In this paper, I will examine the visual and textual elements in “Horton Hears a Who!” by Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss, also known as Theodore Seuss Geisel, illustrated, wrote and then published “Horton Hears a Who!” as a children’s book in 1954. When reading “Horton Hears a Who!” as a child, I was captivated by this story and many other stories by Dr. Seuss because of their intriguing illustrations that caught my eye and rhymes which made the words flow so well. Little did I know at the time when I was a child that under the surface, there was a whole different meaning to the story. Looking through “Horton Hears a Who!” about twelve years later, I recognize that there are complex political and ideological themes deeply embedded into the storybook.
