RIF's 60th Anniversary Highlighted Book for 1990. From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and illustrations, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within.
The story of a dystopian community ruled by the Committee of Elders, which tightly controls every aspect of society. When 12-year-old Jonas is granted the highest job in the society, Receiver of Memory, he learns from the Giver all that has been sacrificed in the name of order and sameness.
Ashti and her mother spend a sunny day at the park, following a strange, joyful sound that seems to dance through the trees. The sound leads them to an old man sitting on a bench, singing, scatting, and tapping his feet while feeding a flock of happy birds. He tells them how much he loves jazz—the rhythms, the surprises, the way it makes people feel alive. But he also shares something that makes him sad: the music program at the school where he once taught is about to disappear.
