One of the best parts of being an elementary school teacher for me is the opportunity to read picture books out loud. Over the years, I have discovered that kids of all ages become enchanted by picture books, and I have been building a personal collection for quite some time already. Of all the storybooks that I enjoy reading,The Lorax is my most beloved.
Friday, March 2 was Dr. Seuss’s birthday. In honor of this and the release of the new Lorax movie, I decided to read my class The Lorax as an extra treat. When I borrowed a copy from a co-teacher, I was pleased and surprised to discover that it was a first edition! I had always heard– but never seen– that Seuss’s first edition had an extra line, condemning Lake Erie’s rampant pollution:
“You’re glumping the pond where the Humming-Fish hummed!
No more can they hum, for their gills are all gummed.
So I’m sending them off. Oh, their future is dreary.
They’ll walk on their fins and get woefully weary
in search of some water that isn’t so smeary.
I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie.”
I was delighted to finally uncover this line, and paused my retelling to tell my students some of the historical background. In 1971, when the book was first released, the water health of Lake Erie was abysmal; in 1965, Time magazine labelled the lake “dead”, killed by industry and pollution. Conditions were so bad the surface of the lake regularly caught on fire (see citation).
Here's one "lakeside view" of Lake Erie, courtesy of http://www.flickriver.com/photos/trainplanepro/popular-interesting/
14 years after Seuss’s initial publishing, two graduate students wrote to Seuss, pointing out the considerable clean-up that had happened in the area. Seuss agreed to omit the original line in honor of the hard work that had been accomplished.
I have always thought this anecdote is a great example of the less obvious and unique ways people can create positive change. Making change does not necessarily have to be done through politics or protest; it can be wed with creativity and passion to reach broad audiences and inspire.
When Seuss originally wrote this story, he was before his time. The environmental movement had not yet taken off, and we were still waiting for the likes of the Clean Air and Water Acts. Today, the story is a poignant reminder of the mistakes we are still making. Seuss’ reminder to consume less stuff (gloppity-glop and schluppity-schlupp) is needed now more than ever. It was an extra surprise to share both my favorite story and a message of advocacy and success to my students on a Friday afternoon!
P.S. I went to see the movie, and, though it differs somewhat from the original story, I felt it did the book justice. It is definitely worth seeing, but read the book first!!
greenvibrations 