Talking it Out… In Rhyme

Like many a Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who is pretty rhymetastic. The whole tale carries out in delightful rhyme, which is sure to make it a treat to read aloud to children. But the thing that sets the whole story apart from other Seuss books is just how conversational it is: the characters always seem be talking… even if they're just calling each other crazy.

For example, Horton is always talking to the Mayor of Who-ville, even though the other characters in the book can't hear the Whos.

"Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor!" Horton called. (144)

He understands the importance of speaking and making yourself heard, and he's going to use his voice even when he's tied up by the Wickersham clan. Even caged in, he can still make a difference for his friends with that voice of his.

And when the Mayor finally finds the little Who who isn't speaking up, he gives him quite a nice speech about how he should participate in all the yelling and screaming:

"This," cried the Mayor, "Is your town's darkest hour!" (205)

This is a book in which words—and saying them aloud—really do matter.