How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

by Louise Gikow

Here is a digest-size novelization of the hip, live-action hit movie of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! , starring the one and only Jim Carrey as the Grinch.

The movie script goes beyond the events of the stolen Christmas, all the way back to the beginning in Who-ville--where the Grinch grew up--and explains how and why he came to hate Christmas so much that, finally, one year, he had to stop it from coming. Told in the first-person voice of the Grinch himself, this is rib-ticklingly funny, irreverent, and ultimately touching. This is the movie--and the movie tie-in--of the holiday season.

An eight-page full-color photo insert is included.

Genres: Christmas, Childrens

118 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2000

Reviews

[Brandon Kazimir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a step above the other movie-based chapter books I've read this year. The whole thing is narrated in first person by The Grinch, which gives the narration a lot more character and flavor. Although, it does make little sense how The Grinch has this omnipresent ability to narrate scenes that he's not in (he did end up acknowledging this at one point). I was also impressed by the level of vocabulary found in here, which The Grinch also encourages readers to look up when dropping a difficult word (I found and looked up the word "puttee" after encountering it in this book and finally realized what those things were called that World War I soldiers wore on their boots). I do wonder if I might have already read this as a kid, as the cover looked a bit a familiar and I know I read movie-based chapter books a lot as a kid, but I'm glad I read it again if so!

[J.B. Mathias · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was pretty sloppy, the author drifts in and out of the notion it is being narrated by the Grinch...which doesn't really make sense because half the story being retold... the Grinch was not there for.

The jokes and comic style of the film fall flat in this format without the delivery of Jim Carey to sell them and without the visual gag element the story seems a lot less fun in writing.

That being said I still really enjoy the story and they must have been working from an earlier script because there are some scenes in the book that were not in the movie. Those alone made this an interesting read.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the movie. Quotes left and right that made me laugh out loud. Quick read. LOVE IT

[Pooja Banga · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's good than reading this during Christmas week !

[Mrs Paula Yvette Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love How the Grinch stole Christmas! It was my all time Christmas favourite, I was scared of him when I was seven years old but after I watch the whole I find out he was funny and I'm not scared anymore. And I would really want that book for this Christmas season. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[Navya Chopra · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very wacky version of the beloved classic.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son remmembered the movie. I could hold him listening to all texts. Still he managed to open and close the pictures using his fingers since it was a ebook.

[Briony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the novel adaptation of the film and not the original Seuss classic, so this means that the tale does loose some of its quirky charm but is easier to understand. This adaptation literally offers you the film in words, quoting the move directly at times. In parts the story does seem rushed and much of the comedy seen on screen is lost in this word translation. However, being told from the Grinch's perspective does redeem some of this comedy at times and being so closely linked to film it is very easy to visualise the action spoken about on the page in one’s mind.

This is definitely a good book to read out loud to children, especially around the festive period. The story promotes the message of Christmas being as much about love and the family as it about toys and presents. However, I do recommend some parental guidance before reading due to certain language used.

Overall a festive novel to get you in the mood for perhaps the film and certainly the Christmas season!

[✨Jinglemarco✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago I was eager to find How the Grinch stole Christmas retellings, like those were a real thing. I mean, the Dr. Seuss' tale is a classic, but not really an ancient old fairy tale, but then again I wanted more of Cindy Lou Who! And this year I read the original book and this movie novelization. So, now I can say: this is a How the Grinch stole Christmas retelling!
The differences are subtle yet obvious: the Grinch character is more complex because of his backstory, Cindy-Lou is more involved, and here a consumerism is hovering, unlike in the original story, where only the Grinch had an epiphany at the end!
I really love Cindy-Lou Who and Whoville! :)

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it!
It added some things that were not in the movie which I liked and some I didn't. Sadly it messes up a lot of hilroious quotes from the film. I loved the ending though, very funny and kind of uneggspected!

Happy Christmas and Merry Easter! After all we have to start planning Easter right after New Years!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute novelization of the book/movie. This book follows the movie exactly and has a few pictures throughout. I love the movie so this book was a really fun, quick read. It's told from the Grinch's perspective, but we don't really get anything more than what you see in the movie.

UPON REREAD:
Something felt weird about the writing. This definitely works better as a movie.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book is realy good .it is a very hart warming story. i read it i almost cried the grinch lerns a lesson on how to me thankful for what you have and be a good person if anything goes worng if you like hart wraming storys you will like this book.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in about a day or so when I was at a young age. It follows close to the classic tale of the Grinch. It's a cute story for those younger to pick up and give it a read.

[Eldon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't expect much so I wasn't too disappointed.