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Horton Hears a Who

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    A whimsical tale with a stirring message.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    One of the villains (an eagle) is named Vlad Vlad-i-koff. In 1954 even liberal Seuss may have been catering to the notion that Russians were evil.
  • Violence & scariness:

    An eagle drops a dust speck full of tiny people and buildings onto the ground, causing moderate destruction. A gang of monkeys rope Horton and force him into a cage. Horton endures sneering and physical abuse from other animals that think he is crazy to
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Horton Hears a Who was written by Robyn Raymer

Parents need to know that kids will cheer for huge Horton, defender of the small. They'll identify with the spindly little beings of the dust speck, and rail against the sour kangaroo and his monkey henchmen.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about Horton's compassion. Why does he feel the need to help small, vulnerable beings? What does this teach us about how to treat others in the real world?
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More on Horton Hears a Who

Book Summary

Horton adopts a petite planet full of perky little persons led by a tiny, gallant mayor. Believing Horton must be crazy to befriend a dust speck, a snooty, meddlesome kangaroo and her gang of monkey roughnecks decide to boil the elephant's microscopic pals in Beezle-Nut oil! Seuss takes readers on a whimsical tale with a stirring message.

Is It Any Good?

Inside hulking Horton dwells the soul of a gentle, steadfast caretaker, and Seuss uses the elephant's immensity to make a point about taking care of those more vulnerable than ourselves. In one two-page picture, Horton is so huge that there are only a few scraps of blue sky showing. In contrast, the dust speck on the pink clover is bitty indeed. (And if their planet is this tiny, how microscopic are the Whos?) Gigantic-eared Horton hears them all along -- perhaps his compassionate soul acts as a cosmic hearing aid.

Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Random House, Publication date: 01/01/1954
Number of pages: 64, Price: $14.95 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 4+, Read Alone: 6+

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    szqs1

    zs1q

  2. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    aaa

    haaa

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    its awesome

    I thought that book is very interesting.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Wonderful story with a great message, but can scare younger kids with Horton being tied up by the monkeys and them threatening to throw the clover into hot beezle nut oil.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    ilaughed!

    it was a great movie i liked it it was the best movie ever i want to watch it about a thousand times so i can crack up some more every time i see it.

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