Take a Closer Look at How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

by Donna Huber

Each year during the 25 Days of Christmas Reading, I like to dig deep into a literary Christmas favorite. The first year, I took a close look at A Christmas Carol. Last year, I learned some cool facts about the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. This year, I decided to see what I could dig up on the children's classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas was first published in an issue of Redbook in October 1957 and then a month later in book form by Random House. Dr. Seuss not only wrote the story, but he also illustrated it. Its main theme is a criticism of the commercialization of Christmas. 

History

Two years before How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss penned a 33-line poem that featured the Grinch entitled "The Hoobub and the Grinch". There are a couple of YouTube videos of people reading the poem. Here's one example,

Dr. Seuss (or Theodor Geisel) was not feeling too Christmasy before writing How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His wife was ill, and he didn't like how commercialized Christmas had become. (Interesting sidenote - about a decade later, Charles Schulz, also dismayed with the commercialization of Christmas, wrote a television special focused on the true meaning of Christmas. A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time 60 years ago). In Dr. Seuss's own words, he felt particularly "grinchish". 

Dr. Seuss apparently struggled to find the right ending for the story.

The book was well-received by critics, earning reviews in The New York Herald Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, The New York Times, The Saturday Review of Literature, and San Francisco Chronicle.

Translations and Adaptations

How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been translated into more than 20 different languages. 

If you are my age, you probably remember watching the 1966 animated version that played on television every year during the holidays. While that is the version I prefer, I've seen a lot of advertisements for the 2000 film starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch this year. If you are a Prime member, you can stream the film for free. NOTE: It is leaving Prime at the end of the month.

The Grinch took to the stage in 2007 as a musical. It played on Broadway in 2008 and had a U.S. tour. I didn't know that a new animated version was made in 2018. It starred Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch. That movie was called "The Grinch". If you have a subscription to Peacock, you can stream it. Otherwise, you can buy/rent The Grinch through Amazon. I also missed the live adaptation of the musical that aired on television in 2020. It aired on NBC, so if you have Peacock, you might be able to see it there, but I didn't find any mentions of it streaming anywhere. If you are a horror fan, a horror parody film came out in 2022.

For podcast listeners, you might want to check out the Wonderly podcast starring James Austion Johnson - "Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast".  

In 1975, it was recorded as an audiobook. If you have an iPhone you may want to look for the 2009 interactive ebook.  In 2013, the Boston Pops Orchestra performed a 13-minute song adapted from the book. It was recorded on the album A Boston Pops Christmas.

In 2023, Random House published the sequel, How the Grinch Lost Christmas, written by Alastair Heim and illustrated by Aristides Ruiz.

About the author

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He wrote more than 60 books as Dr. Seuss. He did his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and graduate studies at Lincoln University in Oxford. He worked in the animation and film department of the U.S.Army during WWII. He also drew political cartoons for the New York City daily paper.

March 2, his birthday, is recognized as National Read Across America Day and many schools and libraries have special Dr. Seuss-themed activities.

On September 24, 1991, he died from cancer. There are several memorials and awards named for him, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a crater named for him on Mercury.

Buy How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Amazon

Did you read How the Grinch Stole Christmas this year? What is your favorite adaptation? If you still need Christmas reading suggestions, check out all our recommendations we've shared during the 25 Days of Christmas Reading.

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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