photo by melissaclark www.flickr.com
My favorite Christmas story is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Is that weird? I just love it when the Grinch has stolen everything from Whoville, and he’s waiting to hear all the boo-hoos. But he doesn’t hear crying, he hears singing–my word! Without any presents? Who would have thought it? And then my favorite part of all:
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas. . .perhaps. . .means a little bit more!”
And what happened then. . .?
Well. . .in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas was originally published in 1957. In a really cool Dr. Seuss collection that my stepson has (Your Favorite Seuss pictured below), Charles D. Cohen, author of The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing but the Seuss, writes that Theodore Seuss Geisel wrote about the Grinch because in 1956 when looking at himself in the mirror, he decided something had gone terribly wrong with Christmas. He wrote the story to see if he could rediscover something about Christmas that he had obviously lost. He wanted to explore anti-consumerism, according to Cohen, but more importantly, the sense and spirit of community that Seuss felt was lost in the world. Think about it: the Grinch is excluded from the Whos–he can’t stand their singing and bells ringing. He’s included when he gets to carve the roast beast at the end. The Whos definitely have a sense of community, which is proven in my favorite scene above!
I like that Dr. Seuss reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas without preaching or hitting us over the head with it. He does it in true children’s writers’ fashion with a great show-don’t-tell picture book. The Grinch’s story is wonderful to share and discuss with children why the Whos are still singing and happy when all their Christmas stuff is gone. This is sometimes hard for children to understand, especially since the number one question they are asked around this time of year is: “What did you ask Santa to bring you for Christmas?” Talk to students and your children about other Christmas traditions they really enjoy besides the presents and compare these traditions to what the Whos do even though all their Christmas gear is missing. When children see how their favorite family traditions, like making s’mores or singing carols around the piano, compare to the Whos singing, they might understand more how Christmas doesn’t really come from a store.
So although I love Jimmy Stewart and angels getting their wings, the Grinch will always have my heart–and he’s been around for fifty-two years, so he must have more hearts than just mine. 
What’s your favorite Christmas story/movie/book?
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