Horton Hatches the Egg
Common Sense Note
Readers will instantly sympathize with the huge, gentle egg-sitter, and will pick up on his noble motto: "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant."
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Robyn Raymer
This is a highly moral tale without a whiff of grim old Aesop. Its hero is a kindly, slightly goofy elephant who's the soul of integrity: Sir Thomas More meets Dumbo. Horton is less preachy than Barney, more expressive than Babar, and as steadfast and loving as Charlotte the spider.
In one of the book's best scenes, he sensibly props up Mayzie's tree, which Dr. Seuss brilliantly renders as a spindly little sapling. His fortifications completed, huge Horton assumes the nesting position: "Then carefully, / Tenderly, / Gently he crept / Up the trunk to the nest where the little egg slept."
A reading audience of kindergartners championed Horton from the first, shouting his "I meant what I said!" credo along with the narrator. Scandalized by Mayzie's irresponsibility, but tickled by her sputtering anger and disgruntlement, they were especially severe with the animals who teased Horton.
Dr. Seuss's beautiful cartoon drawings (black and white accented with red and green) bustle, zigzag, stroll, and stampede across the page. Countless witty details include grumpy Mayzie slumped way off in a corner as Horton holds his little one aloft to wild applause. Dr. Seuss's genius is especially evident in Horton's facial expressions and body language. His big, cheerful countenance morphs from an "Oy! What a headache!" face to a look of misery with red-rimmed eyes and drooping trunk to a heroic arms-crossed, chin-high "Shoot me if you must, but I shall never desert my post!" stance.
Plot Summary:
When Mayzie bird grows bored with life on the nest, she fast-talks huge but gentle Horton the elephant into taking over her incubation duties in this Dr. Seuss classic. Standing (well, sitting) firm against foul weather, hecklers, and hunters, Horton is a true hero. A poignant, funny read-aloud in which integrity and nurturing are rewarded.
Related Books:
See the video version of Horton Hatches the Egg, and Horton fans must try another elphantine adventure, Horton Hears a Who. Dr. Seuss creates another gentle, good-hearted fellow in Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
||
ViolenceHorton suffers many hardships, and young children may feel sorry for him. |
|
 |
||
Language |
|
|
||
Message |
|
|
||
Social Behavior |
 |
 |
||
Commercialism |
|
|
||
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
||
