Well, the movie’s coming out on March 2nd, 2012. I’ll admit at first I was unsure about a film interpretation of The Lorax, given it is such an iconic book… but several youngsters I know are really, really excited for the movie and I’m certainly not the target audience. So until I get a chance to see it, I’ll assume that Universal Studios will do a good job representing how and why the Lorax speaks for the trees. And hey, if a movie renews interest in Dr. Seuss’ book with its powerful environmental message, then I’m all for it!
We already had a plant-a-tree gift set built around The Lorax but, by popular request, we have now added The Lorax loot bags in standard and deluxe versions. To mark the addition of these themed loot bags, here are some The Lorax birthday party ideas we would like to share with you:
The Lorax Cake Ideas
Feeling ambitious? Bakerella has three awesome Lorax cake pop recipes posted – The Lorax, Bar-ba-loots, and Truffula Trees – and they are up to her usual amazing standards. If you’re doing cake pops, remember to at least stick a candle in a cupcake or a cake pop so that the birthday kid has something to blow out… after all, they have to make their annual wish!
But if you’re not feeling creative or particularly bake-ish, there are likely some very talented bakers in your neck of the woods – save yourself some effort and order a Lorax theme cake from a local cake artisan. For instance, if you’re in the GTA / Durham Region, I would strongly recommend Honey Bee Cake Creations – Melissa does beautiful work and has a huge following of happy customers in Oshawa. (For other bakers or cake enthusiasts, please feel free to post links to images of your Lorax cakes in the comments below – just make sure you include your city and the creator’s website and/or contact information!)
The Lorax Loot Bags
We want to make your life easier. Assembling loot bags can be time consuming and expensive, especially if you want to avoid cheap trinkets or candy – so we focus on reasonably priced, high quality items that both parents and kids will love. By Heart Books offers standard and deluxe The Lorax loot bag alternatives that are suitable for kids aged 3-8. The standard version includes a Lorax activity book and a twig pencil, and our deluxe version adds a tiny terrarium in keeping with the environmental theme! Both are tied with raffia ribbon and include a writable bookmark as a tag that the birthday child can fill in with each guest’s name.
The Lorax Birthday Party Ideas, Games and Snacks (Home-Based)
Home birthday parties for kids can be tons of fun without breaking the bank, and it’s a lot easier to plan out activities when you have a theme – so run with The Lorax!
- BAR-BA-LOOTS AND HUMMING-FISH SNACKS: Put out bowls of teddy grahams and mini marshmallows to represent Bar-ba-loots and white Truffula Tree Fruit, while orange goldfish crackers in a blue bowl can represent Humming-Fish. For fun, include a little card or label on the dishes identifying them with their Lorax alter-egos – it will transform them for the kids. Such a nice change from chips or cheezies, and so simple! (Thanks to Marie LeBaron for this snack inspiration and the craft idea below!)
- STORY TELLING: For kids aged 3-7, warm them up to the theme by taking 20 minutes at the start for story telling. Sit the kids down in a circle with snacks and read them The Lorax. The key is to be as animated and entertaining as possible, so if you’re not comfortable being over the top, enlist help. Even if kids have heard the story before, no matter – it’s worth re-reading with flair!
- THE LORAX MEMORY GAME: One of our favourite party games for kids is the Memory game, and it’s easy to put a Lorax twist on it. Put at least double the number of items to kids on a tray or table and cover it with a cloth. Once all the kids are circled around the objects, remove the cloth for a minute and tell the kids to memorize the objects. When the minute’s up, replace the cloth. Have the kids draw numbers. In order, ask each child to name one object on the tray within a set time limit (say 10 seconds). When a kid can’t name a new object, they are out of the game. The game continues until either all items are named or there is only one kid left – any children left standing are winners. To “Lorax” it up, include a variety of nature and environmental items: a stone, a twig, a recycle symbol cut from a box, a sparkly pompom to give a feel of a truffula tree, a gardening shovel, a seed packet, different leaves, etc.
- THE LORAX BROKEN TELEPHONE: Sit the kids down in a circle or line and have an adult whisper a phrase into a child’s ear. At least for the first round, pick a phrase from The Lorax without telling the kids – for instance, “You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds!” That first child then whispers the phrase into the ear of the next kid and so on. When it gets to the last child, he or she repeats the phrase out loud. This game can have some pretty funny endings, especially if you choose some of the crazier Dr. Seuss phrases!
![The Lorax Speak for the Trees craft]( "The Lorax Speak for the Trees craft")
THE LORAX PASS A PARCEL: One of my favourite children’s party games, and it’s a lot easier to play anywhere now that everyone has iPods! Wrap a parcel in at least as many layers of gift wrap as there are kids at the party (we like to do at least 1.5x). Use old newspapers or recycled kraft paper – the theme IS The Lorax, after all! Sit the kids in a circle and give the gift to the birthday child. Start the music. The kids pass the parcel around the circle as long as the music continues. When it stops, the kid holding the parcel unwraps one layer. Repeat until the final layer is unwrapped and the prize is revealed. Here’s a fabulous make-ahead craft idea from Marie LeBaron that you can use as a prize – a Speak For The Trees framed picture. (Hot Potato Variation: Kids pass around a present (only needs to be wrapped once) while music plays and whoever’s holding it when the music stops, they’re out. Be forewarned, though – if you’re using the above craft for your item, wrap it in newspaper in a box… because odds are the “hot potato” will get thrown around and dropped in panic!)
The Lorax Movie Party
If Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax happens to be in theatres for when you are planning the party, then you have the option to take the kids to see the movie. Many theatres these days have fairly comprehensive packages for birthday parties, provided you meet the minimum number of kids. I scoped out a couple party options in Oshawa to get a sense of pricing. As of February 2012, to take 8 kids to the Cineplex Odeon near me, a party package for $119 gets you a party room for an hour, movie admissions, popcorn and drinks for 8 kids, and reserved seating for the group. ($133 gets you food served in the party room.) You supply your own cake and loot bags.
Kids love a movie outing, it’s a fun (albeit pricey) venue for a large group, and by the time you see the movie, have cake and open presents, the parents will likely be there to pick them up… and ta-da! You’re done for another year!
Any other great Lorax themed party ideas you can share? And if you saw it, what’d you think of the movie? We’d love to hear your comments below!
UPDATE APRIL 3, 2012 – One of our happy customers in Toronto sent us a picture from her son’s The Lorax-themed birthday party (thanks, Karen!). The adorable cake and cookies were made by Yummy Stuff (http://www.yummystuff.ca/), and of course the loot bags are the By Heart Books deluxe Lorax loot bags!
As published by By Heart Books - children's books, children's gifts and loot bags