Editor’s note:?Dallas teacher Joyce Conciardo and her second-grade students were celebrating the work of Dr. Seuss when they heard about the theft of the Lorax statue, stolen from Audrey Geisel’s La Jolla home in late March. The students, who attend Harry C. Withers Elementary School in the Dallas Independent School District, were saddened to learn of the theft and as part of a unit on drawing conclusions and vocabulary, decided to write letters to the thieves from the perspective of the Lorax. Here’s a sampling of their pleas to bring the statue home, proving news from our seaside community travels far and wide. Dear Thieves, I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I wish to go back if you please. I do not belong here, you know I don’t. I want your attention. Listen up. I know I am rare. But I liked it when I could gaze off that hill on the valley. Your brain is bad to think it is okay to steal me. So please bring me back. I beg you. Sincerely, Lorax, aka Reed Dear Thieves, I want to go back home. Take me where I belong. I am also not a present. I have been reported to the local police. Do not steal the other sculptures of me. My owners are very wealthy but will not press charges. I’m surprised you could lift me. I weigh very much. My owners have gotten your attention. Please return me! Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Jackson Dear Thieves, I am the Lorax, and I speak for the trees. So take me back if you please. I am very rare. I cannot see. But I can feel where I am. I need you to get me connected to my real home. I heard you think I’m worth a lot of money. Who knows? Besides, you must be cautious. Take me back. Oh, and I’m watching you. Don’t think I’m not. I’m one sculpture. What can I do? Because I’m willing to listen to you. From the Lorax, aka Bowen Dear Thieves, I’m the Lorax, please let me stay because I do not want to run away. I like it on the stump, so I don’t want to grump. Please just put me back like that. I had fun on the hillside on the property of Seuss, and I would just love a packet of juice. I know you can sell me for some money, but I’d rather give you a jar of honey. I live on the hillside so please take me there, so now I can play with my friend Hare. Sincerely, Lorax, aka Landon Dear Thieves, I speak for the trees. Take me back to my trees. I want to go back. My trees want me back or I will call the cops. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Nestor Dear Thieves, Please return me to my owner because I miss her. Please do not mess me up because I am special to my family. I like my shelter better because that is where my creator is. I’m just a sculpture made out of bronze, so why do you want me? If you sell me you will not win an award. I don’t want to be duplicated by someone who’s not my family. I am not a gift. I am luxury. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Grayson Dear Thieves, The people are curious about me. I’m very rare and there are very few of me. There aren’t even a dozen of me to spare. My people own me, the sculpture of the Lorax. The couple of me are very heavy, expensive and rare. I’m a gift, if you don’t know. The skill of the person that made me is rare. Besides I’m one of a kind, and I only live in San Diego, California because of Dr. Seuss. I didn’t come from an old factory. Instead I came from a lady with talent. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Trent Dear Thieves, Who are you? Please do not blindfold me. I speak for the trees. I cannot speak for the trees if I cannot see the trees. It is very rare to see me, so please don’t take me just so you can see me every day. Please, can you bring me home? You made me roll like a boulder down a hill, you dirty thieves! I am curious why you took me. I have had a big enough journey. My joints are very sore from rolling down a hill. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Carter Dear Thieves, Please return me back to my home. I want to go home because that’s where I live. I do belong in San Diego. My friends are there. I don’t have any friends over here. I am woeful in this town. And also my home is elegant. I don’t like just standing here. I can’t go to sleep. I’m scared over here. My home was a tower, and over here I am standing here in an empty field. I own a factory at my home. With steam coming out. Our trees have designs, a swirl in the middle. They are green over there at my house. It’s like a gift to me. But over here it’s muddy and it’s empty field. Take me back to my home. I am rare. I speak for the trees. I hate being over here. We also have tons of skills like the bears, swans and fish. They are like marshmallows. Swans like flying. The fish like to swim. That’s what I like about my home. But over here I just see people walking their dogs. And waiting for the bus. Also, people are just driving around. We are rare and fair and we are also friendly. I am sad over here. People show kids the movie. They also read the books to children. I am famous because I am on TV and shirts. Don’t you see I really want to go back to my home? I don’t want to stay here. I am also a nice, orange, furry creature. So are my friends. We have cliffs. We have a blast of fun but my friends miss me and I really want to go home. If you take me home, I will really be happy. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Valerie Dear Thieves, Please bring me home. I do not want to be sold, for I’m rare. I want to go home to my house made of gold. So everyone can see me. I’m freezing! Turn up the heat, would you please? Unless you don’t have one, then who cares. I miss my family, my home, my really good care. But now because of your dirty sin, I don’t get the happiness I?need. I am sad and alone and my steel heart is crying because of you dirty, dirty people you. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Hannah Dear Thieves, I’m the Lorax, I speak for the trees. I?want to be returned so I can speak for the trees. I?like my little stump. I am the only thing Dr. Seuss has. And if I?don’t go back, Dr. Seuss won’t have anything that he can look down at. You thieves might have liked the Lorax, but that is my home. You might think this is an event, but if you bring me back it will be a blast. If you bring me back, you will get an award. The trees will not have anybody to speak for them. So please bring me back to my place. Sincerely, The Lorax, aka Arden