What is How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

Dr. Seuss, a pen name for Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, wrote and illustrated the children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which was published Random House in 1957. It was his thirteenth book for children. Halloween is Grinch Night and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat are two other Seuss books that feature The Grinch.

The Grinch, a peculiar green loner with a heart that is “two sizes too small,” tries to keep the usual bustle and noise of Christmas in the neartown of Whoville from disturbing his peace stealing all of the Whos’ presents. He transforms himself into an anti-Santa Claus with a sleigh and a dog-cum-reindeer, which is actually Max with a sawed off antler tied to his head, forcing his devoted dog, Max, into service.

On Christmas Eve, he goes down to the village and steals not only all of the Christmas decorations, presents, and food, but also all of the food in their homes, leaving only a crumb small enough to entice a mouse. When a small Who wakes up and confronts him, he lies to her, gives her some water, and returns her to her bed.

He has Max drag the sleigh to the top of Mount Crumpit, where he is about to dump the entire cargo when he hears the Whos singing the same song they always sing on Christmas.

The Grinch has an epiphany as a result of this. He realizes he hasn’t prevented Christmas from arriving, and he has a sudden epiphany about the true meaning of Christmas, only to be confronted with the teetering load of belongings about to fall off the mountain. After being befriended the Whos, he rescues the sled, returns the presents, trimmings, and food, and presides over the Christmas feast with a heroic effort—either made possible or causing his hear to enlarge three sizes.

Several modifications were made as a result. Chuck Jones turned the book into an animated film in 1966. Boris Karloff narrated the story, which is frequently broadcast on network television in the United States several weeks before Christmas. Zero Mostel narrated a long-playing record version in 1975. In 1998, a musical adaptation premiered in San Diego and went on to Broadway. A live-action film adaptation starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch was released in 2001.