Title: The Cat in the Hat & The Lorax
Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Category: Discussion questions
Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Category: Discussion questions
A. Identify a contemporary book that has the tension presented in The Cat in the Hat.
The first children’s book that immediately came to mind is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
The first children’s book that immediately came to mind is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
B. Why does the selected book appeal to children?I think Where the Wild Things Are appeals to kids because Max is what most kids really want to be at heart – wild! He enjoys being mischievous and dressing up in costumes. He actually sounds just like my 7-year old. He is naughty to his dog and he is naughty to his mom…and he is finally sent to bed without supper. The punishment may be a bit dated, but the story is timeless. Kids can relate. Kids don’t always do what’s right. And kids sometimes go off to their bedrooms and dream of sailing off to a land where they can run free…with the wild things.
A. What makes The Lorax didactic? 
By definition, didactic means “intended for instruction; inclined to teach or lecture others too much; teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.” The Lorax is a story about the intrusion of industry and pollution on nature. The dark and dreary scenes in the beginning of the book are contrasted with the beautiful, colorful land where the Truffula Trees grew. Swomee-Swans flew through the air, Humming-Fish swam in the pond, and Brown Bar-ba-loot played and ate the fruit of the trees. The Once-ler discovered this glorious, unadulterated land and immediately began chopping down trees and building a factory. Time and time again the Lorax, who is the guardian of the trees and animals, warns the Once-ler to stop. But he doesn’t listen. Greed has taken hold of his heart. By the end of the book, the entire land is destroyed, all of the Truffula Trees are gone, all the animals are gone, and the Once-ler is left alone with his empty factory. The message of the book is clear. The invasion of big industry and factories upon the purity and sanctity of nature is a travesty. Smog fills the air, gunk fills the pond, and the land is stripped of all living thing. The Once-ler is sorry, but it’s too late. The damage is already done. The Lorax is taken away. Readers are left with the heavy lesson about our responsibility to take care of the earth. Although everything in the book is depicted in fantasy illustrations with gobbledygook names, the story makes very clear connections with real life. It is most definitely intended to be didactic or for instruction – to teach a moral lesson.
By definition, didactic means “intended for instruction; inclined to teach or lecture others too much; teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.” The Lorax is a story about the intrusion of industry and pollution on nature. The dark and dreary scenes in the beginning of the book are contrasted with the beautiful, colorful land where the Truffula Trees grew. Swomee-Swans flew through the air, Humming-Fish swam in the pond, and Brown Bar-ba-loot played and ate the fruit of the trees. The Once-ler discovered this glorious, unadulterated land and immediately began chopping down trees and building a factory. Time and time again the Lorax, who is the guardian of the trees and animals, warns the Once-ler to stop. But he doesn’t listen. Greed has taken hold of his heart. By the end of the book, the entire land is destroyed, all of the Truffula Trees are gone, all the animals are gone, and the Once-ler is left alone with his empty factory. The message of the book is clear. The invasion of big industry and factories upon the purity and sanctity of nature is a travesty. Smog fills the air, gunk fills the pond, and the land is stripped of all living thing. The Once-ler is sorry, but it’s too late. The damage is already done. The Lorax is taken away. Readers are left with the heavy lesson about our responsibility to take care of the earth. Although everything in the book is depicted in fantasy illustrations with gobbledygook names, the story makes very clear connections with real life. It is most definitely intended to be didactic or for instruction – to teach a moral lesson.
B. Are didactic children’s books published today? If not, why not?
Yes, didactic children’s books are still published today. There are still lots of lessons to be learned, so authors are still writing children’s books to teach kids social and moral lessons. Examples of such books include: The Empty Pot (integrity & honesty), The Greedy Triangle (being content), The Magic Fish (selfishness), & Odd Velvet (tolerance).
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