THIDWICK THE BIG HEARTED MOOSE,

by Theodore S. Geisel '25. Random House,1948, 40 p.

The unbelievably incredible animals, bugs and birds of Dr. Seuss continue their varied lives in his new book. Thidwick, whose heart is bigger than his horns, finds that he has gradually accumulated a strange collection of creatures, posing as his guests but who are treating him as an apartment house and who expect his life to be run for their convenience. The story tells how they came to lodge in Thidwick's horns, and the final mad chase which saves the moose while his guests end up, of all places, in the Harvard Club. Was your tongue in your cheek, Dr. Seuss? The moral is not to let your sense of hospitality run away with you, and to be a considerate guest when you are one. It is a good book to leave casually in the guest room, hoping that the merry rhymes and fanciful pictures will sugar coat the hint.

The smooth-flowing verses are as neatly done as ever, but the illustrations lack some of the charming details of the earlier books. There are none in full color which is a pity. Anyone not an ardent admirer of Dr. Seuss would be completely happy with Thidwick. To the latter group, a certain sparkle and brilliance is missing. None the less, the book is not to be brushed aside; it just isn't the best he can do.