Every Who down in Whoville loves Christmas, but the Grinch hated the Whos and their Christmas celebrations, especially the noise and singing. So the Grinch devises a wicked plan to steal all the Christmas decorations and presents and food from every house, hoping it will ruin Christmas for the town. The Grinch dresses his dog like a reindeer and himself like Santa, sneaking and slinking around town like a thief. But something happens that the Grinch did not expect. 

A perfect classic children’s Christmas story about gratitude and the enduring Christmas spirit that cannot be quenched, “so long as we have hands to clasp, heart to heart and hand in hand.”

Perfect for ages 2-8 years (and adult kids too).

Red Velvet Grinch Cupcakes with Green Vanilla Frosting

(If you prefer vanilla cupcakes instead as pictured, you can find that recipe under the book P.S. I Love You, and just leave out the strawberry jam)

Cupcake ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-2 oz. red food coloring more or less depending on how deep you want the color
• 1/2 cup plain hot coffee prepared 
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar 

Green vanilla frosting ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (4 oz, 1 stick) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
• 3 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6-8 drops green food coloring (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, salt, and sugar on medium-high speed. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and baking soda. To the mixer, slowly add the buttermilk and vanilla extract on low speed. Then add the dry ingredients on low speed until combined and red food coloring. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the mixer when stopped so all ingredients combine fully. Add the eggs and coffee and mix until just combined.
2. Bake in a preheated oven for 17-20 minutes, turning halfway. A toothpick can be used to test the center of the cupcakes for doneness. If it comes out clean or with crumbs, the cupcakes are done.
3. For the frosting, whip up the butter on medium speed until soft. Stop the mixer and add all other ingredients. Mix on low until powdered sugar disappears, then mix on medium for about a minute. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the mixer when stopped so all ingredients combine fully.
4. Pipe using whatever fun tips you’d like to look like Grinch fur. I used an XL round to create swirls, then I used a tip with a series of tiny thin holes (like used to pipe grass or fur) to make the Grinch’s fur, starting from the top down very slowly. Top with a tiny red heart.

Discussion Questions

1. What were some of the possible reasons why the Grinch hated Christmas?
2. What would the Whos feast on?
3. Standing close together and holding hands, with Christmas bells ringing, what would the Whos do?
4. How many years had the Grinch put up with Christmas?
5. What was the Grinch’s awful, wonderful, awful idea?
6. What did the Grinch use for a reindeer?
7. What were the first things to go in the first house?
8. How many of the presents and decorations did the Grinch take?
9. What did he grab out of the icebox (and what is an icebox)?

(optional extra research: Look up where the icebox got its name from)

10. Who woke up and saw the Grinch taking the Christmas tree?
11. What lie did he tell her and why is lying a bad choice?
12. What was the name of the mountain and how high up did the Grinch take everything?
13. What did the Grinch expect the Whos to do on Christmas morning?
14. What did they do instead?
15. Where does Christmas not come from? 
16. What did the Grinch mean that “Christmas perhaps means a little bit more”?
17. Then what happened to the Grinch’s heart? (for older kids, How is this a metaphor?)
18. What thing did the Grinch do at the feast?
19. If you woke up with no presents on Christmas morning, what would your reaction be and why? 
20. How can you be more merry like the Whos at Christmas?

Optional Craft: Grinch ornament

• Clear round ornaments
• Green tissue paper or beads or glitter or feathers
• Red paint or marker or red hearts cut from construction paper 
• Red or red and white or green ribbon or string

Fill the ornaments with the green tissue paper or feathers or glitter or beads. Top with the accompanying topper and seal shut. To the front of the filled ornament, tape a red construction paper heart or draw one in marker or paint, or with glue and red glitter. Allow to dry completely. Cut several inches of ribbon and twist into a knot around the top of the ornament and tie into a bow. 

What to read next:

Other books by Dr. Seuss include: Horton Hears a Who, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are, Oh the Places You’ll Go, The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, Hop on Pop, Are You my Mother, Fox in Socks, Sleep Book, Yertle the Turtle, Sneetches, and more. 

Other classic children’s books about Christmas include: Charlie Brown Christmas, The Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, The Nutcracker, Mickey’s Christmas Carol or Muppet Christmas Carol, and Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.