Horton the elephant had already proved
his worth as a loyal, persevering friend in Horton Hatches the Egg when
author and illustrator Theodore Geisel, best known as Dr. Seuss, wrote Horton
Hears a Who, published in 1954. While splashing in a pool in the Jungle of
Nool, Horton hears a yelp coming from a small speck of dust. When he learns
that not only is there a person there but a whole town called Who-ville,
Horton pledges to save them “Because, after all, a person’s a person, no matter
how small.” Pitted against the black-bottomed eagle Vlad Vlad-i-koff and the
Wickersham Brothers, Horton stands by the Mayor of Who-ville and his
community, exhorting them to make their presence known. “Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor!”
Horton calls. “Mr. Mayor! You’ve got to prove now that you really are there! So
call a big meeting. Get everyone out. Make every Who holler! Make every Who
shout!” Despite the hullabaloo they raise, the Whos need still more voices to
be heard when Jo-Jo, just bouncing his yo-yo, finally adds his Yopp, and “That
one, small extra Yopp put it over,” saving their community on that speck on
that clover. Readers readily understand that Horton stands by the little guys
and the little guys speak up loudly for themselves in this irresistible,
rhyming saga. Ages 5-9.
