Title: How the Grinch stole Christmas

Author: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Number of pages: 64

Type of Book: Fiction; Classic

Age: 0 – 8

Available here: http://www.amazon.com/Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Classic-Seuss/dp/0394800796/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=512PxXsTebL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR112%2C160_&refRID=0GN84K1FXH8CK1PYFRPZ ; Buy the Audio CD (contains 11 stories by Dr. Seuss) here https://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-the-cat-in-the-hat-and-other-dr.-seuss-favorites-14699.html ; Borrow the book from ZODML here: http://zodml.org/eachbook.php?id=36102 ;

Read the book online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKUumRRfm-0

Price: $8.48; N4,890

MY SUMMARY

‘I MUST find a way to stop Christmas from coming!’ the Grinch thought as he imagined all the things that would happen on Christmas day, a day he absolutely hated. On Christmas morning, he knew the kids in Whoville would wake up to unwrap their presents. He just knew that they’d make a lot of noise noise noise! Then the adults would feast and feast and feast on roast beef and all the Whos in Whoville, young and old, would hold hands and sing and make even more noise. Thoughts of Christmas day haunted the Grinch. O! how he hated Christmas season! Then he came up with the most ‘wonderful awful’ idea to stop Christmas from coming. He decided to steal Christmas! Read the book to find out why the Grinch hated Christmas so much and how he tried to steal Christmas.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: The major highlight: In classic Dr. Seuss style, the entire book – all 64 scrumptious pages – is written in rhyme! To say that Seuss has a way with words is a gross understatement! One of my favourite lines:

‘He slithered and slunk with a smile most unpleasant

Around the whole room, he took every present’

The book is further enriched with vibrant illustrations in only three colours: black, white and tomato red. A very unusual yet very quaint mix. Another highlight is the fact that this book can be read to toddlers, while independent readers (6-8 year olds) can read it on their own.

I chose this book for Christmas because Seuss tries to show children through the story of the Grinch that Christmas is more than just a season for food and presents. It’s a good book to introduce to the little ones because sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of preparing for the holiday, we forget what Christmas is really all about. At the end of this book, the Grinch found the people of Whoville singing on top of their voices on Christmas Day in spite of the fact that he had ‘stolen’ Christmas. Then he realized that:

‘Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from the store

Maybe Christmas means a little bit more’

DOWN: None

RATING

5 Stars: (I wish I could give it 10 stars)

TRIVIA 

1. Ask your child why the Grinch hated Christmas. Then ask him what happened when he realized Christmas meant more than just presents and food.

a. Most likely reason because his heart was 2 sizes too small.

b. His small heart grew 3 sizes and he returned all the presents and all the food.

2. Ask your child how the Grinch tried to steal Christmas.

By stealing: a. all the Christmas presents and b. all the food for the feast.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

1. Watch a video of the Grinch song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRhCbCISs44

2. Team the reading experience with a read-aloud video here:

 

CHALLENGE: How the Grinch stole Christmas

CREATE (WRITE OR DRAW)

1. List 8 presents stolen by the Grinch in the book (4 – 5 year olds)

                     OR

2. Answer the following question in 50 words or more: What does Christmas mean to me?

(6 – 8 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of the audio book containing 11 Dr. Seuss classics.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Wednesday, December 30^th 2015

Next Book of the Week:

CLEVER SQUIRREL AND THE WEDDING COMPETITION by Yusuf .M. Adamu

 

“Christmas will always be, as long as we stand heart to heart and hand to hand”  

 Dr. Seuss