How the Grinch Stole Christmas: A 50th Anniversary Retrospective - Hardcover

Dr. Seuss

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0375838473 ISBN 13: 9780375838477

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2007

Synopsis

Includes Dr. Seuss's beloved Christmas story—plus 32-pages of commentary and archival images!

Inside this very special anniversary edition of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, you'll find the complete, original text and illustrations by Dr. Seuss, along with 32 fascinating pages of commentary and archival images, written and compiled by renowned Seuss scholar Charles D. Cohen. In chatty, conversational style, Cohen reflects upon Dr. Seuss's changing view of Christmas over the years and traces the evolution of the Grinch, his dog Max, and the inhabitants of Who-ville. Also together for the first time are three rarely seen Seuss holiday offerings: "Perfect Present," a poem about the fluff-footed, frizzle-topped, three-fingered Zift and why it makes the ideal gift; "The Hoobub and the Grinch," a story about a con artist Grinch who sells pieces of green string; and the spiritually compelling painting and poem "A Prayer for a Child." Ideal for Seuss fans and book collectors, it makes a perfect gift for the whole family!

About this title

Review:

"The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! / Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time. For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.

Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing! Children simultaneously adore and fear this triumphant, twisted Seussian testimonial to the undaunted cheerfulness of the Whos, the transcendent nature of joy, and of course, the growth potential of a heart that's two sizes too small. This holiday classic is perfect for reading aloud to your favorite little Whos. (Ages 4 to 8)

From the Inside Flap:

The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, hates Who-ville's holiday celebrations, and plans to steal all the presents to prevent Christmas from coming. To his amazement, Christmas comes anyway, and the Grinch discovers the true meaning of the holiday.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0375838473
• ISBN 13: 9780375838477
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96