Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss has found a way to charm children with his magical tales, and even adults too. When the ‘adult world’ gets too much, too stressful and too draining, I often find comfort in good ol’ Dr Seuss story to transport me to a different universe writes Cape {town} Etc’s Micayla Vellai.
His fascinating work runs deeper than playful, rhyming words, interesting illustrations and magical settings. Between the pages of his books lie valuable lessons – from taking care of the environment to finding success and self-confidence.
We all could use some Dr. Seuss magic in our lives, so here are three stories that could teach us a thing or two about the world we’re living in:
The Lorax
The Lorax was published in 1971 and explores the significance of taking care of the environment through depictions of forests, animals and waterways. The colourful illustrations and brilliantly unique characters tells an important tale worth paying attention to.
Dr. Seuss’ Lorax places emphasis on the dangers of pollution and industrialisation in a world where the breathtaking Truffula trees are being chopped down. The words at the end are extremely impactful, an eye-opener to start caring more about the world we live in: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
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Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
This is one of my favourite stories that got me through many difficult stages of my life. The encouragement speaks volumes and creeps into your soul as a reminder that everything is going to be okay. This story encourages readers to become confident and find success within themselves as they navigate through the difficulties of life.
But don’t be fooled, this book isn’t only for kids. Students and graduates are grabbing onto the words in this story to overcome hurdles and celebrate success. Inspiration and lyrical to say the least! Get ready to soar high after reading this book.
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Horton Hears a Who!
Whimsical rhymes and unique characters stand at the forefront of this novel as Dr. Seuss takes us on a journey where being treated equally means everything. This is the perfect book to teach readers about equality through the lens of an elephant named Horton.
He finds a speck of dust which is actually a small planet called Whoville. The other animals ridicule Horton for believing in something he can’t see or hear but this book shows that even though standing up for yourself can be a difficult task, it’s important to remain resilient.
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And here is something to bear in mind… I hope it’s the pick-me-up you might’ve needed!
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Also read:
Step into a world of magic and explore Cape Town’s finest bookshops
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