...Dr. Seuss, originally known as Theodor Seuss Geisel grew up in a middle class family which owned a highly established brewery. Due to prohibition their family suffered with their brewery business with financial hardship at times. ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ reflects and resists the dominant ideology of consumerism; “For Tomorrow, he knew, all the Who girls and boys/Would wake bright and early. They’d rush for their toys!” (10th rhyming couplet/19th line). The poem plays the idea of materialism and directly connects it with Christmas. The main character, the Grinch, is of the lower economic class and resists bourgeoisie. He does not celebrate Christmas, and purely hates the positive spirit that comes with it. The Grinch thought to himself that he will stop Christmas from coming if he steals all the items that were bought in preparation for Christmas. The poem is directed towards an audience of young children whose families celebrate Christmas. If a child whose family did not celebrate Christmas due to religion or finances, the child would not understand the poem and the feeling the author is trying to convey. The title of the poem also twiddles the idea of materialism because the Grinch who stole Christmas actually didn’t steal Christmas; he stole all the presents and food that was meant for Christmas day. No one can actually steal Christmas as if it is an object. Christmas is a holiday that is meant to be celebrated by Christians and throughout time people and companies...
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...Critique: How The Grinch Stole Christmas How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a popular children's book by Dr. Seuss. This book is about a man - The Grinch - who hates Christmas and hatches a plan to 'stop it from coming' and then 'saves Christmas' after essentially being the reason the holiday needs to be saved in the first place. Like many of Dr. Seuss' books, there is an underlying theme or political statement, in this case the superiority of man. The man himself is a well known racist and bigot, due to his series of political cartoons which depicted racist images (Cross-Section of The World's Most Prosperous Department Store made for Judge Magazine, and his book The Sneetches for example), and antisemitism (The Sneetches is once again an example). To start things off in this particular case, there are barely any female characters. Every character - aside from Cindy-Lou Who - from the Grinch to his dog, Max, are male. To add insult to injury the only girl in the book, Cindy-Lou, is described with words like small and tiny and sounds like 'the coo of a dove'. Now this wouldn't be that big of an issue (considering Cindy-Lou is only two years old), if it wasn't for the fact that Cindy-Lou being the only girl in the story implies that all girls are suppposed to be small, tiny, sound like a dove and, essentially, are inferior when compared to men (Cindy-Lou compared to The Grinch). Dr. Seuss also uses Cindy-Lou to show that women are weak minded and easily manipulated while men are “so smart...
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...It’s all about the Literature Heather Henegar Grand Canyon University: RDG-514 July 2, 2015 It’s All About the Literature As with any area in curriculum and instruction, teachers should not be fully dependent on one source, but rather use a variety of resources to help students understand content. The same can be said with the use of textbooks. Teachers should supplement core curriculum with quality trade books (GCU, 2012). Trade books can offer a wealth of information such as a means to expand vocabulary, clarify concepts, explore real-world situations, and entertain (GCU, 2012). Furthermore, Johnson & Small, (2008) stated, “In contrast to textbooks, nonfiction trade books can support instruction in nearly every subject…which allows a teacher to front-load experiences with a concept” (p. 132). The following table lists trade books that can be used to enhance and supplement instruction in Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reading within a fourth-grade classroom. Book Title | Content Area | Summary | Appropriateness | Standards | Millions, Billions & Trillions by David A. Adler & Edward Miller (2013) | Math | In this book, Adler helps students to connect large numbers to other things they already know. There are also hands-on activities that can be done, such as using one-fourth cup of sugar to illustrate what a million might look like. This book also tells students how long it would take to count to a million, billion, and trillion (Adler & Miller...
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...| Lexington, Kentucky Page 1 of 42 The Lexington Public Library 50 Books to Read in Kindergarten is a diverse list of titles including award-winning books, notable children’s authors, and promising new works chosen by experienced Children’s Librarians at the Lexington Public Library. More... See the original "50 Books to Read In Kindergarten" and "50 More Books to Read In Kindergarten" lists Showing 50 results Print This List A Splendid Friend, Indeed A Splendid Friend, Indeed (Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book (Awards)) Author: Suzanne Bloom Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (2005) Binding: Hardcover, 32 pages IllustratorSuzanne Bloom Item Call NumberE BLOOM When a studious polar bear meets an inquisitive goose, they learn to be friends. Questions to talk about with your child • The polar bear has to be very patient with goose's questions. When was a time you had to be patient? Was it hard to wait? • How would the story be different if the polar bear wasn't patient and lost his temper? How do you think the goose would feel? • Who is your best friend and why? • Do you know what makes a friend? • Can you be friends with someone who is different than you? Fun things to do together • Look at the many colors in Bloom's illustrations. Ask what colors the different objects are. See if your child can locate these colors in his/her room or clothing. • Pack a snack and blanket. Enjoy a picnic outside with your child. • Play "Goose, Goose, Bear" instead of "Duck, Duck, Goose"...
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...the corporations of the world. In fact, the Santa Claus we know today was shaped by the multi-billion dollar corporation, Coca-Cola (Staff, 2012). As we all know, when Dr. Seuss wrote his books, he most often included a theme, or ‘moral of the story’ as a guide for young children to help them learn important values. In his work, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, Dr. Seuss openly protested the commercialization of Christmas. Seuss’s work is very obviously Marxist-based, as it spoke clearly on issues of discrimination, ostracism and misplaced values. Marxism is different than ‘other progressive movements because Marxists always struggle to overcome the manifold forms of domination and exploitation in and through the self-emancipation of the working class’ (Marxists.org). Dr. Seuss could be interpreted as protesting against this exploitation of the public by the capitalists and corporations, by creating a work that states that ““Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”” (Geisel, 1957). Seuss, it seems, was of the opinion that the version of Christmas we know now, based on giving and receiving expensive purchases, was little more than an incredibly clever marketing gimmick by major corporations, which is essentially the upper class. In his work, Dr. Seuss outlined the difference between the upper class (the Whos) and the lower class (the Grinch). I think that Seuss’s characterization of the Grinch and the Whos is more...
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...Anthonee Butler Essay 1, Draft 1 9/25/2013 I was exposed to reading at a young age. My earliest reading memory was my mother reading Dr. Seuss books to me when I was four or five. I used to enjoy seeing the pictures in the books more then I liked being read too. I also use to enjoy watching the characters in the books on television. As a kid I was in love with talking animals. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world. The Arthur series was a big influence growing up. I remember one Christmas I got a stack of Arthur books and I was the happiest kid in the world. That whole week my mother would help me read the books and then I would watch the show on television right after. As I grew older, I started to enjoy reading horror books. I also liked horror films and I think that influenced what I liked to read. I really liked the Goosebumps series and could read them all day. I prefer to read about things that interest me. It’s hard for me to read something that doesn’t have my interest. In high school, I rarely read about something that interested me. At a young age, my grandmother would tell me stories about how she grew up in the south and how different the country was as a kid. She would tell me about how segregated it was and all about the civil rights movement and how it was a big part of her childhood. Hearing these stories that my grandmother would tell me made me want to learn more about the civil rights era in the south. A lot of things influenced me to read...
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...VCDD 290 Unit 1: Forms of Art Discussion Board Lisa McAlpine Art, much like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. Whether or not a piece may be considered “art” depends on how the viewer interprets the piece. For example, many do not find architecture or illustration to be “art”, because they are not traditional forms of art. They are perhaps the most unorthodox forms of art available. However, some find nontraditional forms of art more appealing due to the nonconventional nature of such pieces. Architecture is the most controversial art form, because many see it more as a science than an art form. However, there is a certain viewpoint that makes architecture artistic. Architecture is a visual art in the form of building, an art form that is larger than life, larger than the biggest sculpture. Architecture is not only art, but art that is not only visually appealing, but also has a useful purpose, unlike many other forms of art (ArchiteacherTM – Architecture and Aesthetics, 2002). There are a few timeless architectural pieces that have inspired the public for generations, and will continue for lifetimes to come. One such architectural masterpiece is the Roman Pantheon. The Roman Pantheon was constructed as a temple to the Romanian pagan gods, such as Diana (goddess of the Moon) and Apollo (God of the Sun) (Edkins, 1999). Though no one is completely sure when the Pantheon was built, brick stamps upon the side of the building suggest that the Pantheon was built between...
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...The Lorax A motion film called The Lorax provides a realistic look at how overconsumption has affected the small fictional town of Thneedville. In this town you have big houses, and even bigger cars, plastic trees, air quality so bad that you have to purchase the air you breathe. You soon get a glimpse of what is beyond the “city limits” of Thneedville which is utter destruction. Caused by the overconsumption of people and a man who sought to profit from people in the town. We are a nation of consumers who suffer from a horrible disease known as “Affluenza” the disease of over consumption. And Affluenza has plagued us to the point where children’s movies are being made about over consumption and spending. The lyrics of the opening song of The Lorax could be the theme song of the how Affluenza has plagued people today in America “With brand new cars, and houses and lawns”(Powell & Paul, 2012). This film had many examples from the book we are reading in class. The example of how houses are getting bigger so people can have a place to store more “stuff”. The reason why is because people continue to buy more things that they don’t need. This movie made me think of the main character Ted and once the movie progressed I connected him to John Beal from our reading. For very different reasons they both sought out to save, replenish, and protect the trees. For Ted it was so he could impress the girl he liked which then also stopped a greedy cooperate figure...
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...Marriage in the First Century AN ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED TO DR. ROGER STEVEN EVANS, PH.D. IN PARTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HS: 110 CHRISTIAN HISTORY IN CONTEXT I BY Benjamin M. Lightner November 30, 2011 Who Speaks for these? Luke 13:10-17 New International Version (NIV) 10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” 15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Introduction As we look at this text today, I would like to bring to your attention the Dr. Seuss book titled, The Lorax. The Lorax book is about a tree loving...
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...I will be analyzing the poem "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess using the Marxist critic school of thought. Marxist Criticism is based on the theories of Karl Marx and is looked at the assembly of literary texts which is mostly about class differences along with socio-economic conditions. In the poem "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" if you take a look at it and analyze it carefully, you can see the differences in classes can be spotted easily. To begin with, it should be obvious that Dr. Seuss, was of middle class himself. He was the son of a successful brewmaster and was successful himself in his occupation of cartoonist and author. The Grinch on the other hand was of the lower class, he lived in the middle of nowhere and is an outcast to everyone else around him. While the Grinch was all upset, the Whos were within Whoville living pleasantly and celebrating Christmas. The Grinch hates the idea of Christmas because the presents and the food show that the Whos have money that they can spend without worry. Also all the Whos are happy and the Grinch doesn't think that it's fair, which is why he tries to ruin Christmas for them, he feels that they should suffer jbecause his life is miserable and he's suffering himself. He steals all their food and presents, as well and destroyed their Christmas decorations and the Christmas trees in Whoville. Later on in the poem, the Grinch is shown that Christmas isn't just about materialistic things, he stated that "Every Who down in...
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...ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE LORAX The Introduction The Lorax is a story about a man who abused the environment and about what he learned. The story begins in the most run-down part of a dull, gray town. A small boy asks the Once-ler to share the secret of the Lorax and how he was taken away. Thus, the story is told as a “flashback” as the Once-ler talks about the Lorax and past events. The Characters: A. The Once-ler, a businessman B. The Lorax, a leader of the plants and animals The Once-ler’s Story: The Beginning The Once-ler moved across the land to his wagon. He came upon a new land with an important natural resource. (A natural resource is a plant, animal or mineral that can be used by people.) What was this natural resource the Once-ler found? truffula trees Setting up Shop The Once-ler used the land’s natural resource to start a business which made and sold a product. The Lorax appeared at this point and asked the Once-ler some angry questions. What was the product? thneed How was it used by buyers? The Thneed is used as a shirt, a sock, a glove, a hat, carpets, pillows, sheets, curtains, and covers for bicycle seats. What did the Lorax want to know of the Once-ler? Why he is cutting the tree down (Stewardship, speaking for the trees). How did the Once-ler answer? He only cutted down one tree, everybody needed a thneed. He thinks that if he didn’t exploit he environment someone else would Using Technology Businessmen like the...
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...taking everything but he said that he just wanted to fix the tree, Cindy Lou who trusted the Grinch easily because she grew up in a friendly, trustworthy environment. The Grinch sneaks through the town to take everyone’s gifts so that he can have them for himself. When it is Christmas morning, the Grinch watched the Who’s in who Ville with the expectation of the Who’s to be sad. As he came closer, he realized that the presents and Christmas trees didn’t matter to them; they didn’t care about the materialistic things about Christmas "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. / Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" (Suess, 1957) All the Who’s truly cared about was being together. Although, throughout the poem, Dr. Seuss showed that the villain in the story ended up becoming the hero towards...
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...The Butter Battle Book, by Dr. Seuss, the alternative perspective suggests that the story is attempting to represent the conflicts between the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War. To begin, there is clear evidence of tension between the Yooks and the Zooks due to their differences. The dispute between the two sides is that the Yooks eat their bread with the butter side up: “But we Yooks…honest way!” (Seuss. 6), while the Zooks consume their bread with butter side down: “It’s high time…side down!” (Seuss. 5). This relates to the tension built up between the US and USSR during the Cold War due to their different ideologies. The US was capitalist and had a democratic government, while the Soviet...
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...Although it is seen as a “children’s book,” nothing more that literature for the undeveloped mind, The Lorax is a piece of work that is perfect for this discussion. Through the amusing (and sometimes downright silly) diction of Dr. Seuss, the tale of the little boy listening to the Once Ler not only gives an environmentalist message but, it also gives insight into the bullying issue. Within the story, in a similar way to how fracking companies work, the Once Ler continues to abuse the resources around him (which are the truffula trees) despite what it does to the residents of the forest. Why does he do this? This question leads to the theme of greed. Like the Once Ler, many corporate CEOs have been blinded by greed and ambition, resulting...
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...Collaborate Learning Community: Parent Handbook EED # 470 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment: Literacy and language Arts K-3 June 8, 2011 Read All About Us I Can Read! Reading Is Fun! Parents’ Literacy Handbook Why Reading to Your Child is Important? Books help children develop vital language skills. * Reading can open up new worlds and enrich children's lives. * Reading can enhance children’s social skills. * Reading can improve hand-eye coordination. * Reading can provide children with plenty of good, clean fun! * So reading really does matter after all! (Freedman, B, DeVito). WHAT’S BUZZING IN Technology? Parents can access Everyday Math and Reading assignments from home! Instructions are posted on the website….. WHAT’S BUZZING IN Technology? Parents can access Everyday Math and Reading assignments from home! Instructions are posted on the website….. From the Principal Corner Ways to Help Your Child Do Well in School * Read, Read, and Read! Take at least thirty minutes a day and read to your child every day. * Create an atmosphere conducive for reading. Give them support by helping them with their homework. * Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and a balance meal each day. Schedule regular check-ups. * Be a role model. Encourage them to be independent. Give your child responsibilities. * Choose a study time. Provide a place for them to study...
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