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Horton the Elephant
Horton Hears a Who!
Horton the kindly elephant has his work cut out saving the tiny Whos who live on a speck of dust – no one else believes they are there! But Horton eventually convinces everyone that ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small’!
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the world's top ten favorite children’s authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat, and ranked among the world's top ten favorite children’s authors, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller, with nearly half a billion books sold worldwide.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
About the author
Dr. Seuss
922 books17.8k followersTheodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
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May 5, 2024
In the fifties, my Mom was head librarian for our small-town library (politically, we were termed a Police Village, whatever that meant).
So we kids got our literacy skills off and running when she used to catalogue books in our kitchen.
Especially since City View was in the middle of the postwar Baby Boom - like everywhere else back then - which required her little library to be stocked with piles and piles of kids' books!
And we were the first kids in our village of snug postwar bungalows to read Dr. Seuss.
We laughed. We howled. We ROARED in delight!
Horton Hears a Who was SO much better than our puny one-channel B&W TV with 7 hours of dull community programming - anyday!
The early 1950‘s in backwater Canada were tough - the postwar recovery was going to take a while - but kids back then learned to VALUE their friends and family.
I had a very good friend named Norman back in those days. Norman couldn‘t play ball or run with us - he had a defective heart.
We all knew he didn‘t have much time to live.
But Norman was the only friend I had who could talk about the serious things in life, and I had a very serious side, too, even back then.
So we would talk about life and death. The Bomb. Our parents. The facts of life. Death itself.
Serious, deep stuff that our prefab, one-size-fits-all society now rushes through in its plastic, clinical and brutal attempts to mature us.
And how lucky we were - we didn’t live in a world of socially engineered mental hygiene back then.
We were free!
And the way we felt at the end of a long summer’s day was much like the warm feeling we get now after reading a very good book. A sense of being close to our roots and to our Creator...
In our books we can find serious, non-conforming friends - just like my late friend Norman!
People unafraid of the truth.
And in books we can live in those simpler, unsupervised, unwatched times like he and I knew, all over again, if we like.
It’s all in our books.
Today my wife and I don't even have cable TV - only books. We learned something valuable from those years.
Like, for instance, HORTON’s gentle philosophy. “An elephant’s faithful - one hundred percent!”
Doesn’t get any better than that!
Horton’s still in print. Theodore Geisel’s uncensored compassion lives on. Life is good.
And you know what? The Big-Hearted elephant with Ears of a matching size (ears so acute and friendly they can detect a whole beleaguered Microdot Civilisation of Who's) still delights us and the little kids around us who may be hearing his story for the very first time.
And still as comforting as ever, is the analogy of this Big Guy up there somewhere - as caring and compassionate as Horton or Norman - inclining his ear to the plight of a beleaguered world like ours and PROMISING that we will not stomped out by any new Rampaging Elephant.
And so, these days, I always repeat Horton’s words to my wife:
I meant what I said, & I said what I meant -
An Elephant's faithful ONE HUNDRED PER CENT!
***
Folks, always remember what Dr Seuss says.
For if just One More Little Who adds her screaming little voice to our chorus of protest over our leaders' suicidally crazed Brinkmanship -
Maybe they'l! Wake Up!
And make Peace -
Not War.
So we kids got our literacy skills off and running when she used to catalogue books in our kitchen.
Especially since City View was in the middle of the postwar Baby Boom - like everywhere else back then - which required her little library to be stocked with piles and piles of kids' books!
And we were the first kids in our village of snug postwar bungalows to read Dr. Seuss.
We laughed. We howled. We ROARED in delight!
Horton Hears a Who was SO much better than our puny one-channel B&W TV with 7 hours of dull community programming - anyday!
The early 1950‘s in backwater Canada were tough - the postwar recovery was going to take a while - but kids back then learned to VALUE their friends and family.
I had a very good friend named Norman back in those days. Norman couldn‘t play ball or run with us - he had a defective heart.
We all knew he didn‘t have much time to live.
But Norman was the only friend I had who could talk about the serious things in life, and I had a very serious side, too, even back then.
So we would talk about life and death. The Bomb. Our parents. The facts of life. Death itself.
Serious, deep stuff that our prefab, one-size-fits-all society now rushes through in its plastic, clinical and brutal attempts to mature us.
And how lucky we were - we didn’t live in a world of socially engineered mental hygiene back then.
We were free!
And the way we felt at the end of a long summer’s day was much like the warm feeling we get now after reading a very good book. A sense of being close to our roots and to our Creator...
In our books we can find serious, non-conforming friends - just like my late friend Norman!
People unafraid of the truth.
And in books we can live in those simpler, unsupervised, unwatched times like he and I knew, all over again, if we like.
It’s all in our books.
Today my wife and I don't even have cable TV - only books. We learned something valuable from those years.
Like, for instance, HORTON’s gentle philosophy. “An elephant’s faithful - one hundred percent!”
Doesn’t get any better than that!
Horton’s still in print. Theodore Geisel’s uncensored compassion lives on. Life is good.
And you know what? The Big-Hearted elephant with Ears of a matching size (ears so acute and friendly they can detect a whole beleaguered Microdot Civilisation of Who's) still delights us and the little kids around us who may be hearing his story for the very first time.
And still as comforting as ever, is the analogy of this Big Guy up there somewhere - as caring and compassionate as Horton or Norman - inclining his ear to the plight of a beleaguered world like ours and PROMISING that we will not stomped out by any new Rampaging Elephant.
And so, these days, I always repeat Horton’s words to my wife:
I meant what I said, & I said what I meant -
An Elephant's faithful ONE HUNDRED PER CENT!
***
Folks, always remember what Dr Seuss says.
For if just One More Little Who adds her screaming little voice to our chorus of protest over our leaders' suicidally crazed Brinkmanship -
Maybe they'l! Wake Up!
And make Peace -
Not War.
April 5, 2017
One of the best Dr. Seuss' stories ever!
PRICELESS TALE
I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all,
A person’s a person, no matter how small,
Without a doubt, one of the crowned jewels of Dr. Seuss’ work, presenting one of his strongest messages to the human civilization.
Horton, the elephant, appears again (he was introduced to the world in Horton Hatches the Egg), which is one of the most famous characters of Dr. Seuss.
Horton hears a Who (as quite adequately indicates the tale’s title) in a speck of dust, but since he is the only one with big ears (an elephant, remember?) in the jungle, the rest of animals there think that Horton is lying about it, since nobody else is able to hear the feble voice of the Who.
But it’s not just any Who, but the Who Mayor of Who-ville! A whole town, in a speck of dust.
How wonderful indeed was the mind of Dr. Seuss!
What a large quantity of stories he was able to take from a tiny speck of dust!
Just imagine how many more stories are in the rest of millions of specks of dust!
This charming tale stands up and becomes a relevant reading for everybody to understand the respect to any kind of life,...
...not matter how small.
PRICELESS TALE
I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all,
A person’s a person, no matter how small,
Without a doubt, one of the crowned jewels of Dr. Seuss’ work, presenting one of his strongest messages to the human civilization.
Horton, the elephant, appears again (he was introduced to the world in Horton Hatches the Egg), which is one of the most famous characters of Dr. Seuss.
Horton hears a Who (as quite adequately indicates the tale’s title) in a speck of dust, but since he is the only one with big ears (an elephant, remember?) in the jungle, the rest of animals there think that Horton is lying about it, since nobody else is able to hear the feble voice of the Who.
But it’s not just any Who, but the Who Mayor of Who-ville! A whole town, in a speck of dust.
How wonderful indeed was the mind of Dr. Seuss!
What a large quantity of stories he was able to take from a tiny speck of dust!
Just imagine how many more stories are in the rest of millions of specks of dust!
This charming tale stands up and becomes a relevant reading for everybody to understand the respect to any kind of life,...
...not matter how small.
November 13, 2018
5 Awesome ★'s
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
I absolutely love this book. No matter how many time's I read it throughout the years it's always incredible :) I have read several Dr. Seuss books in my time and this one is another wonderful book that will most definitely be passed down through your family for generations to come. From every picture to every rhyme, everything about it is just perfect. It's colorful and unique. The illustrations are large and lively. It's really fun to read aloud and it's easy for kids to remember the lines to read parts along with you.
*I was beyond excited when I heard they were making this into a movie and let me tell you, friends, it did not disappoint! I LOVE this movie and yes I have seen it many many times. Horton is adorable and everyone really should watch it :D*
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
I absolutely love this book. No matter how many time's I read it throughout the years it's always incredible :) I have read several Dr. Seuss books in my time and this one is another wonderful book that will most definitely be passed down through your family for generations to come. From every picture to every rhyme, everything about it is just perfect. It's colorful and unique. The illustrations are large and lively. It's really fun to read aloud and it's easy for kids to remember the lines to read parts along with you.
*I was beyond excited when I heard they were making this into a movie and let me tell you, friends, it did not disappoint! I LOVE this movie and yes I have seen it many many times. Horton is adorable and everyone really should watch it :D*
August 2, 2018
EXCERPT: On the fifteenth 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.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Horton the kindly elephant has his work cut out saving the tiny Whos who live on a speck of dust – no one else believes they are there! But Horton eventually convinces everyone that ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small’!
MY THOUGHTS: Got to love Dr Seuss!
Horton can hear something no-one else can. It seems there is a another whole world living on a peck on a chive flower...and they are in grave danger. Horton makes it his mission to save them against all odds.
A good lesson in standing up for what you believe in and not giving up in adversity.
I have also watched the movie of this book, and it is excellent! When have you ever heard me say that before?
I am really enjoying rediscovering all these lovely children's books that I enjoyed reading with my own children, and now with my grandchildren.
THE AUTHOR: Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, MA. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vaction in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During WW II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat, which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham. Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name:
Theo Le Sieg (Goodreads.com)
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Horton Hears A Who by Dr Seuss. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2018/08/...
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.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Horton the kindly elephant has his work cut out saving the tiny Whos who live on a speck of dust – no one else believes they are there! But Horton eventually convinces everyone that ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small’!
MY THOUGHTS: Got to love Dr Seuss!
Horton can hear something no-one else can. It seems there is a another whole world living on a peck on a chive flower...and they are in grave danger. Horton makes it his mission to save them against all odds.
A good lesson in standing up for what you believe in and not giving up in adversity.
I have also watched the movie of this book, and it is excellent! When have you ever heard me say that before?
I am really enjoying rediscovering all these lovely children's books that I enjoyed reading with my own children, and now with my grandchildren.
THE AUTHOR: Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, MA. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vaction in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During WW II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat, which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham. Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name:
Theo Le Sieg (Goodreads.com)
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Horton Hears A Who by Dr Seuss. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2018/08/...
August 1, 2020
Dr Seuss knack of telling a fun important tale in a creative rhyming way just has to be applauded.
Horton the Elephant is able to hear the small people that inhabit a small speck of dust.
Unfortunately it's only him that can hear the Who's of Whoville and is increasingly frustrated that the other animals in the jungle dont believe him.
One of the best parts of this adventure is how small the text is as the residents of Whoville as they communicate to the elephant.
Hortons courage to protect them alongside the famous quote of "A person's a person, no matter how small" makes it a timeless classic.
Horton the Elephant is able to hear the small people that inhabit a small speck of dust.
Unfortunately it's only him that can hear the Who's of Whoville and is increasingly frustrated that the other animals in the jungle dont believe him.
One of the best parts of this adventure is how small the text is as the residents of Whoville as they communicate to the elephant.
Hortons courage to protect them alongside the famous quote of "A person's a person, no matter how small" makes it a timeless classic.
August 20, 2018
Me crying while reading this to small-fry??? More likely than you’d think
May 13, 2019
Horton the elephant tries to help the little Who creatures and their town, Who-ville, that it is located on a speck of dust. He is the only one who can hear them scream for help.
I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all,
A person’s a person, no matter how small
I hadn't realise that the Who creatures are that small...
My daughter thought that the Grinch should also have appeared in the story!
I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all,
A person’s a person, no matter how small
I hadn't realise that the Who creatures are that small...
My daughter thought that the Grinch should also have appeared in the story!
July 1, 2023
Told in the usual charming repetitive rhyme of Dr. Seuss so often appreciated by young children. Great message about how everyone is important and everyone can make a difference. Horton is a particularly endearing character, showing kindness and persistence, and risking ridicule and being ostracized and even being the recipient of abuse in order to help others and stand up for what he believes in. And the Whos do their part as well! One of those children’s books that can become more meaningful when read as an adult.
Was tempted to put this one on my animal rights shelf. :-)
Was tempted to put this one on my animal rights shelf. :-)
December 12, 2012
*****SPOILERS*****
I think what Seuss misses here is that the intended moral, about sticking up for people who can't defend themselves, is rendered moot about halfway through in the 'clover patch 100 miles wide' episode. At this point, if he could have set aside the cause he had invested himself in for a moment, Horton would have appreciated that the Whos were in the best possible situation now for them, completely hidden and safe. But his paternalistic impulse to save the weak pushes him on to uncover their hiding-spot and as a consequence brings them to the brink of disaster, saved only by a contrived and wildly unrealistic moral awakening among the villains of the tale. Otherwise, great pictures and rhymes.
I think what Seuss misses here is that the intended moral, about sticking up for people who can't defend themselves, is rendered moot about halfway through in the 'clover patch 100 miles wide' episode. At this point, if he could have set aside the cause he had invested himself in for a moment, Horton would have appreciated that the Whos were in the best possible situation now for them, completely hidden and safe. But his paternalistic impulse to save the weak pushes him on to uncover their hiding-spot and as a consequence brings them to the brink of disaster, saved only by a contrived and wildly unrealistic moral awakening among the villains of the tale. Otherwise, great pictures and rhymes.
September 14, 2017
As with all the classic Dr.Seuss books, 'Horton' has that unique combination of:
Attractive illustrations and exciting verse – both very dynamic, always moving always going somewhere new; both very strange, silly and bizarre – all in an extremely accessible, engaging and compelling (and let’s not forget educational) way – which creates Dr Seuss’s fantastically immersive world.
Apparently 'Horton' provides us with some social commentary from Dr Seuss on the subject matter of isolationism and internationalism... whilst that may well have been in the back of Dr Seuss's mind (I understand there's a moral to all of his stories) - above all else he provides us a timeless world of the imagination, of amazing words, pictures, rhymes, stories, learning, but above all else – FUN
Along with that of 'The Lorax' (2012) - the animated adaptation of 'Horton' (2008) provides us with the only two examples where cinema has got anywhere close to capturing the wonderful world of Dr Seuss.
Not just for children, but for the child in all of us. 'A person's a person, no matter how small'.
Attractive illustrations and exciting verse – both very dynamic, always moving always going somewhere new; both very strange, silly and bizarre – all in an extremely accessible, engaging and compelling (and let’s not forget educational) way – which creates Dr Seuss’s fantastically immersive world.
Apparently 'Horton' provides us with some social commentary from Dr Seuss on the subject matter of isolationism and internationalism... whilst that may well have been in the back of Dr Seuss's mind (I understand there's a moral to all of his stories) - above all else he provides us a timeless world of the imagination, of amazing words, pictures, rhymes, stories, learning, but above all else – FUN
Along with that of 'The Lorax' (2012) - the animated adaptation of 'Horton' (2008) provides us with the only two examples where cinema has got anywhere close to capturing the wonderful world of Dr Seuss.
Not just for children, but for the child in all of us. 'A person's a person, no matter how small'.
May 23, 2019
No matter what, this book always brings a big smile on my face. It is absolutely amazing how one can memorize so many pieces from one book. I just love the rhymes and this colourful journey of the beautiful friendship between two species that have never actually met.
It may be a children's book, but the story and the characters have a lot to teach us. And if all of us followed these examples -supposedly addressed just to kids- this would have been a much better world.
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
This shows the importance of individuality and the significance of life. It is all about respect, understanding and acceptance.
Well, as Horton says, I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!:)
It may be a children's book, but the story and the characters have a lot to teach us. And if all of us followed these examples -supposedly addressed just to kids- this would have been a much better world.
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
This shows the importance of individuality and the significance of life. It is all about respect, understanding and acceptance.
Well, as Horton says, I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!:)
December 31, 2013
UPDATE: I just ran across a Guzer video story of a real man who can neither read nor write but who creates ultra-miniature sculptures which are smaller than the eye of a needle. He began to do this because when he was young, his teachers made him 'feel small'. The significance not to mention the charm of Horton Hears a Who! lies in the universality of smallness. Everyone knows what it is like to have been or felt small at some time in his or her life. For children it is where they still are. For adults, it may be a painful memory or a desire to protect their own children. But smallness invites protection, caring, compassion. Smallness needs to be heard.
Will you listen?
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Not sure when I first read this, but I still love it! In fact it's my favorite by the good doctor. Apparently there's a movie out of it now which is pretty good.
'A person's a person, no matter how small.' is one of my favorite quotes
Will you listen?
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Not sure when I first read this, but I still love it! In fact it's my favorite by the good doctor. Apparently there's a movie out of it now which is pretty good.
'A person's a person, no matter how small.' is one of my favorite quotes
April 13, 2022
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This book was amazing. Absolutely FULL of pro-life messages.
“Please don’t harm all my little folks, who
Have as much right to live as us bigger folks do!”
I love how dedicated Horton is to protecting the Whos, finding them again, and insisting on their voices being heard!
“A person’s a person, no matter how small!
And you very small persons will NOT have to die
If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!”
One of Dr. Seuss’s best books, and a message the world NEEDS to hear. So many great quotes, too!
“Please don’t harm all my little folks, who
Have as much right to live as us bigger folks do!”
I love how dedicated Horton is to protecting the Whos, finding them again, and insisting on their voices being heard!
“A person’s a person, no matter how small!
And you very small persons will NOT have to die
If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!”
One of Dr. Seuss’s best books, and a message the world NEEDS to hear. So many great quotes, too!
May 13, 2008
Oh, this book was incredible.
I was first introduced to the story of Horton Hears a Who last year in an apologetics class. Since then I haven't been able to get enough of it. When I found out they were making a movie from the book I was completely thrilled! It didn't even matter if they messed it up, even though I knew they wouldn't, so long as they were making a movie of it!
The story follows a happy go lucky elephant named Horton. Horton lives a fairly normal life until the day when he hears a noise. What is that noise you may ask? A tiny yelp, and Horton thinks it's coming from a speck. He puts that speck onto a clover and attempts to communicate with it. You see, Horton is an elephant and elephants have very sensitive ears so only Horton can hear the voices coming from the speck! The voices ask Horton to help them found a stable quiet place where they can exist harmoniously. Horton is very willing to do so; but there is a problem. The head kangaroo that runs the Jungle Horton lives in doesn't believe in the speck. She doesn't like to believe in anything she can't see, hear, or smell. She insists that Horton is crazy and that everyone needs to help get rid of speck for good! Well Horton absolutely cannot put up with that! Thus begins his truly epic journey to save the Who's.
I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't read the book yet, but can I just say how much I LOVE this story! The movie adaption is also brilliant. Among my favorite lines are "I said what I meant and I meant what I said, an elephants faithful 100%" and "A person's a person no matter how small." Now being a huge pro-life person my self, I see this story as totally pro-life. The whole plot is about the Who's really existing; but they're voices being too small to be heard. In the end, it's the one small voice that makes a difference and saves the day. How perfect is that? Horton Hears a Who shows what happens when people unite, and the miracles that can happen when we believe and choose to hear what science would have believe doesn't exist and isn't possible.
Please, please, please! If you haven't read this story yet than you absolutely must!
I was first introduced to the story of Horton Hears a Who last year in an apologetics class. Since then I haven't been able to get enough of it. When I found out they were making a movie from the book I was completely thrilled! It didn't even matter if they messed it up, even though I knew they wouldn't, so long as they were making a movie of it!
The story follows a happy go lucky elephant named Horton. Horton lives a fairly normal life until the day when he hears a noise. What is that noise you may ask? A tiny yelp, and Horton thinks it's coming from a speck. He puts that speck onto a clover and attempts to communicate with it. You see, Horton is an elephant and elephants have very sensitive ears so only Horton can hear the voices coming from the speck! The voices ask Horton to help them found a stable quiet place where they can exist harmoniously. Horton is very willing to do so; but there is a problem. The head kangaroo that runs the Jungle Horton lives in doesn't believe in the speck. She doesn't like to believe in anything she can't see, hear, or smell. She insists that Horton is crazy and that everyone needs to help get rid of speck for good! Well Horton absolutely cannot put up with that! Thus begins his truly epic journey to save the Who's.
I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't read the book yet, but can I just say how much I LOVE this story! The movie adaption is also brilliant. Among my favorite lines are "I said what I meant and I meant what I said, an elephants faithful 100%" and "A person's a person no matter how small." Now being a huge pro-life person my self, I see this story as totally pro-life. The whole plot is about the Who's really existing; but they're voices being too small to be heard. In the end, it's the one small voice that makes a difference and saves the day. How perfect is that? Horton Hears a Who shows what happens when people unite, and the miracles that can happen when we believe and choose to hear what science would have believe doesn't exist and isn't possible.
Please, please, please! If you haven't read this story yet than you absolutely must!
January 31, 2018
Me sorprendió bastante la cantidad de enseñanzas que tiene este librito infantil.
“Una persona es una persona por muy pequeña que sea.”
“Una persona es una persona por muy pequeña que sea.”
May 29, 2008
Many of Dr. Seuss's books are highly moralistic. Such moralism can be either good or bad, depending on how it's communicated and what you are aiming to teach your children. In the case of Horton Hears a Who!, I think the moral is subtly and beautifully communicated. The book covertly teaches children to bravely stand up for the little guy in the face of bullies, even if that courage means mockery. It's also a wonderful, rhythmic story in its own right, and one of my four-year-old daughter's all time favorites. It was likewise a favorite of mine as a child, and I must have read it 100 times. I'll be reading it 100 more...
September 26, 2021
Honestly, I liked the animation that was made based on this book more.
2 sentences from the book:
A person's a person, no matter how small!
Their whole world was saved by the smallest of all!
2 sentences from the book:
A person's a person, no matter how small!
Their whole world was saved by the smallest of all!
March 28, 2021
That faithful elephant Horton returns in this follow-up to his initial adventure, chronicled in
Horton Hatches the Egg
, this time finding himself the guardian of an entire microscopic city. Hearing a voice coming from a speck of dust floating by him one day at the watering hole, kindhearted Horton realizes that there are tiny people on the speck - people so tiny they can't be seen. Guiding the speck to rest on a flower, Horton decides he will protect these miniature Whos - as the people are called - and the flower which has become their refuge. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the residents of the Jungle of Nool think he's gone mad, talking to people who aren't there, and, led by an officious kangaroo, decide that something must be done to put a stop to Horton's unconventional behavior...
First published in 1954, fourteen years after Horton Hatches the Egg , and the same year as Scrambled Eggs Super! , Horton Hears a Who! was Dr. Seuss' tenth picture-book, and is a treasured memento of my reading childhood. Much like its companion, this was a bedtime favorite when I was a girl, and I must have listened to and then read it thousands of times. Just as the earlier book had its iconic Hortonian phrase - "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful, 100%" - so too did this second story, with its refrain that "I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all, A person's a person, no matter how small", and I could have recited either, at the drop of a hat. Despite its status as a girlhood favorite, I hadn't picked up the book in many years, until prompted by my recently begun Dr. Seuss retrospective, in which I plan to read all forty-four of his classic picture-books, in chronological publication order. I began this project as an act of personal protest against the suppression of six of the author/artist's titles - And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street , McElligot's Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , Scrambled Eggs Super! , On Beyond Zebra! and The Cat's Quizzer - by Dr. Seuss Enterprises. See my review of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street , to be found HERE, for a fuller exploration of my thoughts on that matter.
Leaving that aside, I enjoyed this reread, but perhaps not as much as I expected to do, nor as much as I enjoyed my reread of Horton Hatches the Egg . It is still an excellent book, featuring a thought-provoking story, a fun rhyming text, and Dr. Seuss' own trademark illustrations, done this time in black line drawings, with blue and red color accents. All that said, I noticed that the rhyme scheme wasn't quite as accomplished as in some of Seuss' other titles, stumbling in a few places. I also found the story somewhat more off-putting than I recall it being, on an emotional level, with all of the other animals hunting Horton down. The central message, on the other hand, that people deserve to live in peace, no matter how small their society (or their persons!), no matter how much less powerful they are, compared to others, is still as relevant today as it ever was. So too is Horton's declaration that, as someone larger and stronger, it is up to him to protect these smaller, more vulnerable beings, even in the face of opposition from others in his own society. This vision of the just use of power, and of strength, is one many readers will instinctively find themselves agreeing to, I would imagine. We're hard wired, as mammals, to protect our young, and many of us recoil from the idea of the weak being bullied or exploited by the strong. The book is dedicated to Mitsugi Nakamura, a Japanese professor with whom Dr. Seuss became friends, after World War II, and many read it as an oblique apology for its creator's racist anti-Japanese cartoons, during that conflict, or as an exploration of the relationship between the USA and Japan, in the post-war period, when the latter was in desperate need of aid and protection.
It's interesting to note that although Horton Hears a Who! was not on the list of six books selected for suppression by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, it has received similar criticism as those titles did, being described in one academic paper ("The Cat is Out of the Bag: Orientalism, Anti-Blackness, and White Supremacy in Dr. Seuss's Children's Books”) as reinforcing themes of "White supremacy, Orientalism, and White saviorism." Emboldened by their success with the titles mentioned above, one wonders whether these cultural critics and self-styled reformers of public morality will next come for titles like this? A sobering thought, and a development that Seuss seems to have instinctively anticipated in his story, in which Horton's sincere desire to help draws ridicule and persecution from the big kangaroo, who eventually organizes a mob to oppose him. It seems highly likely that these cultural vandals will continue to attempt to disappear works of literature and art, so it's really no wonder that Seuss titles have been dominating the bestseller lists, of late, as people scramble to buy the books while they can. Truly, a sorry debacle.
First published in 1954, fourteen years after Horton Hatches the Egg , and the same year as Scrambled Eggs Super! , Horton Hears a Who! was Dr. Seuss' tenth picture-book, and is a treasured memento of my reading childhood. Much like its companion, this was a bedtime favorite when I was a girl, and I must have listened to and then read it thousands of times. Just as the earlier book had its iconic Hortonian phrase - "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful, 100%" - so too did this second story, with its refrain that "I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all, A person's a person, no matter how small", and I could have recited either, at the drop of a hat. Despite its status as a girlhood favorite, I hadn't picked up the book in many years, until prompted by my recently begun Dr. Seuss retrospective, in which I plan to read all forty-four of his classic picture-books, in chronological publication order. I began this project as an act of personal protest against the suppression of six of the author/artist's titles - And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street , McElligot's Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , Scrambled Eggs Super! , On Beyond Zebra! and The Cat's Quizzer - by Dr. Seuss Enterprises. See my review of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street , to be found HERE, for a fuller exploration of my thoughts on that matter.
Leaving that aside, I enjoyed this reread, but perhaps not as much as I expected to do, nor as much as I enjoyed my reread of Horton Hatches the Egg . It is still an excellent book, featuring a thought-provoking story, a fun rhyming text, and Dr. Seuss' own trademark illustrations, done this time in black line drawings, with blue and red color accents. All that said, I noticed that the rhyme scheme wasn't quite as accomplished as in some of Seuss' other titles, stumbling in a few places. I also found the story somewhat more off-putting than I recall it being, on an emotional level, with all of the other animals hunting Horton down. The central message, on the other hand, that people deserve to live in peace, no matter how small their society (or their persons!), no matter how much less powerful they are, compared to others, is still as relevant today as it ever was. So too is Horton's declaration that, as someone larger and stronger, it is up to him to protect these smaller, more vulnerable beings, even in the face of opposition from others in his own society. This vision of the just use of power, and of strength, is one many readers will instinctively find themselves agreeing to, I would imagine. We're hard wired, as mammals, to protect our young, and many of us recoil from the idea of the weak being bullied or exploited by the strong. The book is dedicated to Mitsugi Nakamura, a Japanese professor with whom Dr. Seuss became friends, after World War II, and many read it as an oblique apology for its creator's racist anti-Japanese cartoons, during that conflict, or as an exploration of the relationship between the USA and Japan, in the post-war period, when the latter was in desperate need of aid and protection.
It's interesting to note that although Horton Hears a Who! was not on the list of six books selected for suppression by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, it has received similar criticism as those titles did, being described in one academic paper ("The Cat is Out of the Bag: Orientalism, Anti-Blackness, and White Supremacy in Dr. Seuss's Children's Books”) as reinforcing themes of "White supremacy, Orientalism, and White saviorism." Emboldened by their success with the titles mentioned above, one wonders whether these cultural critics and self-styled reformers of public morality will next come for titles like this? A sobering thought, and a development that Seuss seems to have instinctively anticipated in his story, in which Horton's sincere desire to help draws ridicule and persecution from the big kangaroo, who eventually organizes a mob to oppose him. It seems highly likely that these cultural vandals will continue to attempt to disappear works of literature and art, so it's really no wonder that Seuss titles have been dominating the bestseller lists, of late, as people scramble to buy the books while they can. Truly, a sorry debacle.
August 4, 2013
Another wonderful Dr. Seuss book that will be passed through your family for generations to come. My twin 3 yr olds recognized this book immediately when I brought it home, having saw the movie version not too long ago. It didn't matter, they were still fascinated with it. From every picture to every rhyme, they were enthralled. They love yelling out "We are here!" along with the Who's. Even my 5 yr old got into it. A fun read that's for the whole family.
October 25, 2023
انقدر خوب از روی این کتابای Dr Seus کارتون ساختن که دیگه خود کتاب به اندازه کافی واسم جذاب نیست.
September 23, 2017
***Rated by my son***
August 3, 2018
One of my children's favourites both at home and for reading time at school.
They absolutely adore Horton. Recommended.
They absolutely adore Horton. Recommended.
December 8, 2021
Just trying (again) to get ahead on my reading goal...
January 13, 2023
Another wonderful Dr. Seuss book that will be passed through your family for generations to come. My twin 3 yr olds recognized this book immediately when I brought it home, having saw the movie version not too long ago. It didn't matter, they were still fascinated with it. From every picture to every rhyme, they were enthralled. They love yelling out "We are here!" along with the Who's. Even my 5 yr old got into it. A fun read that's for the whole family.
October 16, 2013
I cannot read a Seuss’s book and not be smiling at the end for quite a moment.
March 26, 2020
This Horton tale isn't quite as touching as Horton Hatches the Egg, which preceded it by fourteen years. But it's a great follow-up (though I always would have liked the hatched elephant-bird to have made an appearance) and may possess a better rhyming footing...a bit more pep. And probably a bit more relatable for the younger, intended audience.
May 9, 2024
An excellent Dr. Seuss that I just read to my granddaughter. I always liked this one as a child.
April 20, 2016
After reading Horton Hatches the Egg I came to an understanding that you need to read the sequel right afterwards which made the whole story better. This book can be a standalone but I believe if you read the first book then you get a huge understanding of who Horton is and why he is loyal and persistent. I cannot say which one is better but I believe when it comes this book Dr. Seuss was more creative and found his flow of creativity.
In the sequel, Horton's baby is apparently nonexistent at all (probably roaming the jungle) and he decides to go take a bath in the river. While he is accomplishing that, Horton hears a noise but cannot detect where it is coming from until he realizes that it is a speck of dust. Even though its difficult to see whats inside a speck of dust, he learns that theres a whole country inside it and is greeted by a Who, who is the Mayor of Whoville. He tells Horton that he is grateful for rescuing them from falling into the river and begs Horton to find a safe place from harm.
While Horton enjoys the company, everyone else in the forest think that Horton is nuts and one of the Kangaroos decides to take matter into her own hands and try to ruin Horton and the speck of dust. So now its up to the citizens of Whoville to help prevent them from dying.
I saw the film version in pieces and I enjoyed it but since I've already read this book as a kid, seen the cartoon version on CBS, and parts of the film I do not feel like rewatching but I believe the message behind this book is crucial. Dr. Seuss wrote this book after his travels of Japan where he made the revelation of the current state Japan was after the Nuclear Bomb and WW2. He was prejudiced towards the Japanese before and after the war until his visit where he decided to dedicate this book to his friend. The main message that Horton keeps repeating
P.S. If you want to read more about the city of Who-ville, you should check out How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
In the sequel, Horton's baby is apparently nonexistent at all (probably roaming the jungle) and he decides to go take a bath in the river. While he is accomplishing that, Horton hears a noise but cannot detect where it is coming from until he realizes that it is a speck of dust. Even though its difficult to see whats inside a speck of dust, he learns that theres a whole country inside it and is greeted by a Who, who is the Mayor of Whoville. He tells Horton that he is grateful for rescuing them from falling into the river and begs Horton to find a safe place from harm.
While Horton enjoys the company, everyone else in the forest think that Horton is nuts and one of the Kangaroos decides to take matter into her own hands and try to ruin Horton and the speck of dust. So now its up to the citizens of Whoville to help prevent them from dying.
I saw the film version in pieces and I enjoyed it but since I've already read this book as a kid, seen the cartoon version on CBS, and parts of the film I do not feel like rewatching but I believe the message behind this book is crucial. Dr. Seuss wrote this book after his travels of Japan where he made the revelation of the current state Japan was after the Nuclear Bomb and WW2. He was prejudiced towards the Japanese before and after the war until his visit where he decided to dedicate this book to his friend. The main message that Horton keeps repeating
"A person's a person, no matter how small"is so universal in our society. We always need to stick up for those who don't have a voice regardless of religion, sexual orientation, color, gender, politics because if we don't help those smaller than us than when the time comes that we need saving their won't be a voice to lend us a hand. We need to help make this world a better place and by accepting each other's differences and treat each other with respect then we are one step closer towards finding peace.
P.S. If you want to read more about the city of Who-ville, you should check out How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
August 2, 2018
'On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool,/In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool ...' Horton the elephant hears a noise from a passing speck of dust. He doesn't believe his ears (and they are big!) but eventually he is persuaded that there is somebody there.
He, therefore, grabs the speck of dust and places it on a clover. He converses with whoever is there and discovers it is a Who, the Mayor indeed, from Who-ville, a city on the speck of dust!
A listening kangaroo and her young can't believe Horton is talking to a clover and then the Wickersham brothers, three monkeys, come along and snatch Horton's clover. They give it to an eagle, Vlad Vlad-i-koff, who flies off with it and drops it in a field of clovers.
Horton's persistence eventually pays off after he has searched three million clovers and he asks the Whos to make plenty of noise to persuade the Wickersham and their extended family, who had joined them, that there is someone on the clover.
After plenty of trial and tribulation, and noise created in a variety of ways, voices are eventually heard and Horton has the monkeys, the kangaroos and everyone else prepared to protect the Whos in their massive city for evermore.
As the blurb says, it is a Dr. Seuss fable for the slightly more able and that includes children from four to eight ... and some adults!
He, therefore, grabs the speck of dust and places it on a clover. He converses with whoever is there and discovers it is a Who, the Mayor indeed, from Who-ville, a city on the speck of dust!
A listening kangaroo and her young can't believe Horton is talking to a clover and then the Wickersham brothers, three monkeys, come along and snatch Horton's clover. They give it to an eagle, Vlad Vlad-i-koff, who flies off with it and drops it in a field of clovers.
Horton's persistence eventually pays off after he has searched three million clovers and he asks the Whos to make plenty of noise to persuade the Wickersham and their extended family, who had joined them, that there is someone on the clover.
After plenty of trial and tribulation, and noise created in a variety of ways, voices are eventually heard and Horton has the monkeys, the kangaroos and everyone else prepared to protect the Whos in their massive city for evermore.
As the blurb says, it is a Dr. Seuss fable for the slightly more able and that includes children from four to eight ... and some adults!
March 29, 2016
When Horton the elephant hears a small cry for help coming from a speck of dust, he immediately does what he can. However, the other animals in the jungle think there is nothing there and try to destroy that speck of dust. Can Horton prove to them that there is someone that needs to be protected?
Rereading this as an adult, I was struck by how strong the themes of standing up for what you believe and those who need your help are. But those themes never slow down the story, which features constant danger for the Whos. I actually found myself caught up in the story once again, hoping they’d be heard in time. Add in Seuss’s rhymes and illustrations and you’ve got a wonderful book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Rereading this as an adult, I was struck by how strong the themes of standing up for what you believe and those who need your help are. But those themes never slow down the story, which features constant danger for the Whos. I actually found myself caught up in the story once again, hoping they’d be heard in time. Add in Seuss’s rhymes and illustrations and you’ve got a wonderful book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
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