For my story book presentation I decided to study Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss, which demonstrates a wild ride of events. It starts with Sam I am introducing himself, while the creature sits on his chair. Page 10 and 11 (picture from anthology) shows Sam I Am introducing the green eggs and ham to the creature, and asks “Do you like green eggs and ham?” The creature clearly does not; by the expression on his face which is a contrast of Sam I Am who is excited to share his food with the creature. The creature doesn’t even want to touch it as he keeps his arms and legs close to his body. The next page he stands and now the two are face to face. The creature puts a stop sign hand signal and says he does not like green eggs and ham. Sam I am does not take this answer seriously. He continues to bug the creature about eating the food he has. Sam I am comes up with all kinds of scenarios and asks, “Would you eat them…” in a house? With a mouse? In a box? With a box? Then the creature walks away. Sam I am follows him. “In a car? In a tree?” Then they drive off of a cliff and tree and land on a train. “On a train? In the dark? In the rain? With a goat? On a boat?” Finally the creature says, “Sam! If you let me be, I will try them. You will see.” He eats the green and eggs and ham and tells Sam I Am that he likes them. He likes them! After all that he ends up liking them. He says he will eat them ANYWHERE and thanks Sam I am!  

      In this book every page is full of life. You can see the motion in the pictures and you know what is happening in the story. It’s pretty simple. The words definitely match the pictures and the pictures don’t leave out any images that the words say. The pictures reiterate what the words are expressing with more detail. I like that the illustrations are simple enough that you can understand exactly what is happening without even reading the text. You can understand the relationship between Sam I am and the creature from beginning to end.

      The words are very important in this book and all of Dr. Seuss’ books. The same phrases and words repeat several times throughout the book, which I’ve learned is very important for children learning to read and learning concepts. It gives you a chunk of words and ideas on about 5 pages, and then repeats it. Then it gives you a new set of words and ideas, and then repeats it. At the very end of the book there are about two pages which repeats it all!  
 

Questions:

1.Although the pictures show exactly what is being said would it help the reader if the pictures were more detailed then they are and had more variety of color (colors beside orange, red, yellow, blue, and just a little green)?

 

2.I did some research about possible “deeper meaning and messages” of “Green Eggs and Ham.” Some people’s ideas were pretty twisted. What are some possible deeper meanings, innuendos, or moral lessons you could get from this story?

 

3.Explain the relationship between Sam I Am and the creature guy in your own words. What is the atmosphere and mood especially from the one picture you can find on page C15 of the anthology?