Ester's birthday is coming up
soon. I thought we should get her a
book. She seemed to be into princesses
the last time we had seen her, and so I
chose one with Disney princesses. It's a
step-into-reading treasury included with six stories, a two sided princess
poster and 24 miniature princess stickers. I think she will like it.
We were at Costco and Roland didn't
seem in too much of a hurry and so I took my time looking through some other
books that were on display. I smiled as
I read "Everybody Loves Bacon" written by Kelly Dipucchio and illustrated
by Eric Wight.
Besides the wonderful illustration, I
found it to be a clever story on remembering your friends and what might happen
to someone who gets a swelled head. I think
Tony would have enjoyed the same humor that I found, but I don't know if Ester
would have felt the same charge (she is turning four. I actually don't know how she feels about
bacon)
There were two books by Eric Carle. Jenna
has always LOVED anything Eric Carle.
I felt the first one was too juvenile
for Ester and guessed she will like the Disney Princess collection better. Roland thought we should just send a gift
card. Granted, it would be more
economical from our end. But I don't
like gift cards overall. I think Ester
will be more excited to receive a book in the mail than a gift card that she
wouldn't understand.
I suppose it really
would not be that outrageous for Tony and Rochelle (Ester's parents) as it seems
like they are always out shopping.
I really liked the illustrations and photography of Pharrell Williams popularized song: "Happy" Ester might like it, but Tony told me that he was sick of hearing the song, so I don't think he would be too excited to read it to her - though I did consider it.
The next book I saw was called "Invisible
Fred". It looked interesting, but
the illustrations became rather boring. I
couldn't see that it would hold anyone's attention for very long.
The last book that I picked up was
called "Robo-Sauce" written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel
Salmieri.
Once again it was a book that made me
think of Jenna. She's very into robots
and imagination and creating. That
triggered some other memories of books that Jenna and I used to read together
when we were still living in Kearns - some of which I have briefly mentioned in
this post
There are three or four stories which
I would cry as I read. One was called
"The Robot and the Bluebird" by David Lucas. A book about loneliness, love and
sacrifice.
A bluebird, flying south for the
winter, stops to rest with a robot who claims he has no heart. He was left abandoned and is of no use to
anybody. He allows the bluebird to stay
in the compartment which once housed his heart.
It is a beautiful story.
Everything Max Lucado writes seems to
be gold. Of course there are stories I like better than others. The first Max Lucado I was introduced to was
"You are Special". It is about a puppet who lives in the kingdom of
toys (or at least that is how I perceive it; they are actually a made-up name
called Wemmick's living in Wemmickville under their creator, Eli) where
everyone is labeled.
Gold
stars (I think it's gold stars; it's been a while since I've read it) are the
best kind of labels. Grey circles (or
dots) are the worse. The main character
(whose name is Punchinello) seems to have more than his share of grey dots which he allows to affect his mood until he
meets one who refuses to wear either dots or stars. The message is simple. The words were powerful enough to make the
tears flow. Even if I were to read it
now, I am certain that the tears would come.
On our return from Roseburg to Myrtle
Creek, Jenna and I made comments about modern day fairytales, and how grateful
we are that someone put a spin on things and made us stop and realize that it
may have been Goldilocks who was at fault and the bears were the victims. After all, she did break into their home, she
stole their breakfast. She vandalized baby bear's chair.
Hansel and Gretel were trespassing
when they came upon the witches house.
Did they ever think to knock on her door and ask for help? They broke
off pieces of the witches home and helped themselves.
I have also seen an account where
Cinderella was the one stuck on herself and the step sisters are the ones who
were excluded and did have moments of displaying displeasure because of how
they had been treated.
My favorite story from another's point
of view was "Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter" by Diane Stanley.
Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter tricks the king into serving his subjects so that
they will serve him in a respectful manner.
Her name is revealed at the end of the story. So clever.
There are dozens of versions of
"The Monkeys and the Mangos" I
had actually never even heard of it until I checked out a book of stories
retold. I can't even remember who compiled
it - though I think I do have it written down somewhere. It's just a matter of finding which flash
drive it may be on.
Jenna has often requested for me to tell
this one, though it is very hard for me to get through - though I find a
condensed version doesn't break out as many tears as the first version I
read. Here is just one version
I miss reading those stories to my
small family members.
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