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Editorial Review:
In this book, featuring three timeless fables, Dr Seuss explores the pitfalls of growing too big for your boots. The text is a "Yellow Back Book", which means that it is suitable for fluent readers aged five and over to enjoy on their own, or for reading aloud to younger children.
Description of Yertle the Turtle (Unabridged):
Yet more wisdom cast down from high atop Mt. Seuss, this cheerful trio of tales teaches some valuable lessons in humility--thanks to a sharp-eyed worm, a bragging bear and rabbit, a fuzzy-tailed bird, and a couple hundred turtles led by their foolish King Yertle.
Yertle's story leads off with his attempt to build a bigger kingdom on the backs of his loyal subjects (literally). King of everything he can see, Yertle orders his turtles to stack up under him to build a towering throne. ("He made each turtle stand on another one's back and he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.") But a plain little turtle named Mack--stuck at the bottom--decides he's had enough. ("I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down on the bottom we, too, should have rights!")
Following Yertle's downfall, a whiny girl-bird named Gertrude McFuzz wishes she had two feathers, just like Miss Lolla-Lee-Lou: "One droopy-droop feather. That's all that she had. And, oh! That one feather made Gertrude so sad." But even when Gertrude gets her wish--and then some--she finds that vanity has its price. Meanwhile, in "The Big Brag," a proud rabbit and an even-prouder bear duke it out in a battle of the senses, arguing over who's the best of the beasts, only to get their clever comeuppance from a wild-eyed little worm. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
Yertle the Turtle (Unabridged) Reviews:
Children's Classic 
2008-10-25 - I can't emphasize how good the three stories within this book are. Not only do they entertain my 4 year old (we read this book almost every night) but I can't wait to read this book as well. All three stories share a theme - arrogance, jealousy, and ignorance are all for not. Entertaining both visually and verbally - a must have for your child's collection.
One of Seuss' Best - a review of "Yertle the Turtle"
2008-10-19 - Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories is amongst Seuss' best works. The stories are poignant. They are all great Read-a-Louds, and they have great rhymes.
The first of the three stories is Yertle the Turtle. It's about a king turtle that decides that his pond is not kingdom enough. He orders his subjects -- other turtles -- to stack themselves so that he can see further; his assumption being that he is the king of all he surveys.
It's actually very amusing to see how many ways there are to interpret this story. A quick trip over to Amazon.com will show you that people view Yertle as everything from simple bossy-boots, to a stand in for Hitler or Stalin. And far be it for me to argue that they aren't correct. And, in fact, this is the power of this story. That it can be understood from different perspectives, so that children can 'grow into' various interpretations.
Personally, my first thought was that Yertle was like the British Aristocracy, while the lowly turtle Mac (at the bottom of the stack) was the American Colonies.
The second story is "Gertrude McFuzz". Gertrude is a bird that is suffering from jealousy. She sees La-La Lee Lou and wants a grand tale like her. In the end though, she comes to appreciate what she has.
The final story continues with the theme of humility and is entitled, "The Big Brag".
The Accelerated Reading designation for this book is 3.3 which means that your average 3rd Grader in the 3rd month of school should be able to read this book themselves without getting too frustrated by words they don't know. [The book can be read to any age, of course.]
The "official" Interest Level is given as Preschool thru 2nd Grade. I, personally, disagree and think this makes no sense given the reading designation, and would suggest Preschool on thru fourth grade.
Meant for practice reading, Seuss tried to include useful messages when he could. The ones in this books are particularly useful and deal with consideration, jealousy, and bragging.
Highly recommended.
Pam T~
Dr. Suess rocks
2008-07-01 - he's one excellant teacher. This is a great book to read at nap, bedtime, or anytime. It also teaches good lessons in a fun way.
An excellent lesson in life
2008-03-27 - I recently read this book to my grandchildren. As I was reading it, I realized that the book described a situation that was occurring in my own career. The more I read, the bigger my smile became. I realized that I was Mack and my co-worker was Yertle. As I finished the book, I told my grandsons that this was by far and away my favorite Dr. Seuss book. They asked why and I told them that sometimes in life, people seeking more and more power and greed will try to step on you and it's up to you to stand up for yourself.
Great book, great morale to the story.
Yertle is still fresh after all these years
2008-03-07 - I remember this one only vaguely from childhood. But when a friend loaned it to us recently, I had to buy our own copy.
There are three stories inside:
Yertle the Turtle -- be considerate
(something about Gertie's tail feather) -- be content
The Big Brag -- be humble
(sorry I can't remember the name of the second one -- the book is tucked away in the slumbering bedroom and I am NOT going in there to check it)
The morals of the stories are accessible at the kindergarten level -- and nice reminders for adults too.
The rhyming and meter, as always with Dr. Seuss, are great. Just perfect for reading out loud. Easy for the kids to memorize the lines, too.
This one deserves a spot next to Green Eggs and Ham and all the rest.
