An online summary Horton Hears A Who by Dr. Seuss. The picture book has seventy-two pages. It is for children four-years-old and older. The book contains Dr. Seuss' zany rhymes and characters.

Horton is the average elephant who lives in an average forest. One day, he comes upon a speck of dust. And, to his amazement, he discovers a world of small creatures. They are Whos. He converses with the mayor of Who-ville. The mayor evokes a promise from Horton. Horton will keep the minuscule community safe and sound. He agrees and places the speck of dust on a clover.

Unfortunately, the other animals in the forest cannot hear the Whos. The Kangaroo and the others believe Horton is batty. They tie up Horton and steal the Who-ville clover. An eagle flies away with it and drops it in a field of clover.

Horton chases the animals and the soaring eagle. He tracks the eagle day and night. Exhausted, he reaches the field of clover. Horton takes his responsibility seriously and searches millions of clovers until finding the Who-ville clover. Throughout his chase and search, Horton repeats, “A person is a person. No matter how small.”

Again, the kangaroo, monkeys and the other forest animals reach Horton and his clover. They still believe Horton has lost his marbles. They threaten to destroy the clover because they do not hear or see this Who-ville.

Horton urges the mayor of Who-ville to have the citizens to make a sound so loud the other animals will hear them. The adults and kids of Who-ville must rally together to make this sound and save themselves. The citizens rally and create quite a ruckus. Yet, the forest animals hear not a squeak. The mayor of Who-ville races about town urging the people to make any sound. He discovers a little Who who is not participating. The little Who joins the shouting and the forest animals hear the citizens of Who-ville. Who-ville is saved.

Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears A Who is more than a children's picture book. It a philosophical work of art. Dr. Seuss covers many issues. First, a person must be responsible and keep one’s promise. Secondly, no matter how small one is in this big world, she is important. Thirdly, there comes a time one must do something to help oneself. And last of all, every citizen in a community is important for the town’s well-being.

Children will identify with the citizens of Who-ville. They feel so small in the big world. At times, adults don’t hear them and disregard their feelings. Horton reminds them there are others who will listen and protect them.

Horton Hears A Who has the standard Dr. Seuss rhyming verse. The rhythm is unlike the simple pattern in the Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham. It is more in the style of King’s Stilts. The text is like a typical story. At seventy-two pages, it is twice as long as the Dr. Suess beginner books. Although, the book is for four-year-old children and older, children might not be able to read the picture book themselves until the age of seven. Parents and teachers take another look at Horton Hears A Who, it is more than a child’s picture book.

Look at a picture of Horton. He is on the Horton Hears a Who! cover!



Horton is in Dr. Seuss' Horton Hatches the Egg. Click for the online summary.



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