Thursday, April 24, 2025
Did you know that stress stimuli can be deflated by reading a well-written book? Reading someone else’s made-up world is a release and a relief. Reading offers your mind the opportunity to recreate a world and in journaling you may expand it beyond the confines of your personal imagination.
In children’s literature, stories explain the world using pictures and simple words. When I read Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax to my five-year-old grandson, he viscerally understood the meaning of “deforestation,” “sustainability,” and “protecting the environment.” This story beloved by children teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others.
With lessons on the beauty of nature, especially imaginary Truffula Trees, it speaks of the danger of taking our earth for granted. Written fifty years ago by this visionary, the story is timely, playful, and hopeful. Its final pages teach not only children but adults that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” —Dr. Seuss
When good books are read to children they jolt them out of their comfortable routines. They boggle their minds and unnerve them. But such books make them come alive, demanding to be read to again and again.
Lorraine
Reading is magical in so many ways. It is fascinating to experience reading with children- their undivided attention, and questions or reactions to the stories, always made my heart full.
Donna Lucas
In honor of Earth Day, this week our 7th grade reading teacher read The Lorax to her students and is now showing them the film. They love it.
To springboard off of that, I took my students outside to clean up litter.
May we have an earth we dreamed of.
Madhu B. Wangu
Good morning, Lorraine! Reading to my grandchildren such books is indeed invigorating! I no longer read to my older grandsons (18 & 9) or granddaughter (14) but can’t wait to read to the youngest when she visits in August. She just turned 3.
Madhu B. Wangu
It makes me so happy to know that The Lorax is still being read in schools. Doing is as good as reading such books and watching inspiring movies. So you did good, Donna. I love the way you motivate your students.
Jennifer D. Diamond
LOVELY, Madhu! Thank you!