Author: Dr. Seuss
Title: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Year: 1957
Genre: Poetry
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Assisted, emergent reader
Interest level: Pre-k,early elementary
Topics: christmas, giving, presents, whos
Summary: Who-ville loves Christmas. Everyone but the Grinch. Every year he had to listen to them play with their new toys and sing the song they sing every year. This year the Grinch decided to take matters into his own hands. He decided to take Christmas away from the Whos so he wouldn't have to listen to their singing and banging of new toys. So, he made a Santa costume, made his dog max look like a reindeer, and hitched him up to a sleigh with empty bags and sacks. He snuck into every house in Who-ville and took everything that was Christmas, even the roast beast! Right as he was stuffing the tree up the chimney he heard a noise, turned around, and saw a small Who, Little Cindy-Lou Who. She asked him why he was taking their Christmas tree and he said it was broken and he was fixing it, gave her a cup of water, and sent her back to bed. After going to all of the houses he took the sleigh up to the top of Mt. Crumpit to dump the sleigh over the side but he first wanted to hear the Whos crying. He heard nothing. Instead he heard singing! Christmas had still come! He thinks, "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, perhaps it means a little bit more!" He then brought everything back and the Whos had him carve the roast beast!
Extension Activity: Have the kids talks about their holiday traditions and what their families do to celebrate them. Talk about what different cultures do for different holidays and different religions (for older readers). Have the kids draw things of what they do with their families over the holidays i.e. sledding, skating, caroling, volunteering, etc.
