It's the talk of the jungle when an elephant hatches an egg. Extravagant nonsense and rollicking verse.
It's the talk of the jungle when an elephant hatches an egg. Extravagant nonsense and rollicking verse. Full-color illustrations.
sirhc4250
Posted April 11, 2013
“Horton hatches the egg” is a short children’s story by Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), aka. Theodore Seuss Geisel, a famous writer who is widely known for his cartoon children’s books, many of which have been made into cartoons or movies. Dr. Seuss’ story is set in an undisclosed part of the African jungle and based off of the visual illustrations the time frame is in the early 1900’s. The major goal of the story is to take an over the top, humorous scenario and teach a lesson to children. A lesson that being trustworthy to people even when they are not honest with you and having perseverance especially when things get hard will pay off in the end.
Absurd concepts, like of an elephant nurturing an egg in a tree for a bird is completely ridiculous, are one of the ways that Dr. Seuss usually keeps the attention of his audience, short attention spanned children, and “Horton hatches the egg” is no exception. The story starts by introducing the lazy bird Mayzie, who is tired of tending her egg. She, by use of sly words and guilt, gets the trusting and a slightly gullible elephant, Horton, to sit on her egg in the nest in her tree by telling him she’ll be back quick and just needs a short break. Horton’s loyalty to the egg and his promise to not abandon it are put to the test when he is run through many trials. One thing that makes this book so relatable is that Horton’s trials are easily compared to everyday life, with harsh weather like rain, sleet and bitter cold, peer pressure that every child will undergo and imminent danger that is becoming more common as the years pass by. In spite of being dragged to a different continent and sold into slavery for the amusement of others, Horton the elephant “…meant what he said and said what he meant, an elephant is faithful one hundred percent.” (Seuss, 1940) Even when confronted by Mayzie in the end of the book he kept up his end of the bargain and humbly gave the egg back right before it hatched, only to be rewarded with the most wonderful reward an elephant could get (which you’ll have to read to find out what it is). SPOILER ALERT! The reward is that an elephant bird that looks like Horton emerges from the egg instead of a normal bird that looks like Mayzie.
Dr. Seuss’, “Horton Hatches an Egg” is a must read, especially if you have children, and even if you don’t. His clever rhyming is schemes and use of words will keep your child’s mind active. The story plot although a little outrageous gives parents a good stepping stone to talk to their kids about being trustworthy, faithful and hard working, as well as some of the difficulties that they may face throughout their life and how to deal with them. I have added this book to my child’s repertoire of books for its easy read, fun illustrations and the timeless lessons held within. I highly recommend this book too people of all ages.
References:
Seuss, D. (1940). Horton hatches the egg. New York, NY: Random House.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.empeegee
Posted January 22, 2013
I read this to my son when he was three years old and explained to him that the egg became an elephant-bird because Horton took care of the egg and became the egg's daddy. I explained that human's often did the same thing with human babies. He looked at me and said "We should do that." We thought about it and agreed that we should find a baby who needed to be taken care of. Horton made our family complete. I've always thought Horton Hatches the Egg was more an argument for adoption than anything else.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SammersAZ
Posted February 28, 2012
Not only is this a fun story with wonderful rhymes, but it also teaches some great lessons to little ones. Lessons like being faithful and keeping your word, being kind and not making fun of friends, and my favorite - hard work will be worth it in the end.
Horton Hatches the Egg is one of my favorite classic Dr Seuss books, and now my little girl is falling in love with it too. After a holiday visit with family, and reading this with her cousins, my toddler asked for her own copy which I was happy to make happen. Now it is part of our night time/ bed time ritual... I forgot how useful rhyming and rhythmic stories are for getting the little one to sleep at night.
this is definitely a keeper and a book that every parent should have in their library.
This one doesn't share the same kind of flair that came with Horton Hears a Who!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Since I was a younger I have always been a fan on Dr.Seuss's books and I enjoyed being read to. Although there isn't a universal moral to this story, it does have a theme and great ideas. Children love the goofy pictures and silly rhymes . Overall, this book is a keeper and worthy of passing down from generation to generation. I definitely recommend it for elementary readers, teacher, and parents.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 15, 2002
I have had the best memories of my dad reciting this to us kids, and I plan to do the same for my own. It is a wonderful book that all kids should hear.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 11, 2001
I love this story, because it makes the most unlikliest person very responsible. Mayzie, the lazy bird is cold hearted from beginning to end, and in the end Horton really hears a who from the hatchling.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2001
This book clearly deserves more than five stars! Horton Hatches the Egg is one of my very favorite children's books. The story opens with Mayzie, a lazy bird, sitting on her nest hatching an egg. She's terribly bored and tired and wants a break. She persuades Horton, the elephant, to take over for her. This is a good choice on her part because, 'An elephant's faithful -- one hundred percent!' So Horton props up the tree so it can take his weight, climbs up onto the nest, and ever so gently . . . sits on the egg. Mayzie decides a little vacation in Palm Beach will be in order. Once there, she says . . . 'why bother?' and abandons her egg. What Horton didn't know is that this egg needed 51 more weeks of hatching! But, never mind. 'He said what he meant and he meant what he said.' He sat on that egg, no matter what. Through a long series of misadventures, Mayzie and Horton are reunited just as the egg hatches. Mayzie wants her egg back, and Horton doesn't agree. Then the big surprise happens and Horton gets his reward! Teaching children patience and persistence . . . well, that takes a lot of patience and persistence. Horton Hatches the Egg is a way to provide a small fictional example when setbacks and delays occur. My youngsters didn't understand Thomas Edison's comment about genius being 99 percent perspiration until they were well past their Dr. Seuss days. I like to think that their hard-working adult selves (for the three who are adults) were formed in part by Horton's example in this book. This book contains many valuable lessons to encourage such as: keeping your word; being honest; looking out for those in need; sticking through to the end; facing your fears; and many others. It's a remarkable thing to realize also how well the ridiculous image of an unhappy elephant sitting on a nest is a bare tree can create all of those good notions. Way to go, Dr. Seuss! Donald Mitchell, co-author of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The 2,000 Percent Solution
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 27, 2001
This is a great book and when I read it,it made me laugh.I think you should read it too.It was funny to think an elephant could hatch an egg.I enjoyed this book and I hope you will too.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 4, 2000
This book is sooo cute!!! It's the story of a good natured kind elephant who helps a selfish bird...the end is the best though, read it for yourself!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 26, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
It's the talk of the jungle when an elephant hatches an egg. Extravagant nonsense and rollicking verse.
It's the talk of the jungle when an elephant hatches an egg. Extravagant nonsense and rollicking verse. Full-color illustrations.