Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose facts for kids
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| Author | Dr. Seuss |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Random House |
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Publication date
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1948 (renewed 1975) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 41 pages |
| ISBN | 0-394-90086-3 |
| OCLC | 1386296 |
| Preceded by | McElligot's Pool |
| Followed by | Bartholomew and the Oobleck |
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose is a classic children's book written by Dr. Seuss. It was first published in 1948. The story teaches us about kindness, but also about when it's okay to say no.
What is Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose About?
Thidwick is a kind moose who lives with about sixty other moose. They eat special 'moose-moss' near Lake Winna-Bango. One day, a tiny bug asks Thidwick if it can ride on his antlers. Thidwick, being very kind, says yes. But the bug isn't so kind back! It decides to live on Thidwick's antlers forever. Then, it invites many other animals to join it.
Thidwick is so kind that he lets all these animals stay. He thinks of them as his "guests." But these guests are not polite at all. They are selfish and don't care about Thidwick. The situation quickly gets out of control. One of the guests, a woodpecker, even starts drilling holes in Thidwick's antlers!
The other moose in Thidwick's herd get upset. They tell Thidwick he must get rid of his guests. If he doesn't, he will have to leave the herd. Thidwick feels he must be kind to his guests, even if it means leaving his friends. So, his herd swims across the lake to find more food, leaving Thidwick behind.
Winter arrives, and Thidwick wants to cross the lake too. But his guests refuse! They say he can't move "their home" to the other side. Thidwick is starving and cold, but he still won't go against his guests' wishes. Meanwhile, the animals on his antlers keep inviting more creatures. This includes a very heavy black bear! Thidwick is carrying a huge, heavy load, both physically and emotionally.
The Chase and a Clever Escape
The story gets exciting when a group of hunters spot Thidwick. They want to shoot him and display his head and antlers as a trophy. Thidwick tries to run away, but his heavy load of guests slows him down. He can't escape because his guests wouldn't let him cross the lake earlier.
Just when the hunters are about to catch him, Thidwick remembers something important! It's the time of year when moose naturally shed their antlers. At the very last moment, Thidwick drops his antlers. He makes a quick, smart comment to his selfish guests. Then, he swims across the lake to rejoin his herd, finally free!
What happens to the rude guests? They are still on Thidwick's antlers when the hunters find them. The hunters take the antlers with all the animals still on them. They are then prepared and displayed as trophies in a building in New York City. Thidwick's kindness is rewarded in the end, and his selfish guests get what they deserve.
Other Versions of the Story
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose has been made into animated films:
- Welcome is a Soviet animated film from 1986.
- A direct-to-video short film called Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose was released in 1992. It came out after the film Horton Hears a Who!.
