Enduring all kinds of weather, suffering the mockery of his friends, standing up to hunters, surviving being carted off to a zoo and made a spectacle of, Horton remains faithful, keeping his word no matter what life throws at him. The story of the kindhearted Horton, imposed upon by that lazy Maizie bird, climbing up on to her egg to keep it warm, while she goes on a short 'vacation,' it features any number of challenges for the titular elephantine hero. This was a story read to me countless times as a young child, and then read by me countless times, once I gained the ability, and that refrain never fails to elicit a thrill of fellow-feeling and pride. An elephant's faithful / One hundred per cent!' to float up through my memory. I have but to see the cover of this classic picture-book about Horton the elephant for the words 'I meant what I said / And I said what I meant. Have you read Horton Hatches An Egg? Did you like it? love it? hate it? Do you prefer it to Horton Hears A Who? Or do you-like me-love both books almost equally? I'd love to hear your thoughts! ( ) Of course, it didn't take away the enjoyment of the story. I don't imagine that it is at all realistic for any species of bird.

I never noticed in my childhood HOW LONG Horton is sitting on that egg! At least three-if not all four seasons-go by! That is quite a LONG wait. She lies to him as well, promising that she'll only be gone for a short amount of time, she has every intention of coming back soon. She tricks the good-hearted Horton into sitting on her nest and hatching her egg. Mayzie is an incredibly selfish and lazy bird.

And again, we see those themes at work in Horton Hatches An Egg. His previous book, The King's Stilts, was about balancing work and play. I don't mind the lessons so much in either one of these! I'm not sure I could choose which Horton book I like best: Horton Hatches an Egg or Horton Hears a Who. What will happen when the egg hatches? Will Horton's steadfastness be rewarded? Because he always means what he says and says what he means. But.'an elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!' He said that he'd take care of the egg, and he will. So Horton, the elephant, steps in and does the job for her.

Plot/Premise: Mayzie does not want to hatch her own egg. If I could find someone, I'd fly away-free.' If I could find someone to stay on my nest!

Sighed Mayzie, a lazy bird hatching an egg:įrom sitting, just sitting here day after day.

Horton hatches a egg