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Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories – Dr Seuss (book review)

May 24, 2016 By Emily 33 Comments

Hooray! I love Seuss! More Seuss! I was so exited when I saw Horton and the Kwuggerbug on the local bookshop shelves!

But I was also wary. Needlessly, it turns out.

Here are my thoughts.

—

Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories / Dr Seuss

(HarperCollins Publishers, 2016)

Horton-and-the-Kwuggerbug-Dr-Seuss-cover

After reading What Pet Should I Get?, I was nervous. But that was a recently discovered unfinished draft that went to print without Seuss’s usual redrafting and editing. It lacked the finesse of his back catalogue.

By contrast, Horton and the Kwuggerbug contains shorter stories collated from magazines to which Dr Seuss contributed in the 1950s. And, to borrow from the blurb on the inside cover, they’re vintage Seuss!

The stories also have links to other well-known Seuss stories, whether by characters, locations or the traits of those in the books.

There are four stories in this collection, and they start with Horton himself. Horton and the Kwuggerbug is the tale of an enterprising Kwuggerbug who takes Horton for a ride. Or, more accurately, convinces Horton to take him for a ride (first across a crocodile-infested lake, then up a treacherous mountain), then attempts to make off with the goods.

There are insults that won’t impress some readers – “Climb! You dumb elephant, climb!” is a particular standout that could have done with some updating for the new millennium – but the rhyme and rhythm are Seuss through and through, and there is a strong moral lesson when the Kwuggerbug gets his comeuppance.

Horton-and-the-Kwuggerbug-page-10-11

The second story, Marco Comes Late, is my favourite. Marco is late to school, and forced to come up with an excuse. The excuse gets bigger and bigger, and this short story is reminiscent of the longer (and very popular) And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.

In fact, Mulberry Street is the location of the imagined goings-on! And it’s the location of the third story, too.

The third story, How Officer Pat Saved the Whole Town, is a tale of what could have been. A gnat bite that may or may not happen might cause a cat to scream, which might cause some triplets to scream, which might cause… and so on, until the entire town is in jeopardy. What will Officer Pat do?

The final story is The Hoobub and the Grinch. It’s not the Grinch we’ve all come to know and love (or hate, and then love) from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. It’s a relative, perhaps. A long-lost Grinch friend.

This Grinch is a wily salesman, and reminds me of Sylvester McMonkey McBean (the Fix-It-Up Chappie from The Sneetches). He interrupts the Hoobub’s contemplation of the wonderfulness of the sun to convince him that a piece of green string is better.

The-Hoobub-and-the-Grinch

Dr Seuss is my literary hero – I’ve reviewed his books before, I’ve attempted to recreate his writing style before, and Fox in Socks has a permanent place in the list of our family’s favourite books – so it’s no surprise that I love this one, too. Highly recommended for ages three and up. And if your kids are ages five and up, there are some great discussions to be had about respect, honesty and wiliness.

You can purchase Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories from Booktopia here, or from Book Depository here.

 

Have you read Horton and the Kwuggerbug? What did you think?

 

* Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to purchase the item, I earn a little commission, but you don’t pay any extra.

Filed Under: Book reviews, For children Tagged With: book, children, Dr Seuss, Fox in Socks, HarperCollins, Horton, Kwuggerbug, Mulberry Street, reading, review, The Sneetches, words

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Comments

  1. Lydia C. Lee says

    May 24, 2016 at 7:04 am

    I wonder if they stemmed from the published stories or the other way round – they were the seed he worked on?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      I wonder that too! Does Horton Hears a Who predate Horton and the Kwuggerbug?!

      Reply
  2. Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says

    May 24, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Horton!! Dr Seuss never fails to dazzle …

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Hooray for Horton!

      Reply
  3. Amy @ HandbagMafia says

    May 24, 2016 at 7:32 am

    We love Suess here too, must check out!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Definitely do! It’s a winner.

      Reply
  4. Nicole @ The Builder's Wife says

    May 24, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Dr Seuss books are the only books my kids 20, 15, 14, 13 and 12 will still sit and allow us to read to them. This is a very exciting day indeed!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      So exciting! Do you have a family favourite?

      Reply
  5. Melinda@ unitedstatesofmama says

    May 24, 2016 at 10:07 am

    I must confess that we haven’t really read any of these yet. We got stuck in the Roald Dahl’s but we’re almost finished. I shall check these out- thanks!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      Oh, how I love Roald Dahl! We’ve read a few of them together, but I don’t think my daughter is ready to meet Bonecruncher and Fleshlumpeater. Might warm up with The Witches before tackling The BFG.

      Reply
  6. Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says

    May 24, 2016 at 10:17 am

    Dr Suess fan here too must go and check it out.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      Yes, you must! Enjoy.

      Reply
  7. Bec Bowyer says

    May 24, 2016 at 10:46 am

    Oh awesome! I was so proud last weekend – my 6yo went out with his dad to spend his birthday book voucher. He came home with 2 more Dr Seuss books and a puzzle:-)

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      WINNING at voucher spending.

      Reply
  8. JF Gibson says

    May 24, 2016 at 10:50 am

    Oh I just LOVE Horton! Love, love, love.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      He’s so wonderful!

      Reply
  9. Bec Senyard says

    May 24, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    Will have to put this book on the bucket list of books to get for Esther. It’s always good to have a list ready when family and friends ask what to get her for her Birthday.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      What a great idea! I take mental note of all the things A says all year, then forget to pass them on to people!

      Reply
  10. Veggie Mama says

    May 24, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    I would love this! WE would love this!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Horton for EVERYONE!

      Reply
  11. Haidee@Maybe Baby Brothers says

    May 24, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    We’ve just started getting into Suess stories, some of them are a little long to hold my kids attention at this stage though but they’re pretty cool! #TeamIBOT

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      These are all shorter stories so they’d be perfect!

      Reply
  12. Min@WriteoftheMiddle says

    May 24, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    I love Dr Seuss books but never get to read them now the kids are all grown. Maybe I don’t need young kids to read them? Maybe I’ll buy this one, have a read and tuck away for my nephew’s next birthday? Sounds like a plan! haha 😉 xo

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      BRILLIANT. Never too old for Seuss.

      Reply
  13. Renee Wilson says

    May 24, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    I haven’t read it yet, but I’m desperate too. We’re huge Seuss fans here!

    Reply
    • Renee Wilson says

      May 24, 2016 at 5:25 pm

      *to

      Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      Get on it when you can! Winner.

      Reply
  14. EssentiallyJess says

    May 24, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    I love Dr Seuss. Will have to check this one out.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:36 pm

      Definitely!

      Reply
  15. Robyna | The Mummy & The Minx says

    May 25, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Oh how wonderful to have more Dr Suess to enjoy – will have to check this out.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 26, 2016 at 1:36 pm

      You certainly will! I hope they dig up some more stories from magazines. Love them.

      Reply
  16. Jo @ You had us at hello says

    May 26, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    Oh this looks like a must! We love Dr Suess 🙂 Next book on the list – thanks for the review Em x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 30, 2016 at 12:55 pm

      Pleasure! Enjoy the read.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Emily

I parent. I write. I blog. I play with words and numbers in my head. Constantly. It's crowded in there.

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