Dr. Suess’ classic children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is set to get a sequel in 2023.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books announced Thursday that the new book will be available on Sept. 5, The Associated Press reported. “How the Grinch Lost Christmas!” will pick up a year after the end of the first book, revisiting the Grinch and Cindy Lou-Who as the Grinch gets another reminder about the true meaning of Christmas.
Alice Jonaitis, executive editor at Random House Children’s Books, said fans have long been eager for more stories about beloved grouch. “One of the most asked questions we receive from Seuss fans of all ages is, ‘What do you think happened to the Grinch after he stole Christmas?'” Jonaitis said in a statement.
The new book will fill in the gaps as the Grinch tries to prove to Whoville that his heart really did grow three sizes bigger by building “the largest, most spectacular Christmas tree the Whos have ever seen,” a release reads.
The sequel comes from author Alastair Heim and illustrator Aristides Ruiz, both of whom have been involved in other Dr. Suess projects. Heim wrote Seuss spin-offs “If I Ran Your School” and “I Am the Cat in the Hat,” and Ruiz has illustrated the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library books for over two decades.
“All throughout writing the story, I couldn’t fully believe that I was actually getting to play in the amazing creative sandbox Dr. Seuss created all those decades ago,” Heim told AP in an email.
“When I heard of the opportunity to be a part of this project, I jumped at the chance only to find that it was difficult and daunting to approach adding to or expanding such an esteemed and treasured part of the American Christmas canon,” Ruiz added.
Recent outcry over racism prompted Dr. Suess Enterprises to halt the publication of six of Suess’ books, including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo.” Suess nevertheless remains popular, with Forbes magazine ranking him eighth on a 2022 list of the highest-paid dead celebrities, AP noted. (RELATED: Six Dr. Suess Books Deemed ‘Racist’ Will Cease To Be Published)
The original Grinch book has sold more than 10 million copies since its 1957 release and led to a 1966 animated TV special, a 2000 live-action movie starring Jim Carrey and a 2018 computer-animated movie in which Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the Grinch.