When it comes to short stories, I am not an expert on how to rate the book because sometimes there are stories that you fall in love with the characters and the plot whereas others feel like nails on the chalkboard. I do not have wide range of favorite short stories so you can imagine I was a bit apprehensive when reading this book especially since this is a children's book. Rest to be sure I really enjoyed this book and it feature real-life animals which isn't typical Dr. Seuss to showcase espe

When it comes to short stories, I am not an expert on how to rate the book because sometimes there are stories that you fall in love with the characters and the plot whereas others feel like nails on the chalkboard. I do not have wide range of favorite short stories so you can imagine I was a bit apprehensive when reading this book especially since this is a children's book. Rest to be sure I really enjoyed this book and it feature real-life animals which isn't typical Dr. Seuss to showcase especially since his imagination has no limits. I will be rating this book by the individual stories.



Yertle the Turtle : 5 Stars



I really loved this story because it showcases the story that people can relate to in real life especially very selfish people. Yertle the Turtle is the King of this miniature pond and he doesn't that theres barely any area to rule as King so he decides to make his throne bigger by stacking turtles on top of each other and for him to sit at the top. When he does that he gets a bigger view of the world around him and definitely wants a bigger view. So he keeps adding turtles without considering others and one of turtles name Mack tells the King that everyone is exhausted and that their shells are bound to crack.



Yertle tells him to shut up and obey orders until Mack has enough. He burps and makes the King tumble down where he is now King of the mud while the other turtles laugh at him. For me the message that I discover is that you are not the center of everyones world. If you ask for help do not take advantage of those who are helping you and be thankful with what you have in your life.



Gertrude McFuzz : 4.5 Stars



I enjoyed this short story but the reason why I didn't love it like the others is because the plot is typical and has been used so many times in our history. Gertrude McFuzz is a bird who has one short feather and everything was completely fine until another bird name Lolla-Lee-Lou who has two very long beautiful feathers. Gertrude McFuzz gets jealous and wants to grow longer and more hair to make Lolla jealous. Gertrude succeeds the mission of growing more feathers but the consequence is she became excessive about growing them.



She discovered this pill-berry vine and each time you eat a pill, you grow more feathers and longer and unfortunately she took too much of the pill and feather became so long and heavy that she was unable to fly. In the end the other birds help her fly back home where they remove everything except the original feather. I honestly believe that even though each story is different, the messages are extremely similar in terms of being excessive and not knowing your limits.



The Big Brag : 5 Stars



I do not know about this particular book but as I was reading this it gave me this feeling like I was reading an episode of Looney Tunes. I wouldn't be surprise if Dr. Seuss got the inspiration from Looney Tunes because every short story of this book features real life animals. We are introduce to mischievous rabbit who believes he is the best animal in the world (Does that sound familiar?) until a bear comes and challenges him. The rabbit has the ability to hear from far distance but the bear can smell farther than him.



Then amongst the battle that was erupting, a worm appeared and told them that he can see farther than both of them and wins. I love the message that no matter how talented or great someone can be there is always someone else who is more talented, stronger, better looking than you. I learn that message early on in my life especially in music and discovered that no matter how talented someone can be there is something unique inside of you that they cannot replicate or beat.