Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: A 50th Anniversary Edition
Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
Random House, 2007 ISBN: 978-0375838477
It is Christmas Eve and just north of Who-ville, from his cave on a hill, the Grinch is looking down on Who-ville with "a sour, Grinchy frown" for more than anything the Grinch hates Christmas and he knows full well that down in Who-ville all the Whos are hanging up their wreaths and their stockings and getting ready for Christmas Day. Being the horrible Grinch that he is, the Grinch decides that he has to do something to "stop Christmas from coming."
Then the Grinch gets a horrible idea. He dresses himself up as Saint Nick and his poor dog Max as a reindeer. The Grinch gets an old sleigh and loads it up with sacks, and with old Max hitched to the sleigh, they head for Who-ville in the dead of night.
When they get to Who-ville the Grinch proceeds to steal every gift, every bauble, every stocking, every Christmas tree, and every treat that he can lay his hands on. Why he even takes every Who-pudding and every roast beast from every icebox. Not a crumb of Christmas cheer does he leave behind. Then he takes it all away on his sleigh convinced that he has stolen the Who's Christmas once and for all.
But then, from the top of Mt. Crumpit, the Grinch hears the most extraordinary sound. At first he can hardly believe his ears. It is the sound of the Whos, and they are singing their Christmas songs. Somehow, in spite of all did, Christmas has still come to Who-ville. Could it be that Christmas "doesn't come from a store" after all?
Without a doubt this story, with its unforgettable main character, its fabulous rhyming text, its wonderful artwork, and its meaningful message is one of the most well known Christmas stories in the world. Since it was first published in 1957 the story has been translated into numerous languages and has delighted children and adults alike. In honor of its fiftieth birthday Charles D. Cohen has written a retrospective about the book, its creator, about the characters in the story and much more. Packed with photographs of rarely seen Seuss illustrations and many precious pieces of Seussiana, this retrospective will delight older Seuss fans.
