[.ca] Yertle the Turtle (ISBN 0394900871)

From Amazon.com:
Yet more wisdom cast down from high atop Mt. Seuss, this cheerful trio of tales teaches some valuable lessons in humility--thanks to a sharp-eyed worm, a bragging bear and rabbit, a fuzzy-tailed bird, and a couple hundred turtles led by their foolish King Yertle. Yertle's story leads off with his attempt to build a bigger kingdom on the backs of his loyal subjects (literally). King of everything he can see, Yertle orders his turtles to stack up under him to build a towering throne. ("He made each turtle stand on another one's back and he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.") But a plain little turtle named Mack--stuck at the bottom--decides he's had enough. ("I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down on the bottom we, too, should have rights!") Following Yertle's downfall, a whiny girl-bird named Gertrude McFuzz wishes she had two feathers, just like Miss Lolla-Lee-Lou: "One droopy-droop feather. That's all that she had. And, oh! That one feather made Gertrude so sad." But even when Gertrude gets her wish--and then some--she finds that vanity has its price. Meanwhile, in "The Big Brag," a proud rabbit and an even-prouder bear duke it out in a battle of the senses, arguing over who's the best of the beasts, only to get their clever comeuppance from a wild-eyed little worm. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

lessons on greed, pride, and envy:
The book of Proverbs (in 16:12 to be exact) states that "It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness." Yertle the Turtle (Who Dr. Seuss modeled on Hitler) commits just such an abomination...he fulfills his avaricious desires by abusing his fellow turtles. It is a fun story that packs a message. The other stories are entertaining as well: "The Rabbit, the Bear and the Zinniga-Zanniga" is about a wily rabbit who escapes from a hungry bear by the use of its wits. "The Big Brag" has a particullarly funny ending. A little worm chastizes to the Bear and the Rabbit for having nothing better to do than sitting around and bragging about their capabilities. "Gertrude McFuss" is about the insidiousness of envy. One feather...two feathers...we always seem to want more. This is interesting reading for those of us here in America which is absolutely driven by consumerism--which is really just envy wearing its "Sunday Best." Yertle the Turtle is yet another jewel in the crown of the doctor...I recommend this book.

tower of turtles!:
I LOVE this book! Yertle is just soooooo selfish! He is King of all he can see! But he can't see very far! So he sits on turtles! Then they fall! Ouch, that must have hurt! Poor Yertle! But he deserved it! GREAT book!

To the store, the book's no bore, Dr. Seuss scores once more:
Three great Dr. Seuss Stories in one book. Yertle The Turtle presents what Dr. Seuss does so well -- Reaching kids with good morality tales that are fun and easy to commit to memory. The three lessons (Don't be greedy, be happy with how you look, and don't try to one-up each other)are well presented in a format that's fun and leads easily to discussion. The art is fun, as always, and the poems clever. Dr. Seuss scored with this one, also.

Dr. Seuss understands leadership:
Yertle the turtle is a great book on leadership. It teaches you how NOT to be a leader. Yertle ordered the other turtles to pile up in order that he could be on top and be "king of all that I see." In the end the turtles collapsed and Yertle was back on earth with the rest of the turtles. We see so many leaders that are like Yertle. Climbing all over others to get to the top. They often take the big fall much as Yertle did. True leaders will develop those who work for them. The other "turtles" will elevate the leader to the top creating a sound foundation to allow the leader to stay at the top. Don't be like Yertle.

Caution::
With an eye for negative influence on children, I submit the following criticisms: "Yurtle the Turtle" has a secondary lesson in anarchy. "Gertrude McFuzz" revels in the thought of her object of envy (another bird) dead. "The Brag" focuses on an argument throughout. I want my children to learn respect for authority, regard for the life of their neighbor, and amicable resolution of differences, hence the mediocre rating. Please consider these and preview for yourself and your children. The positives: interesting oration, and the usual wonderfully Dr. Suess rhyme and illustration. "Yurtle the Turtle" allows some empathy for the downtrodden.