Horton Hatches the Egg (by Dr. Seuss)

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.

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.

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.