Post Originally Written on March 2, 2010
Today is the NEA’s Read Across America Day which is aligned with the birthday of the great children’s author Dr. Seuss. When I worked at Saturn, the company used to celebrate this day in partnership with teachers across the United States. Reading events would be held, classroom materials would be provided, and everyone would promote the importance of reading during the month of March. This year, Saturn isn’t there to lend a hand and support. However, as a proud Saturn “graduate” I want to do what I can here to remind One Shade Greener followers of the importance of the day.
While probably not a surprise to many, my recommended Dr. Seuss book for the day is The Lorax. Dr. Seuss published this book back in 1971 and over the years there has been controversy. For those who have not read the book, the story is basically about cutting down trees. The Lorax is the “voice of the trees” because they don’t have a voice of their own. Some have felt that the perspective in the book is too extreme. In fact, in the 1980s, the Forestry Service even wrote a counter-story called the Truax.
My assessment is that the book is taken a bit to literally by some. For me, the message is less about taking an extreme point of view and more about raising an awareness of the choices we make and how those choices effect the world around us. I believe that now is the time for us to really absorb the message Dr. Seuss was sending. Here are my favorite lines from the story:
“But now,” says the Once-ler,
“Now that you’re here,
the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear.
UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
Each of us, as individuals and as companies, have the power to make decisions that will make things better – less waste sent to landfills, cleaner air, protection of our natural resources, etc. This is an opportunity to rethink and reinvent the way we have been doing things. Innovations that can save and conserve, yet still meet our needs. Examples of these innovations are showing up today from large companies like Wal-Mart, Nike, Starbucks, and more. When you think of your personal choices today – at home and at work – what could you do to reinvent in a way that is just as effective, but gentler on our resources?
For educators, Dr. Seuss Enterprises has put together a program called “The Lorax Project” for Earth Day 2010. They created a website http://www.seussville.com/lorax/ that has book discussion guides and activities for the classroom.
In honor of Dr. Seuss, I recommend picking up the Lorax today. Read it to a child in your life, celebrate the joy of reading with them, and have a conversation about what the book means to you.