How the Grinch Stole Christmas



Last updated Monday, December 3, 2007

Author: Dr. Seuss
Date of Publication: 1957
ISBN: 0394800796
Grade Level: 2nd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Dec. 2007

Synopsis: From Amazon.com: "The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! / Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time. For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all. Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing!

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you heard this story or seen the movie before?
•  What is a grinch?
•  Do you like the Grinch? Look at his face. Does he look happy? Sad?
•  Would you invite him for Christmas?
•  What is Christmas?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Emphasize rhyming words.
•  What noises are the Whos making?
•  What kind of food do they eat? What kind of food do you eat around Christmas?
•  Who comes over for Christmas? Do you go anywhere?
•  The Whos sing, do you?
•  What is the Grinch's idea?
•  Is your house decorated? How would you feel if someone stole your decorations?
•  How does the Grinch treat Max?
•  Does the Grinch feel bad when he lies? Do you?
•  Would it still be Christmas if the decorations, food, and tree were stolen?

Craft ideas:
•  Make Max's antlers out of construction paper.
•  Make an origami tree.
•  Draw the Grinch.
•  Draw the singing Whos.
•  Make snowflakes.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!