Horton Hears a Who! is a children's book written and illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel under the pen name Dr. Seuss. It was published in 1954 by Random House. This book tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his treacherous adventures saving Whoville, a tiny planet located on a small speck of dust, from the evil animals who mock him. These animals attempt to steal and burn the speck of dust so Horton goes to great lengths to save Whoville from being incinerated. The book is written in the typical Dr. Seuss rhyme pattern. "A person's a person, no matter how small" is the most popular line from Horton Hears a Who! and also serves as the major moral theme that Dr. Seuss conveys to his audience. Horton endures harassment to ensure the safety and care for the Whos who represent the insignificant. Horton Hears a Who! has been well-received in libraries, schools, and homes across the world. The book has been adapted as a 1970 television special and a 2008 animated film, and much of its plot was incorporated into the Broadway musical production Seussical.
Background
Geisel began work on Horton Hears a Who! in the fall of 1953. It is his second book to feature Horton the Elephant with the first being Horton Hatches the Egg. The Whos would later reappear in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The book's main theme, "a person's a person no matter how small", was Geisel's reaction to his visit to Japan, where the importance of the individual was an exciting new concept. Geisel, who had harbored strong anti-Japan sentiments before and during World War II, changed his views dramatically after the war and used this book as an allegory for the American post-war occupation of the country. His comparison of the Whos and the Japanese was a way for him to express his willingness for companionship. Geisel strived to relay the message that the Japanese should be valued equally especially in a stressful post-war era. He dedicated the book to a Japanese friend.
Plot
The book tells the story of Horton the Elephant, who, while splashing in a pool, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. Horton surmises that a small person lives on the speck and places it on a clover, vowing to protect it. He later discovers that the speck is actually a tiny planet, home to a community called Whoville, where microscopic creatures called Whos live. The Mayor of Whoville asks Horton to protect them from harm, which Horton happily agrees to, proclaiming throughout the book that "a person’s a person, no matter how small." Throughout the book, Horton is trying to convince the Jungle of Nool that "A person is a person no matter how small" and that everyone should be treated equally. In his mission to protect the speck, Horton is ridiculed and harassed by the other animals in the jungle for believing in something they can't see or hear. He is first criticized by the sour kangaroo and her joey. The splash they make as they jump into the pool almost reaches the speck, so Horton decides to find somewhere safer for it. But the news of his odd new behavior spreads quickly, and he is soon harassed by the Wickersham Brothers, a group of monkeys. They steal the clover from him and give it to Vlad Vladikoff, a black-bottomed eagle. Vlad flies the clover a long distance, with Horton in pursuit, until Vlad drops it into the middle of a field of clovers that stretches for hundreds of miles. After an extremely long search, Horton finally finds the clover with the speck on it. However, the Mayor informs him that Whoville, the town on the speck, is in bad shape from the fall, and Horton discovers that the sour kangaroo and the Wickersham Brothers have caught up to him. They tie Horton up and threaten to incinerate the speck in a pot of "Beezle-Nut" oil. To save Whoville, Horton implores the little people to make as much noise as they can, to prove their existence. So almost everyone in Whoville shouts, sings, and plays instruments, but still no one but Horton can hear them. So the Mayor searches Whoville until he finds a very small shirker named JoJo, who is playing with a yo-yo instead of making noise. The Mayor carries him to the top of Eiffelberg Tower, where Jojo lets out a loud "Yopp!", which finally makes the kangaroo and the monkeys hear the Whos. Now convinced of the Whos' existence, the other jungle animals vow to help Horton protect the tiny community.
Genre and style
Horton Hears a Who! is a fictional children's book. Similar to the majority of Dr. Seuss's books, he maintained his consistent rhyme scheme and appealing sketches in Horton Hears a Who! There are only four colors found in the book: black, white, orange, and blue. This is somewhat unconventional for Dr. Seuss whose books usually use a more energetic and expanded color scheme. Ultimately, it is his intricate and thoughtful rhymes along with his niche illustrations that define his work.
Publication history
Horton Hears a Who! was published on August 28, 1954, by Random House Children's Books which is a division of the publishing company Random House. There are four formats of the book that exist including a hardcopy version, a paperback version, an e-book version, and an audio version. There are several editions of the hardcopy version including a "Party Edition" and a 65th-anniversary edition. Dr. Seuss has sold hundreds of millions of copies in over thirty languages of his well-known children's books, which includes Horton Hears a Who! As of April 2020, Horton Hears a Who! is in the top 100 sellers in the "Children's Classics" category on Amazon.com.
Reception and analysis
Horton Hears a Who! is written in anapestic tetrameter, like many other Dr. Seuss books. Unlike some of his books, however, Horton contains a strong moral message—"a person's a person, no matter how small"—which Thomas Fensch identifies as "universal, multinational, multi-ethnic. In a word: Equality." Teachers and parents have used the phrase to teach younger readers that equality and care should be given to everyone regardless of size, stature, or any other factor. Horton's journey in saving Whoville allows for a restructuring of the social norm because it lets its audience know that anyone can make a difference, regardless if you think you have clout or standing. This Dr. Seuss children's book unites two polar opposite worlds through Horton’s determination, integrity, faithfulness, and bravery. Horton Hears a Who! has received praise for the moral message Dr. Seuss exemplifies through Horton the Elephant. A 2002 news article in the Santa Fe Reporter details comedic performer Susan Jayne Weiss saying, "Horton is the ultimate metaphor for believing in yourself, your mission and what you know to be true, against societal prescriptions to the contrary." Professor Witherington at the Asbury Theological Seminary applauds Dr. Seuss for his work in the characterization of Horton as the elephant fights to show the other animals that even the small people are people deserving of respect and love. Additionally, Witherington commended Dr. Seuss for his disdain for cynicism while proving that the imagination can solve life's troubles.
The story, along with Horton Hatches the Egg, also provides the basic plot for the 2000 Broadway musical Seussical with "the biggest blame fool in the jungle of Nool," Horton the Elephant, as the main protagonist. Seussical debuted on November 30, 2000, at the famed Richard Rodgers Theatre with high expectations. The music in the play was written by Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The show flopped and eventually closed six months later on May 20, 2001. Known as one of "Broadway's biggest losers," Seussical lost an estimated 11 million dollars. During its time on Broadway, Seussicals Kevin Chamberlin was nominated for one Tony Award.
Television special
Horton Hears a Who! was adapted into a half-hour animated TV special by MGM Animation/Visual Arts in 1970. It was directed by Chuck Jones, produced by Theodor Geisel, and narrated by Hans Conried, who also voiced Horton. The Sour Kangaroo's name is Jane while her son is named Junior. Horton's contact in Whoville was not the Mayor, but a scientist named Dr. Hoovie who was also voiced by Hans Conried. Jane was voiced by June Foray. Dr. Seuss was awarded a Peabody Award for the animated special Horton Hears a Who!
