Guide Note

The Lorax is a children's book by Dr. Seuss that addresses environmental issues.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Dr. Seuss
2. Genre: children's
3. Publication Date: 1971
4. Publisher: Random House
5. ISBN: 0394823370
6. Adaptations: Was adapted to an animated TV Special in 1972
7. Has become a popular metaphor when speaking of industries and their affect on the environment
8. Was featured in the album artwork of Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire

The Lorax is narrated by the Once-ler as he talks to a small boy about the events of their town. He explains that he once ran a lucrative business by chopping down the truffula trees and manufacturing thneeds, a popular clothing article. The Lorax appeared and warned the Once-ler against destroying too many of the trees was ignored because the thneeds were selling well. Eventually all of the trees had been cut down, the business was no longer profitable and the town was polluted and deserted. The narrator ends the story by giving the boy a truffula seed and instructs him to plant a new forest, so that one day the wildlife and the Lorax may return.

The Lorax was heralded for it's conservationist message and even inspired a book in response from the logging industry entitled The Truax. The Truax mimicked the style of The Lorax but stressed the efforts of industry leaders to re-seed and place priority on sustainability.