Have you read Dr. Seuss’s book The Lorax? If not, I’ll break it down for you – though you should read it yourself sometime.

Here’s a quick review: A boy comes to a dark corner of town on a lark to learn about a mystery creature called the Lorax. Once there, he finds that this desolate place was once a robust forest. The forest was destroyed when a greedy character called “Once-ler” (as in uses things only once) cuts down all the trees to make some stuff that nobody really needs anyway. Despite attempts by the Lorax to stop the devastation, this causes an exodus of all the animals from the forest – including the Lorax – who once called it home.

This isn’t a book review, so I’m glossing over some of the finer points, like when the Lorax tells the boy, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

A 4th-grade class from Brookline, Massachusetts, however, didn’t miss that point. When they found out one of their favorite books was going to be made into a major motion picture this March (featuring the voices of stars Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, and Danny Devito) they immediately checked the movie’s website.

They were disappointed to find no information on the environmental message of the movie on the site. They hoped the film would bring attention to the real global problems the book illustrates. The Lorax famously speaks up for the trees – that’s the message children are left with. But the movie’s website doesn’t.

In response, they started their own change.org petition.

Like the destruction of forests, global warming is a serious problem — and it’s not our grandchildren’s problem. It’s ours.

These ten-year-olds convinced Universal Pictures to change the movie’s website. As of Thursday, the movie’s website links to a page full of kid-friendly tips for protecting the planet.

The class writes on in their change.org page aimed at Universal Pictures:

“Our world, like the Lorax’s, is facing major environmental problems like pollution, global warming, oil spills, littering, a Great Pacific Garbage Patch, deforestation, and loss of animal habitat. These problems will affect our future…

“We’d like to see the movie live up to the potential of the book. We’re encouraging Universal to make an improved Lorax movie website that Dr. Seuss would be proud of. We recommend a “Lorax Tips” button shaped like a Truffula seed sharing ways people can help the planet. Maybe a Truffula Tree overflowing with tips and links pops up when you click on the seed! We can help you make this list, too!”

They also made a few videos where they retell the story. Watch it here:

I was deeply inspired by Mr. Wells’ fourth grade class. They changed the moment for The Lorax by making sure the film wasn’t just about movie tickets and extra-large sodas, but acknowledging the full truth about the climate crisis and providing a platform to take action.

Now, if a bunch of 10 year olds can get over 57K to sign a petition and change a major movie companies mind – what can the rest of us do to make a meaningful difference?

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