I loved the book, and the cartoon version. I saw it as a play once and was a little bored, although it was well done. I didn't know there was another version. The lesson is that Christmas is in the heart, not in the "things", so the people in Who-ville are not destroyed when the Grinch steals their loot. The Grinch changes when he understands this. I think it's a lovely story, very instructive for children (and for the rest of us). Dr. Seuss wrote some amazing books.