How the Grinch Stole Christmas

When Dr. Seuss penned his holiday favorite, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” one wonders if he had an idea of the icon he had just created. Today, nearly every adult and child has heard the story of this creature whose heart was changed by the faith and joy of the little who’s down in Whoville. Whether you prefer the old animated version of this story on television, the newer cinematic viewing of the tale starring Jim Carrey, or simply relish the idea of curling up in front of a fire with the book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a seasonal favorite to be sure.

Dr. Seuss was 53 when he wrote “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in 1957, the same decade in which he saw success with other children’s classics, such as “The Cat in the Hat” and “If I ran the Circus.” This is one of the first books by Dr. Seuss that does not use any made up words for the sake of rhyming to the previous lines. The pictures are simple ink drawings, and the only colors that are used throughout the book are black, red and the pink of the Grinch’s eyes. This classic story has been translated into numerous languages, including Latin, and has been loved by children across the globe for generations.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” comes to the Big Screen
In November of 2000, the Grinch came to the big screen, in a movie version of the tale that starred Jim Carrey and was directed by Ron Howard. The grinch suit that Carrey wears throughout the film is actually covered in yak hairs that were dyed green and stitched on by hand – one at a time. This was the first film to feature so many characters in heavy makeup that created a variety of creatures since the Wizard of Oz came out in 1939. While “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” cost over 115 million dollars to create, it turned out to be the box office hit of the season as the top-selling movie in the year 2000. The film was fairly true to the original, literary version of the story.

Whether you decide to enjoy the Grinch in print, on television or with a DVD, this holiday classic has become a mainstay in many homes today. You can still find copies of the book, television special and movie at many stores and on the Internet. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the season with your family.

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