Have you heard the news? A newly unearthed Dr. Seuss treasure was just published for the first time this fall! Dr. Seuss fans, rejoice the publication of Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories (Random House, 2014)!
Dr. Charles D. Cohen, who has written extensively about Theodor Seuss Geisel and amassed the largest private collection of “Seussiana,” has compiled two volumes of “lost” stories by the beloved author. Educators and children alike will be enthralled with new stories about cherished characters, including Horton the Elephant. Dr. Seuss’ special gift of craft shines through again with rhymes, made up words, outrageous illustrations, and entertaining scenarios. Horton, maintaining the motto “an elephant’s faithful 100%,” does not disappoint as yet another small creature tries to take advantage of his dependable good nature. Horton makes a deal with the “Kwuggerbug” to split a cache of “beezlenuts” after Horton labors through swamps, lakes, and mountains to reach the beezlenut tree. “A deal is a deal,” he reminds himself as it becomes clear the Kwuggerbug is unfairly leveraging his mass and muscle.
Using this Text in Your Classroom
Horton and the Kwuggerbug is an ideal mentor text for illuminating ways that authors convey deep messages and provide readers with substantial evidence from the text to support these messages. Use the text to launch a conversation about ways in which authors encourage us to make the world a better place by comparing our own actions with character decisions in the story. Fuel student thought about inferences by modeling your think-aloud with the text in a mini-lesson. During interactive read aloud, demonstrate the joy seasoned readers experience when discovering new additions by a favorite author, reconnecting with old, familiar characters, and discussing themes that resonate among literary fans. Include Horton and the Kwuggerbug in a Dr. Seuss author study and catalyze student discussion with this video about publishing his “lost and found” story collection.
A Text for All Ages
Text themes and messages are easy to extrapolate in Horton and the Kwuggerbug, making this book appropriate for young children. Simultaneously, the prized and familiar landscape of Dr. Seuss stories will have wide appeal and applicability across all PreK-12 grade levels. This fresh, never-before-seen story about Horton will capture the hearts of Dr. Seuss fans while serving to mentor readers and writers as they grow their thinking. Let us know how you use Horton and the Kwuggerbug or other Dr. Seuss favorites in your classroom!
Looking Ahead to the TLA Book Basket Series
This is the first in a monthly Book Basket blog series from the TLA team dedicated to uncovering fantastic mentor texts and joyful real aloud selections. Book Basket guest bloggers will include preschool, elementary, and middle school educators. In our next Book Basket edition, we’ll continue our theme of highlighting new mentor texts and read alouds hot from the presses this fall.
Do you have a favorite text you’ve used for thinking aloud, modeling strategies, or hooking readers and writers? Join the ranks of our guest bloggers by sending a summary of the book and the ways in which you’ve used it, along with your grade level, to [email protected].
