I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Random House for Young Readers on April 12, 1958 and has 96 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories is targeted for older, more fluent young readers.
You know that I do enjoy reading books aimed at readers younger than myself…and every year those numbers keep getting bigger and bigger. Hmmm, I do feel a bit Seuss-y, so perhaps I should say, those numbers are humongouser and humongouser?
Reading Dr. Seuss is actually research on my part, as I have finally set my sights on writing the children’s book I’ve had in mind. And…my sentences need some work. *Stop laughing!* Even better, I’ve always meant to sit down with Dr. Seuss and get caught up on what I missed in my childhood.
I do like the inside of the cover, lol, it’s a green sea of turtles, each with their own textured backs. Each with their own style of hair as they ride the waves.
The Stories
“Yertle the Turtle” is a cautionary tale about aiming too high, especially on the backs of others…as Mack can attest. As for the rhyming…I’m in love, and I also know I’ll never be able to match Seuss in that!
“Gertrude McFuzz” is a much more palatable, for us anyway, story of being careful what you wish for, as poor Gertrude McFuzz learned to her dismay.
I must say the rhyming in this was more awkward, although I did fall into the swing of it. I could definitely imagine myself sing-songing along.
“The Big Brag” is won by the least of them all, as he shows up two braggarts for being so ridiculous. Again, the rhyme has its rough spots, but I do adore Dr. Seuss’ storytelling techniques for getting another moral tale across with laughter.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a grass green background with a white cloud and the title and author’s name in white. There are five blue-backed turtles perched precariously atop one another — it’s only the top one, Yertle the Turtle King, who looks happy about his position.
The title leads with the best of them all with a grandiose turtle to the lowliest worm with Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories.
