2.+The+King's+Stilts


 * Seuss, Dr. (1939). //The king’s stilts.// New York: Random House.**

The story is set in the Kingdom of Binn, a country situated below water level and surrounded by a body of water. The only defense against flooding is the Dike Trees that line the shore and hold back the water. There is, of course a threat, to the trees: birds called Nizzards love to eat the roots of the trees. King Birtram organized a group of Patrol Cats that chase the birds away so the Nizzards do not kill the trees and flood the kingdom. The king worked very hard (when he worked) and played very hard (after he completed his work) by walking around the kingdom on his red stilts. Lord Droon, believed this was not dignified and stole the stilts. The king became depressed with only work and no play, and the patrol cats became lazy without the attention and encouragement of the king. The Nizzards attacked the tree roots placing everyone in the kingdom in danger. The Kingdom of Binn was saved when Eric the page boy ingeniously restored the stilts to the king who in turn recovered from his depression and energized the Patrol Cats to run off the Nizzards - but for how long? There are strong ecological themes in the book that make it particularly applicable to the science curriculum.
 * Synopsis **