snide comment to his former guests, and escapes by swimming across the lake to rejoin his herd. His former guests are captured by the hunters and are stuffed and mounted, still perched on his antlers, on the trophy wall of the Harvard Club. Meaning The story explores the limits of hospitality and sharing. Neil Reynolds has discussed it as a parable of immigration issues and the social welfare state. Aeon J. Skoble discusses Thidwick at length as an exemplification of the idea of property rights, and particularly of John Locke's formulation of property rights. Skoble argues that Thidwick is badly mistaken in viewing the other animals as "guests", and that the story demonstrates this. In a later essay in the same volume, Henry Cribbs makes a similar point, considering whether "Thidwick" is a case of squatter's rights. According to critic David Dempsey: "A man of less consistency than Seuss would have let Thidwick be rescued by the creatures he is befriending ... but Seuss' logic is rooted in principle, rather than sentiment, and the sponging animals get what they deserve. Incidentally, this is also what the child expects". Adaptations Welcome, a 1986 Soviet animated film Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, a 1992 direct-to-video short following Horton Hears a Who! Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, an upcoming animated special set for release on Netflix. References External links Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose at Seuss Dude Thidwick, the Big-hearted Moose at Google Books 1948 children's books American picture books Children's fiction books Books by Dr. Seuss Fictional deer and moose Children's books adapted into films Random House books Starvation