Goodnight Moon…
Thought of the Day:
“And if you listen
You can hear blue
In wind over water
And wherever flax blooms
And when evening steps into
Lonely rooms.”
From “Hailstones and Halibut Bones”
Thinking Outside of the Box:
It is Children’s Book Week in the United States. For many people, that brings back memories of some very special books that may still be in our book collections, or may just live in our memories. I wanted to visit a few of those memories in honor of this week. Some of them come from my own memories and some from the memories of when I read them to my kids. I’ve tried to include a quote from each book.
- “Goodnight Moon”
This page from HarperCollins has some comments from readers about the importance of this book. To me, that book is all about, “Goodnight moon, goodnight mush.” If you don’t have a copy of it, get it. It is one of the most wonderful books ever written. - “365 Bedtime Stories”
Now, that is a title that probably has been used over and over again. Check the stories. If they take place on “What-a-Jolly-Street,” you have the right book. My mom read that book to me every single night for years. My most outstanding memories are the tumbleweed, a boy named Toby (I named a cat and a guinea pig after that character) and a wonderful older lady who lived at the end of What-A-Jolly-Street. - “Hailstones and Halibut Bones”
What would a world be without color? To children, color isn’t just something you can label something as having or being. It is expression. The quote above is the one that finally allowed me to explain why blue was my favorite color. Can you guess what the hailstones and halibut bones are? As a side note, my mom gets the credit for bringing all of these books into my life except this one. I found it when I was around 8 years-old and I think this time, I brought a special book into her life. - “The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry”
I have no idea when I got this book. It has always been there. Mine is an original edition. I still have it and I guard it carefully. I have had it read to me, I have read it to myself (and still do), and I have read it to all of my children. Because of this collection I know that my favorite poem is, “The Highwayman.” (Loreena McKennitt likes that poem too – have you heard her singing the poem? It is awesome!) I was exposed to the beauty of literature before I could say the word. - “Harold and the Purple Crayon”
I always imagine when I see a purple crayon, what might happen should a little boy get hold of it. Of course this little boy would have to have a lot of imagination and some free time but I’m sure he could manage it. Harold certainly did and he changed his world with that crayon. “One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.” But it isn’t an ordinary walk, and you won’t ever be too old for this book. Sorry – I just had to do that in purple. Couldn’t resist!
Children’s Book Week is celebrated every year during the week before Thanksgiving week. This year it is November 14th. through November 20th. Read more about this special week at the Children’s Book Council Web site. Take some time to share your special memories; read them to yourself again or share them with a very special child. It is the most precious gift you can give.
A Last Thought:
“For colors dance
And colors sing,
And colors cry–
Turn off the light
And colors die.”
From “Hailstones and Halibut Bones”
Comments Off