Dr. Seuss teaches children responsibility in Horton Hatches the Egg(Classic Seuss Hardcover). The picture book has sixty-four pages. It is for children between four and eight-years-old. Dr. Seuss read-aloud book in rhyme contains his trademark whimsical characters.

Horton is an elephant. A loving, faithful elephant. Mayzie is a bird, a lazy bird hatching an egg. Lazy Mayzie asks Horton to sit on her egg, saying she will return soon. Horton agrees. Mayzie does not return. She chooses to stay in Palm Beach. Horton, takes his responsibility seriously, remains with the egg.

Dr. Seuss sketches of a large Horton sitting on the tiny egg cause kids to giggle. Children know how fragile is an egg. They know how heavy is an elephant. In addition, kids understand how absurd hatching an egg is for an elephant. Children will admire Horton’s determination to remain on the job and protect the egg despite the other animals’ taunts.

Horton Hatches the Egg has two morals. The first moral is to be responsible. The second is to take pride in one's work. They are important character building lessons for children to learn early in life. Right now, preschool and kindergarten children have two responsibilities: school and household chores. Later, responsibilities are much more major: work and family.

Share Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hatches the Egg with infants, toddlers and early elementary children. Introduce them to Dr. Seuss’s rhyming verse and zany characters. Open a discussion with them about the actions of Horton and Mayzie. Hard work and patience bring great rewards.

Dr. Seuss wrote Horton Hatches the Egg in 1940. His illustrations are not full color. The illustrations are pen and ink drawings with red and green watercolors. Horton is also in Horton Hears a Who! It is another delightful Dr. Seuss picture book. Horton’s sense of responsibility saves the small community: Who-ville. Also, Dr. Seuss teaches children responsibility for the environment in The Lorax



In Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, Dr. Seuss shares his views on education in the United States of America with zany rhymes and characters.


Horton the Elephant Books
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Early Reader Chapter Books for Children
Children Books with Kittens and Cats


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