The Lorax: by Dr. Seuss

Interestingly, tomorrow is Earth Day- a day in which people all around the globe take time to focus on environment issues and take proper actions, such as planting trees, recycling and picking up trash, in an effort to protect our environment and keep it clean. What a wonderful book to read and enjoy as a reminder of our duty to keep our environment healthy for everyone! While this book was published in 1971, ecological issues are still a major focus today. For example, there is currently an big initiative to "Go Green" to make the Earth a better place to live. For example, Western Kentucky University is taking part in this "green" action by changing hard copy tuition bills normally sent by mail to students' bills being sent via the Internet.
In The Lorax, Dr. Seuss clearly sends a serious didactic message to readers of the important responsibility of taking care of the environment, while also cleverly remaining true to his powerful rhyming schemes and vivid imagination. He does a fascinating job showing the progression of a beautiful and lively environment to an unattractive, desolate, and unhealthy atmosphere as the Once-ler arrives and destroys the peaceful and healthy environment. This book has a brilliant storyline with very interesting characters. Furthermore, Dr. Seuss's colorful description of how chopping down trees and polluting the air and water can cause a chain reaction of harmful affects at all levels of nature. At the end of the story, after many years, the Once-ler has a complete change of heart and sends the child in the story a message that it is up to people like him to make the world a better place to live. The Once-ler then gives the boy the last Truffula seed to plant and offers him specific instructions to care for it by providing it water, fresh air, and protection from axes.
I do believe there are didactic stories that are published today. There are countless children's books on topics such as environmental issues, challenges of family life, having new experiences, and growing up and dealing with emotions and bullying, that can lend themselves to have themes behind the stories and subtly teach children important lessons through entertainment and even humor.