Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that it's arguable whether this collection truly is the "best of" Dr. Seuss; it's comprised of three lesser-known cartoon versions of Theodor Geisel stories. These three tales, combined in a one-hour compilation, range in tone from light-hearted to heavy. "Horton Hatches the Egg" is the most kid-friendly, though it unfortunately ends with a throwaway gag where a fish shoots himself in the head. Preschoolers should enjoy the simplicity of the stories and the Seussian wordplay, although the dark messages, such as mutual destruction ("The Butter Battle Book"), and loneliness ("Daisy-Headed Mayzie"), will fly over their heads.
Families can talk about Dr. Seuss. What are your favorite books? Characters? Do you admire Horton for being so dedicated?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Charles Cassady, Jr.
In "The Butter Battle Book," similar creatures known as Yooks and Zooks live divided by an ancient wall. A battle between the Yook Grandfather and the Zook VanItch escalates. The open ending has the pair stubbornly confronting each other with their doomsday devices.
In "Daisy-Headed Mayzie," little Mayzie McGrew unintentionally causes a sensation when a daisy flower sprouts from her hair. Initially she's alarmed and mocked at school, but when doctors and scientists marvel at the phenomenon, she becomes a pampered celebrity.
In "Horton Hatches the Egg" a kindly elephant is persuaded by Mayzie (no relation), a lazy bird, to sit on her egg for a short time. What Horton doesn't know is that Mayzie has no intention of returning soon. Hunters find Horton and sell him to the circus -- tree, egg, and all. Mayzie reappears, jealous of Horton's fame, and accuses him of stealing her egg.
The Best of Dr. Seuss is a diverse mini-festival of Seuss material. While the kids watch, grown-up animation buffs can consider the very different studios that produced these cartoons. "Horton Hatches the Egg" came out in 1944 as part of the legendary Warner Brothers "Merrie Melodies" series that also gave birth to Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, and their cohorts. "Daisy-Headed Mayzie" emerged from the prolific Hanna-Barbara company, while "The Butter Battle Book" became a cartoon under the direction of Ralph Bakshi, a cult animator who has done everything from Mighty Mouse to sordid adults-only animated social satire.
Yet, the singular style and spirit of Seuss shines through in each. Bakshi's visual verve even improves on the original material in "The Butter Battle Book," adding the infernal factory in which the Big-Boy Boomeroo is born. The tale itself was a late Dr. Seuss effort bemoaning America's escalating arms race with the USSR. Kids, however, might not understand its dated metaphor for a now-finished Cold War.
"Horton Hatches the Egg" is the real keeper, a lavish piece of animation destined for theater screens of the era. In addition to its child-friendly lesson of honor and determination ("An elephant's faithful one hundred percent!"), it rewards older viewers with some Warners-style satire of then-popular movies: Mayzie the bird occasionally lapses into Scarlett O'Hara mannerisms, and, in a jarringly dark bit of humor, a fish happily commits suicide after glimpsing Horton and announcing "Now I've seen everything!" This behavior is partially explicable; the fish is a ringer for sinister Hollywood star Peter Lorre.
For one of the finest Seuss cartoons, see How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
||
ViolenceIn a throwaway gag in "Horton Hatches the Egg," a Peter Lorre look-alike fish fatally shoots himself in the head. Two lands are on the verge of disaster in the inconclusive finale of "The Butter Battle Book." |
|
 |
||
Language |
|
|
||
Message |
|
|
||
Social Behavior"Horton Hatches an Egg" has a good moral, encouraging children to be like Horton and have honor and determination. All the pieces offer liberal social commentary on issues of the time. |
 |
|
||
Commercialism |
 |
|
||
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
||
