How the Grinch stole Christmas

by Dr. Seuss

Paper Book, 1957

Status

Available

Local notes

R Seu

Barcode

6631

Publication

New York : Random House, [1957]

Description

The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.

Language

Original publication date

1957
1975

Physical description

29 cm

User reviews

LibraryThing member gbill
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! has a loose parallel to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge takes the form of the Grinch, perhaps Tiny Tim is little Cindy-Lou Who, and the Grinch reaches his epiphany not through visitations in the night from three ghosts, but through listening to the
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community of Whos singing, despite having lost everything, all of their possessions, all of their food. Bah humbug turns to joy to the world in each.

Yes, there is evil in this world, evil that will steal from children, and lie to them. What could be more evil to a child than an anti-Santa Claus that instead of bringing presents, takes them? On the other hand, people can change, and it’s never too late. Love and goodwill can overcome long-standing grouchiness, er, grinchiness. And despite the joy of new toys, “things” are not the meaning behind Christmas.

The lyrics flow so beautifully throughout this book, and while reading it to kids, I’ve always felt like I was almost singing by following the cadence of the words.

I also love the artwork. Go get your copy (If you don’t have one, go buy one. Immediately), and have a look “Grinchy Claus” entering the chimney of stop number one. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

And I still get a tingly reading this page, even as an atheist: “Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!” … followed by, of course, the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes and redeeming himself.

The collaboration with Chuck Jones (the genius behind many of the Loony Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons) to make the animated special narrated by Boris Karloff that airs each holiday season, was also genius, and a real treat to watch every year while growing up.
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LibraryThing member raspringrose
This book is about a Grinch who absolutely hates Christmas. He does not want it to happen. He hates the noise, and the happiness that goes along with it. He comes up with the bright idea that he was going to stop Christmas from coming back stealing all the presents, decorations, and food. He thinks
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that all the whos will be very sad. However, after he steals everything the people in Who-ville gather around and still sing Christmas carols, and Christmas came after all. The Grinch then realized there was more to Christmas than he thought. He returned all the gifts and everything he stole, and he began to participate in the celebration. I would recommend this book for students because it is a fun story that shows there is more to Christmas than getting presents.
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LibraryThing member rbelknap
This book is a good example of a fantasy story because there is no such thing as "Whos" or a grinch. And these make believe people talk too. This book is also done in rhymes.
This story is about the Grinch that lives on a mountain overlooking Whoville and he has a heart two sizes too small who hates
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Christmas so he steals all the presents from the Whos. He then learns what Christmas is really about and his heart grows three sizes and he returns the presents to the whos.
Age Appropriateness: primary
Media: paint and pape
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LibraryThing member conuly
Like everybody else, I know the story of the Grinch. It's even better in print than on screen, so, yes, buy this book if you haven't.
LibraryThing member crystalr
THis book is good to show that being a nice person is always better than being mean. No matter what a person does to you, you should treat them with kindness
LibraryThing member MelanieRoss
How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a well-known story about the Christmas holiday. The Grinch is described as a mean character who does not like Christmas because it is too cheerful with singing, noise, feasts, and gifts. He tries to destroy Christmas for the "whos" living nearby by dressing up as
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Santa Claus and stealing all of their presents. The Grinch is dissatisfied when he hears that his plan has failed and the "whos" are still cheerful even without presents. This is when he realizes that Christmas is more than gifts, so he returns all the gifts and joins in on the fun. This is a story that teaches children that there is more to Christmas than gifts. In addition, it encourages happiness and kindness.
This is a wonderful book to read to children of all ages during the Christmas holiday. It is also a good book to read to children who are learning about words that rhyme because it is a book full of rhyming words.
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LibraryThing member kefoley
This is the classic Dr. Suess story that almost everyone knows and loves. The Grinch wants to ruin the Whos' happiness at Christmas time by taking all their presents and Christmas decorations. But in the end the Grinch's heart grows and the Grinch celebrates Christmas with the Whos by returning all
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their gifts and celebrating the magic of Christmas.
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LibraryThing member jamie_tow
This is the classic story, with the real face of the scowling, mean spirited Grinch. The face changes from bad to worse, and then to tender when he finally "gets" the meaning of Christmas. As the Grinch disguies himself as Santa, the innocent town people of Whoville never seem to catch on as the
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Grinch forces his poor dog Max to help him steal all the toys and ornaments. He's so sure that one he's done away with the material goodies, the Christmas spirit will be gone. Little does the Grinch know, he would be wrong. This is a wonderful story with a message.

The moral of the story for our children is, of course, that Christmas doesn't just come from a store. The importance of Christmas with its religious significance and its message of good will toward all mankind is stressed without banging the child on the head too aggressively. The story overall makes for a fascinating experience for children.

As with many Dr. Suess books, children can use this book on a concrete, literal level to improve their vocabulary and reading skills. Older children will learn the importance of Christmas and the need for all mankind to respect each other and share the beauties of the world together.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
Jake's Review: It's the Grinch what else do you need to know. Even Brian will read this, so it has to be good. I like watching the cartoon because it is even more fun than the book. I haven't seen the movie with real people playing the characters as mom won't allow it in the house. She says its a
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"travesty". The grinch is really mean at first, but than becomes nice. I love Max the dog because he is so cute and funny. I like reading the words to because they rhyme and are silly.

Jake's Rating: 10/10

Mom's Review: One of the best children's books every written and quite frankly it is impossible to put into words the total brilliance of this book. My Dad used to read this book to me all the time so each time I see it I am reminded of him. He was brilliant at voices and read it to us in a voice very close to Boris Karloff's. The story is funny and the moral so cleverly done that your children will get the point without feeling like they are being preached too. Like Jake I love the movie even more because it brought the story to life. I too love Max as he is the heart and soul of the cartoon. Still the book is a classic on its own and should be owned by everybody - whether you have kids or not. And by the way that live action movie is a travesty and will NEVER be let into this house - so deal with it Jake.

Mom's Rating: 100/10 - CLASSIC!!!!
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LibraryThing member a_crezo
This is my favorite Christmas story. I had Grinch slippers until I was 22, then my husband insisted they disappear. He was right... but he suffered for his honesty. Oh, yes.
LibraryThing member ktextor
In the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas we learn about the Grinch who lives in Whoville who doesn't like Christmas at all. He hates that the people town in the village enjoy their Christmas morning so much so he comes up with a plan to stop the Who's. He goes into the town on Christmas eve
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and steals everyone's decorations, trees and gifts!! He runs into a little girl that night who asks the Grinch dressed as Santa clause why he is taking her things. He tricks little Cindy and she goes back to bed. The next day the Grinch awakes to see that the people in whoville still get together and sing on Christmas morning evening with everything being taken from their homes! finally the Grinch understands that Christmas isn't about the gifts and the parties but about the love to one another and the importance of family. A great holiday classic.
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LibraryThing member clmattox
This book is a classic Dr. Seuss story. It's about the Grinch and how much he despises Christmas. However, down in Whoville, everyone loves Christmas. Through the innocency and love of Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch grows a heart. He then turns out to absolutely love Christmas. The people of Whoville
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even let him carve the "roast beast" at their Christmas celebration.
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LibraryThing member varwenea
My first exposure to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was not via the book but via the classic cartoon. Try as I might, I never quite understood how the Grinch’s heart suddenly grew three sizes larger. It was too easy! Plus the Grinch scared the little me. Admittedly, I didn’t grow up
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speaking English or celebrating Christmas, which is sort of like missing the context. Not having spent any brain cells on this over the years, I grew up, learned more about the true meaning of Christmas (vs. the commercialism), and for the first time, opened and read this book.

I smiled.
I get it now. :)

While the cartoon has its merits, there’s something demonstrative about Seuss’ art on paper: the wickedness of Grinch’s look, thoughts, and stealing presents from all the Who’s, especially tiny Cindy Lou (who is frankly about the size of a walking peanut), Grinch’s expression upon his realization, and his moment of dawning "Maybe Christmas…perhaps… means a little bit more!"

The story reminded me a bit of the Christmas Carol. Scrooge, Grinch, Tiny Tim, Cindy Lou. Maybe it’s on purpose, maybe not.
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LibraryThing member sullijo
What can be said about How the Grinch Stole Christmas that hasn't been said before? Combining Suess' lyrical genius with surprisingly understated illustrations (a counterpoint to the bright colors of the television adaptation), the book delights young and old alike -- first with the Grinch's
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unapologetic meanness, then with his heart-filled conversion. By any standard, a classic.
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LibraryThing member sjordet
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" is a fun and heartwarming story about the outcasted grinch who hates Christmas and how all the people in Whoville love Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the grinch sneaks down to Whoville and steals all their Christmas decorations, presents, and food. The grinch is
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stunned when the citizens of Whoville gather together the following morning and although disappointed, they all join together in celebrating Christmas. The grinch befriends a young Whoville resident, Cindy Lou Who, who helps the grinch see what Christmas is really about.

This story is a classic. The story is unique and although the pictures are limited in color, they are wonderful.
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LibraryThing member JoseDelAguila
The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.
LibraryThing member nhwong
This is a great book to read in the classroom when it gets closer to the holidays. The rhymes and illustrations are absolutely captivating but the story also presents a very important moral about Christmas spirit. It's a good alternative to classic Christmas stories and also has a movie version,
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which could be introduced after the book is read and to stimulate more discussion.
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LibraryThing member esproull
This story is about a town called Who-ville where everyone absolutely loves Christmas. Everyone but the Grinch, that is. On Christmas night, the Grinch pretends to be Santa and goes to the houses of every little boy and girl, stealing all their Christmas presents and decorations. The next morning,
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the Grinch wakes up, expecting to find a town full of very sad Who's. Instead, he sees a town full of people celebrating Christmas cheerfully as if nothing had happened. The Grinch ends up learning that Christmas isn't about the presents under the tree, but it is about being with the people you love and care about, most of all.
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LibraryThing member ababe92
This is a good book to read to students during the Christmas time. It starts the spirit of christmas and helps the children get excited about christmas. I recommend this book to every teacher to read to their class the day before christmas break.
LibraryThing member lpeal
This story was written in 1957 that kids still love to this day. It the story of Who-ville where a mean old grinch lives. He hates Christmas and wants to take everything away. He steals everything, but ralizes after its all gone, the who's still sing and celebrate. This is a grea book that could be
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used during Christmas time or Dr. Seuss week.
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LibraryThing member mlsullivan
This book is great for reading during the holidays. It really shows us how to stay in the christmas spirit of giving and being merry to our classmates.
LibraryThing member allawishus
What can you say about the Grinch? It's a classic! Despite that, I don't think I'd ever actually read it before, ha ha. I've seen the special on tv about a billion times just like everybody else.

One of the funny things I thought about as I read it was just how grinchy the grinch actually was. I
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mean, he's not content to just steal their presents. He takes every single thing that's going to give them a moment of happiness the next day - even the logs for their fire! I mean, he's really freaking mean!

I guess it's sort of an object lesson in the Whos down in Whoville really being emotionally mature and taking responsibility for their feelings, ha ha. ;) Or...it's about the Christmas spirit triumphing over all! Whatever.
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LibraryThing member mjbengtson
A good book to read during Christmas becuase it probally wont step over any boundries beucase there is no religion in this tale. It aso will be really fun to read aloud and interact with the students.
LibraryThing member rjmcwhorter1
A classic Dr. Seuss tale, this story must be read along with the holiday season. One of the movies could also be viewed as a supplement to the story, but I feel like this book is a must-read portion of childhood. It has so many morals and important lessons to be learned, and it teachers children to
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look for the greater good in things, and to have faith in people.
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LibraryThing member ampitcher
truely a classic and a personal favorite. I would def. use this book to get in the christmas cheer

Rating

(1725 ratings; 4.3)
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