Just before the holiday I was doing some last minute shopping at one of my favorite stores, Paper Source. Their motto is Do something creative every day. I wish that was my motto… but sometimes I just want to watch TV.
During this shopping trip, I knew the book elf was still several tomes shy and so I picked-up the 50th anniversary retrospective of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Antsy. Nah… that’s just a little trick I use to make sure people are paying attention during story time. Not only is it a great Dr. Seuss classic, but it looks significantly longer than it is due to the added history and commentary in the back. You might be able to sell it as a “long” story, equivalent to two normal bedtime books.
In a nutshell: You should already know the story of the Grinch unless you’ve been living on Mars or something. Even then, you should recognize your martian brethren renamed as the Whos.
This book is especially popular with the backseat drivers in our car who incessantly demand the Grinch song as though our radio is On Demand. James is more of a Dominique the Donkey kind of guy and I’m partial to Here Comes Suzy Snowflake. Though I do have to admit there is no line I like to sing with more gusto than You’re a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich… with arsenic SAUCE dadadaDAdun dadadaDAdun.
If I’d been part of the final editing team, I would have counseled Dr. Seuss to omit the rhyme “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” It completely destroys the flow of the story and disrupts my uncanny Jim Carrey impersonation when my audience is lost to a fit of potty talk giggles. But of course, no one asked me. Restroom references aside, the story’s heartwarming message that Christmas doesn’t come from a store makes this one of the best holiday books around.
Families can talk about: What is a grinch… is he a monster? An earless, hatless cat? Cousin of the BOFA on the SOFA? And where exactly are his pants? Is it a good idea to go pants-less in the snow? Or without a jacket while only wearing a short-sleeved Superman shirt? How would you feel if Santa didn’t bring any presents? What is a liar and why is it wrong to lie? Is chimbley really a word?
Pingback: jose