Dr+Seuss+II

Do you know what famous author was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2,1904? Here is a clue- he wrote the famous book "The Cat in the Hat". Yes, it was Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss! Click [|here to read a short biography about Dr. Seuss]. Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book? Perhaps "The Cat in the Hat", "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", "The Lorax", "Green Eggs and Ham" or "Horton Hears a Who"? I love them all! Dr. Seuss has a very unique and fun writing style. His writing style incorporating rhymes and made up words allows the reader's imagination to soar. One of my favorite Dr. Seuss books has always been "The Cat In The Hat". There were many rainy days when I was a child that I wished The Cat In The Hat had knocked on our door, bringing his bag of tricks along with Thing One and Thing Two. How exciting and fun would that have been, or would it? My other favorite Dr. Seuss book is "Horton Hears A Who". This book is about Horton, who is a friendly, kind and very large elephant who one day, hears a cry for help coming from a speck of dust. As Dr. Seuss wrote:

"On the tenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing... enjoying the jungle's great joys, When Horton the elephant heard a small noise."

Even though Horton couldn't see anyone on the speck, he decides to help. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home, but this gives him nothing but torment and teases from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that anything could possibly live on the speck. Still, Horton stands by his motto: "Even though you can't see or hear them at all, a person's a person, no matter how small". It is obvious that Horton was very unselfish for helping the people of Whoville. As Horton said, "an elephant's faithful one hundred percent." Some might even say he was the ultimate BFF! Horton believed that everyone matters, and every voice deserves to be heard. Whether you are 8 or 88, blue or orange, an elephant or a Who, we can all learn something from each other. Everyone deserves the right to be heard and to be treated with respect.

Your assignment is to write an essay about what characteristics you believe Horton had that allowed him to speak up for the "smallest of all", even though it meant others teased him and made him feel sad. Horton spoke up for the people of Whoville when they could not be heard. Consider the following questions to help you when writing your essay. How difficult do you think it was for Horton to be the only person believing that he was right? Do you think it would have been easier for him to just walk away from the speck of dust? Sometimes just like Horton we may see something or hear something that we know would be harmful to others- would you have the courage, like Horton, to speak up and help? Who are the people in your life that support you?
 * Writing Assignment**: