Grinch lovers get ready for your heart to grow three sizes more because a sequel to the beloved children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” will be released this holiday season, nearly 70 years after its original publication.
The new book, titled “How the Grinch Lost Christmas!”, follows up on the story one year later and aims to teach children about the true spirit of the holiday season.
The original book has sold nearly 10 million copies in North America alone and has been translated into many languages. It has also been adapted into multiple movies and television specials, including a 1966 animated TV special, a 2000 live-action movie starring Jim Carrey, and a 2018 computer-animated film with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch.
The new book is not based on a previously unpublished manuscript by Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel. Instead, it was written and illustrated by author Alastair Heim and artist Aristides Ruiz, both of whom have experience in the Dr. Seuss universe–Heim has written Seuss-themed books like “If I Ran Your School” and “I Am the Cat in the Hat.” Ruiz has illustrated the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library books for more than two decades.
“How the Grinch Lost Christmas!” was inspired by one of the most frequently asked questions that Seuss fans of all ages ask: “What happened to the Grinch after he stole Christmas?” said Alice Jonaitis, executive editor at Random House Children’s Books.
Scheduled for release on September 5, the sequel was a daunting responsibility for the author and illustrator, however Alastair Heim said that working on the Grinch sequel was an incredible opportunity to play in the creative sandbox that Dr. Seuss built. Aristides Ruiz found it daunting to add to such a beloved part of Christmas culture, but both artists rose to the challenge.
In the original book, the Grinch attempted to ruin Christmas for the people of Who-ville by stealing all the material trappings and sumptuous food of the holiday. However, after he witnessed the Whos celebrating the holiday with family and friends, he had a change of heart and realized that Christmas was about more than just presents and feasting. The sequel features the Grinch attempting to win Who-ville’s Christmas Crown by creating the most impressive Christmas tree ever seen, but things don’t go as planned. The Grinch reverts to his old ways until his friend Cindy-Lou Who reminds him of the true meaning of Christmas.
Despite criticism of some of his work in recent years due to racist imagery in books such as “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo” Dr. Seuss remains popular. He authored dozens of books, including “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat.” Forbes magazine ranked him eighth on a 2022 list of the highest-paid dead celebrities, with US$32 million in earnings.
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