Title: Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
Author: Dr. Seuss
First published April 12, 1958
80 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780394900872 (ISBN10: 0394900871)
Rating: 4.15
Overview
“I am the ruler of all that I see!” declares Yertle the Turtle. Dr. Seuss brings us three timeless fables that explore the perils of getting too big for our boots.
In this hilarious book, Dr. Seuss combines funny stories, crazy creatures, and zany pictures with his unique blend of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. He makes reading FUN for children of all ages and abilities.
Join Yertle the Turtle, Gertrude McFuzz, and The Big Brag on their wild adventures. Dr. Seuss has been delighting young readers for over fifty years with his riotous rhymes and zany pictures that have made him one of the world’s top children’s authors.
With nearly half a billion books sold worldwide, Dr. Seuss is a global best-seller.
About the Author
Theodore Seuss Geisel, born on March 2, 1904, hailed from Springfield, Massachusetts. He completed his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1925 and went on to study literature at Oxford University.
It was here that he met his future wife, Helen Palmer, whom he married in 1927. Upon his return to America, he began working for Judge, the country’s leading humor magazine at the time.
He submitted cartoons and humorous articles to the publication, along with other magazines like Life, Vanity Fair, and Liberty. The use of references to an insecticide called Flit in his cartoons caught the attention of many, and he eventually landed a contract to draw comic ads for Flit.
This association lasted for 17 years, brought him nationwide recognition, and even coined the catchphrase “Quick, Henry, the Flit!”
In 1936, while traveling to Europe, the rhythm of the ship’s engines inspired Geisel to come up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was rejected by the first 43 publishers he approached. Finally, in 1937, a friend agreed to publish the book, which met with moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. He wrote for Frank Capra’s Signal Corps Unit, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit, and created documentaries that won him Oscars for Hitler Lives and Design for Death.
He also made a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing, which also won an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report highlighting the problem of illiteracy among school children, stating that the books were too dull. This inspired Geisel’s publisher to send him a list of 400 essential words for children.
He was asked to reduce it to 250 words, the number of words first-graders could absorb at a time, and write a book. Geisel used 220 of these words to write The Cat in the Hat, which became an instant success.
In 1960, Bennett Cerf, a friend of Geisel’s, bet him $50 that he couldn’t write a book using only fifty words. Geisel took the challenge and came up with Green Eggs and Ham, which Cerf never paid him the $50 for.
Geisel’s first wife, Helen Palmer, passed away in 1967. He married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968.
Geisel died on September 24, 1991. He also wrote under the pen name Dr. Seuss.
Editoral Review
Dr. Seuss is one of the most iconic children’s book authors of all time, with his whimsical illustrations and quirky rhymes delighting readers young and old for generations. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, originally published in 1958, is a collection of three tales that showcase Seuss’s signature style and themes.
The first story in the collection, Yertle the Turtle, tells the tale of a power-hungry turtle who wants to be king of all he surveys, even if it means stacking his fellow turtles underneath him to do so. The second story, Gertrude McFuzz, follows a small bird who wants nothing more than to be beautiful, and is willing to go to great lengths to achieve her goal.
Finally, The Big Brag pits a rabbit and a bear against each other in a battle of one-upmanship that ultimately reveals the foolishness of their rivalry. Although the stories in Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories may seem lighthearted on the surface, there are deeper themes at work here.
Yertle’s desire for power and domination can be read as a commentary on the dangers of authoritarianism, while Gertrude’s misguided attempts to alter her appearance speak to the pressures women face to conform to societal standards of beauty. The Big Brag, meanwhile, skewers our obsession with status and superiority.
The illustrations in Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories are as delightful as ever, with Seuss’s distinctive style bringing each character to life in colorful detail. The rhyming text is catchy and fun to read aloud, making this collection a joy for both children and adults.
One potential criticism of Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories is that it may feel somewhat dated compared to more contemporary children’s books. Some readers may find the moral lessons heavy-handed, and the lack of diversity among the characters may be a turn-off for some.
However, it’s important to remember that this book was published over 60 years ago, and should be evaluated within the context of its time. For fans of Dr. Seuss, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories is a must-read.
It’s a classic tale of power, beauty, and status that still feels relevant today. Parents looking to introduce their children to Seuss’s work will find this collection to be a great starting point, and adults looking to revisit their favorite childhood books will find it just as charming as they remember.
Overall, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories receives a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While it may not be perfect, it’s a heartwarming and entertaining read that’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
