In 1989 the Lorax was banned and challenged in California for being too "harsh" on the logging industry as it portrays foresting industry in an arguably negative manner. Some people felt that this book was responsible for having children be against the foresting industry. The reason why it was banned in California is because logging in known to be one of the biggest industries in this state. Some Californians worried that soon children would begin to protest against this particular industry due to the influence of this picture book.I find that there are several positive qualities including literary qualities of this particular book. I find that Dr. Seuss is one of the most clever and inventive authors and illustrators as of yet. This story truly comes to life as you progress through with each flip of the page. It is a witty text that is filled with clever rhymes, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, and nonsense words, all of which are great literacy qualities to introduce to children to aid in their reading development. Not only this, but I find that this book is appealing to all ages as it provides lively and engaging illustrations of unusual creatures and is inventive in creation and display. The story also possesses very important themes including don’t act before you think, be sympathetic towards others and don’t be selfish, the negative consequences of being greedy, the effect that one individual can have on the natural world, and it definitely appears to relay an important environmental message to respect the environment that you live in and treat it well or soon there will be no more beauty in the world. This book also has a great example of character development with the Onceler who comes to learn an important life lesson at the end of the story that ties in with the many themes mentioned above. These are the reasons why I find that this particular picture book belongs in the curriculum. It teaches a myriad of positive literary qualities and because it is a fun, engaging, creative, musical book that is perfect for a read-aloud. Not only this, but this book has also recently become a film and it would be interesting to connect technology form to the written text. Three good instructional practices that I find can be used when teaching this book is to have a discussion on the effect that man/woman has on the environment. It would be a good lesson to tie in with Science and to discuss the pros and cons of logging so as to not create an entirely negative attitude about the logging industry. Students should be instructed that there are benefits to the logging industry as well as negatives. Another instructional practice, would be to have the students read the text with an open mind and critical lens and to decide for themselves how they interpreted the message sent, if they found one. The class as a whole could then discuss their findings and conclusions and engage in a debate where one side is pro-logging and the other is anti-logging. Another instructional practice would be to have the students compare and contrast the picture book to the film. This would allow students to see the differences in how each message is portrayed. Students could also analyze other existing themes and messages within the book that are also very important life lessons as well as come up with ideas of their own as to why this book is a great choice to read in class—what do they get out of the text, as no where in the text does it explicitly state that logging is bad, it may be implied, but again, some may not make that implication. Overall, there are multiple strategies to address this book and how to teach this story, as you can even teach it for its use of rhyming and poetry as well as for its musical aspects. Students could then make up a rhyme or poem about something that they feel passionate about, just like how Dr. Seuss was very passionate about writing this text, as it was very heart-felt and personal.
The Lorax is not a story about the environment, it's a story about economics.I had never read The Lorax before yesterday, and I hadn't watched the movie. In class, we're studying economics when another teacher said, "hey could I bring in The Lorax tomorrow?" Obviously, I'm familiar with Dr. Seuss - and the book, but I'd never read it. Still, I trust this other teacher who has yet to let me down. "Sure, bring it in."The rest of this review is going to be a 7th grade social studies lesson, meant to help me remember to come back to this book next year. If there are other social studies teachers out there who want to know how I teach economics and specifically externalities (what they had been calling economic spillover), here you go: (I'll talk more about why The Lorax is about the economy rather than environment at the end...):I tell the students that the economy deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods. We simplify it by saying it's making, sending/selling, and buying/using stuff.This is why we think about money and jobs when we discuss the economy... making stuff is the job, which allows people to get money.I then tell the kids a story. I want to get a drink of water. So, I start to pour myself a glass. While I'm pouring, some spills over onto the ground. A flower grows. Some also lands on a baby making it cry.Why did I pour my water? Did I want to grow a flower? Did I want a baby to cry? No. I poured my water because I was thirsty. Those other things that happened were unintended consequences - both positive and negative - of pouring the glass of water.When people build a factory, why do they do it? To make money. To make a profit. This is why the Once-ler built his Thneed factory. He wanted to make a profit.He talks about the Brown Bar-ba-loots leaving, "I the Once-ler, felt sad as I watched them all go. BUT... business is business! And business must grow regardless of crummies in tummies, you know."Did the Once-ler want the Brown Bar-ba-loots to leave? Did he want the air to darken? Was his intent for the Swomee-Swans to fly away, quieted? No.Economic Spillover ( externality) = the positive and negative unintended consequences of economic development.The Once-ler wanted his Thneeds to make money, and make money they did.The problem is in a completely free and unregulated market economy, profit is god, at the expense of everything else - in this case, the book chooses to focus on the environment... but again, it's really about economics and corporate greed.Of course Seuss isn't saying buying things (or market economy) is bad. We all have needs. ...But we also have Thneeds: things we think we need. And if our Thneeds are causing more harm than the amount we need them, maybe it's time to re-evaluate what we're buying and why.Great book. I can't believe I haven't read it before.
What do You think about The Lorax (1998)?
This is a classic Dr. Seuss story with an environmental message. The rhyming narrative and colorful illustrations combine for an entertaining read aloud. We really enjoyed reading this book together and have read it several times. This story was selected as one of the books for the April 2010 - Environmental and Nature Themes reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads. March 2012 update: In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, we decided to take our girls to see the movie based on this book. I must say that I was very disappointed. I even fell asleep. Oh well, they can't all be gems...
—Dolly
The book that I read was "The Lorax" by Dr. Suess.This book is very inspiring to people of all agaes to start caring about the environment, and stop caring about themselves. The main characters in this book would have to be the Lorax and the Onceler. The Onceler is a man looking for meaning in life, or to start a business. He sees this beautiful land and decides he will use the lands resources to start a business....well lets just see what the Lorax thinks of this! When the Onceler finds this beautiful land his comes across the tall, soft Truffla trees. He thinks that this is a great thing to use to make something. So he sets up his shop and chops down and tree, he gets to work and knits a Thneed. But out of the stump of the tree pops out the Lorax and tells him to stop cutting down his trees, the Onceler tells him one tree won't do no harm, and that he made a Thneed which is what everyone needs. The Onceler invites his family and they build a factory making Thneeds everyday, which costs more and more trees. The Lorax warns the Onceler over and over to get away but will he ever listen? The swammy swans, Barbaloots, and Hummingfish live in this used-to-be clean environment, but will they be able to survive? Or will they have to leave? To find out you should read this book. I love this book, it is one of my favorite books. Although it is short it really sends a message even if you are old, it's appropriate for all ages. Saving our environment is so important and people should really care about it. This book is really inspiring, especially if you read the last couple of pages. You should definetly read the whole book because it's a classic!
—Rachel T.
January 2015A one-paragraph review of a children's book I didn't like has generated more trolls and their inevitable sock puppet alteregos than any other of my reviews, I've lost count of the number of them. I delete some of their comments, some delete their own (and their profiles), some GR do. But what is there about this review or about the book that generates this kind of over-the-top reaction from obviously mentally-unstable individuals? _____Maybe I'm just not a Dr. Seuss person but I hated this book. Boring story, stupid words that didn't entertain and even though it was meant for a child rather than me, my son hardly ever looked at it growing up, so its sits on the shelf still quite pristine. Funny thing is that this is only a comment on a kiddies' book - yet it has engendered so much nastiness from several people all of whom appear to be alteregos of Michael. He has made it his business to take people (not me alone) to task for not enjoying this book even to the extent of making personal remarks. He himself enjoys it so much he's made a society (IRL not virtually) to promote its aims as thought it were a kind of bible. Luckily the other reviewers are more rational and measured in their response and don't feel the need to make rude personal remarks. Each to his own. This isn't for me.May 2010I was just looking through my reviews and noticed that Corky and two other characters (the same person?) have deleted their reviews and their IDs. Interesting.....
—Petra X
