.

About this title

Review

When Dr. Seuss gets serious, you know it must be important. Published in 1971, and perhaps inspired by the "save our planet" mindset of the 1960s, The Lorax is an ecological warning that still rings true today amidst the dangers of clear-cutting, pollution, and disregard for the earth's environment. In The Lorax, we find what we've come to expect from the illustrious doctor: brilliantly whimsical rhymes, delightfully original creatures, and weirdly undulating illustrations. But here there is also something more--a powerful message that Seuss implores both adults and children to heed.

The now remorseful Once-ler--our faceless, bodiless narrator--tells the story himself. Long ago this enterprising villain chances upon a place filled with wondrous Truffula Trees, Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba- loots, and Humming-Fishes. Bewitched by the beauty of the Truffula Tree tufts, he greedily chops them down to produce and mass-market Thneeds. ("It's a shirt. It's a sock. It's a glove. It's a hat.") As the trees swiftly disappear and the denizens leave for greener pastures, the fuzzy yellow Lorax (who speaks for the trees "for the trees have no tongues") repeatedly warns the Once-ler, but his words of wisdom are for naught. Finally the Lorax extricates himself from the scorched earth (by the seat of his own furry pants), leaving only a rock engraved "UNLESS." Thus, with his own colorful version of a compelling morality play, Dr. Seuss teaches readers not to fool with Mother Nature. But as you might expect from Seuss, all hope is not lost--the Once-ler has saved a single Truffula Tree seed! Our fate now rests in the hands of a caring child, who becomes our last chance for a clean, green future. (Ages 4 to 8)

From the Inside Flap

"He's shortish.
And oldish...
And brownish. And mossy...
And he spoke with a voice...
that was sharpish and bossy.
"The big, colorful pictures and the fun images, word plays and rhymes make this an amusing exposition of the ecology crisis."--"School Library Journal. Illus. in full color.

Edition details

• Publisher: Collins
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 000170012X
• ISBN 13: 9780001700123
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 64