Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax

The Cat in the Hat is probably one of Dr. Seuss' most famous books he has written. It has been made into a movie in recent years. When the children’s' mother goes out, the cat comes to their house. The cat destroys almost everything in his path. He makes a total mess of everything in the home and even brings in Two Things, Thing One and Thing Two that make a mess as well. They do get the mess cleaned up before the mother comes home. Children love this book still today because the cat is so funny. You can't help but laugh at all the silly things he does. A book that has a similar tension level as The Cat in the Hat is When My Worries Get Too Big! This is a contemporary children's book written by Kari Dunn Buron. As the child in the story worries things get out of control much like the cat entering the house gets out of control. But in the end of both stories, the children learn a lesson and everything is ok again. I believe The Cat in the Hat still appeals to children today. I have read it to my elementary students who still love to hear it read aloud. The rhyme and imaginative creatures draw the child into the book and plot is one they can relate to their own world.

The Lorax is a didactic book. Didactic means that it could be used for teaching purposes. The Lorax is an excellent book for teaching children about pollution. There are many didactic books today. I use a lot of children's literature across the different content areas in my classroom. I have used many of Shel Silverstein's poems to teach everything from economics to writing. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry is another story that teaches students about the importance of rainforest conservation. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss is another story that I feel is didactic. In this book, the message that people have to stand up for each other, especially those who cannot stand up for themselves is portrayed.