VOA文化艺术2023--The Grinch Is Back with a New Christmas Story

The Grinch Is Back with a New Christmas Story

One year has passed since the Grinch stole Christmas from the town of Whoville. Now, the green creature is back in a follow-up book called How the Grinch Lost Christmas!

And he wants to prove to the Whos of Whoville that he has changed.

The Grinch is a character from the 1957 children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. In that story, the Grinch tries to ruin Whoville's Christmas by stealing their gifts, ornaments¹ and food. But later he learns that the holiday is about spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Seuss's book sold millions of copies and was translated into several languages. The story has been turned into a television program, two movies and even a Broadway musical.

Random³ House, the book's publisher, said in a statement, "One of the most asked questions we receive from Seuss fans of all ages is 'What do you think happened to the Grinch after he stole Christmas?'"

So, the decision was made to write a new book to follow up on the story.

The new book, How the Grinch Lost Christmas!, starts a year later in Whoville. The Grinch wants to prove that his heart has grown to love the holiday.

The Grinch had been patiently waiting all year,

To celebrate Christmas and bring the Whos cheer,

And to show every Who he was DIFFERENT now.

"I've changed!" thought the Grinch,

"And I'll prove it! But HOW?"

So, the Grinch tries to win a Whoville's Christmas award by making the largest and the best Christmas tree the Whos have ever seen.

But, things do not go as planned. Young Cindy-Lou Who wins the contest. The Grinch is shocked and his heart turns ice cold. The green creature threatens to leave Whoville for real this time. Cindy-Lou reaches out and tells the Grinch that her tree has ornaments from everyone in Whoville except one. In the end, the Grinch returns with an ornament² for Cindy-Lou and regains⁴ his spirit of giving.

Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, died in 1991. So, Alastair Heim, who has worked on several Dr. Seuss' books, wrote the new story. And Aristides Ruiz provided⁵ the illustrations⁶.

Heim told The Associated Press in an email last February, "All throughout writing the story, I couldn't fully⁷ believe that I was actually getting to play in the amazing creative sandbox Dr. Seuss created all those decades ago."

Ruiz said he jumped at the chance to draw for the book. But he said the work on the new book was "difficult" because it is such a big part of the Christmas tradition in the United States.

Words in This Story

character - n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie or show

ornament - n. a small object that are hung on Christmas Tree

translate - v. to change words from one language to another language

1 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

3 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

4 regains   

复得( regain的第三人称单数 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• It will take a lot of repair work before the theatre regains its former splendour. 要想剧院重拾昔日的辉煌，必须进行大规模整修。
• He lays down the book and regains the consciousness. 他惊悸初定，掩卷细思。

5 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

6 illustrations   

n.插图( illustration的名词复数 )；图表；例证；说明

参考例句：

• The otherwise dreary book is enlivened by some very amusing illustrations. 这本枯燥乏味的书幸亏加了一些精彩的插图才变得生动有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The illustrations were cleverly tied in with the text. 插图与本文配合得很巧妙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。