Degrees of Affection

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

I love Dr. Seuss.

Okay, it's not much of a secret. My mother had his ABC book memorized (and she proved it by reciting it word for word from memory during a car ride at night when I was fussy - I was like two, I think) and I'll read any of his from The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins to On Beyond Zebra. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is another of my favorites.

But these two have a special place in my heart. I've given copies of Oh, The Places You'll Go! to graduates and it has always spoken to me. The Lorax, though it is one of two of his books that end basically depressingly (The Butter Battle Book is the other), also is one I read over and over again.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!, is read by John Lithgow and while he might not be my favorite actor, he does a BRILLIANT job here! He preforms these words, infusing them with a celebratory and profound air. Accompanied with trumpets and sound effects, his voice seems to all but carry you to those places itself!

- 5 Stars

The Lorax...should have been first. While the narration was decent and his voice seemed to be at times as gloomy as the landscape must be, this book is read - not preformed and yes there is a difference - and not terribly brilliantly. The only time I really liked it was at the end, Danson reads the Lorax leaving with such sorrow and the text surrounding the world Unless! with such hope, it was almost worth the rest of the meh.

- 3 Stars