Crabtot Recommends
Thanks to you who recommended unusual, charming, and yes, SHORT bedtime reads, I've bought Knuffle Bunny, While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat, and Anatole for Crabtot and we're thoroughly enjoying the new life breathed into her bookshelf.
Today Crabtot has another fave book to share: Pierre, by Maurice Sendak. If you don't have Pierre, purchase it presto! We have the darling Nutshell Library edition of Pierre, which begins as follows:
One day his mother said
When Pierre climbed out of bed,
"Good morning darling boy, you are my only joy."
And Pierre said, 'I don't care!'"
From here, it's all rudeness (which tots SO enjoy hearing about). Mother implores, "Don't sit backwards on your chair or pour syrup on your hair." And Pierre says, "I don't care!" Even when Dad promises to reward good behavior, ("I'll let you fold the folding chair") the belligerent boy won't budge.
Then the story takes a darker turn: "A hungry lion paid a call...and asked him if he'd like to die." (And Pierre says, "I don't care.") And the lion says, "If that's all you have to say then I'll eat you if I may"...SO THE LION ATE PIERRE! (Don't worry: the doctor hits the lion with the folding chair and when the lion gives a roar who do you think lands on the floor?)
Apart from the dark wit and terse, clever rhyme, I love the message here. Don't get me wrong, I hate schmaltzy, obvious, moralistic children's books (Rainbow Fish, anyone?) But I like me a good politeness book. Because frankly I hate hearing "I don't care." And it seems to me many ADULTS still say it even when what they really mean is "I'm open to suggestion," e.g.,
"Would you like to go see a movie with me?"
"I don't care."
Yep, so many adults could use a brush-up on gracious declining/accepting of invitations. So if you know someone who still says "I don't care" instead of "I could go either way" slip a Nutshell Library Pierre into his/her Christmas stocking. Or just hit 'em with a folding chair.
Anyone want to share additional book recs for last-minute holiday shoppers? Adult or tot-related must-reads most welcome! My last offering is David Sedaris's "Holidays on Ice." It includes his career-making essay "The Santaland Diaries," in which Sedaris hilariously recounts the time he spent working as a Macy's elf.
Oh, Sedaris! Love him. And I am tickled to see that you bought While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat. Have you tried the David Shannon books? Can't remember if I recommended them before, but we've loved them. Great illustrations.
And now, for a little bragging. My husband bought a copy of Frost's Stopping By Woods that is illustrated, I believe, by the woman who did Thumbelina. When we visited Father Christmas downtown, our three year old was rather unimpressed until his robe shifted and she saw his tattered Frost tome.
"I know that book!" She squealed. He looked at her dubiously, "This one?"
She nodded very seriously, "Who's woods these are I think I know."
You could see him falling a little bit in love with her. Here's to kids and books and finding a way to do it so that we don't lose our minds.
We love Knuffle Bunny over here. We also love Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd, The Old Woman Who Named Things by Kathryn Brown, The Mouse's Feast by Yutaka Sugita (not sure if this is still in print), and anything by Robert Munsch (especially The Paper Bag Princess). I am going to the bookstore tomorrow to add to the collection for Christmas. I'll let you know if I find anything fantastic.
I forgot to add The Old Woman and the Wave by Shelley Jackson.
Pierre was my favorite as a child and you've reminded me to go pick it up for one last stocking stuffer.
We recently received two new favorites that fall into the absurd but fun category... "Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie" by Joel Stewart and "G is for One Gzonk! an alpha-number-bet book" by TINY DiTERLOONEY.
Both kooky and amusingly illustrated.
Have a safe trip home and a wonderful holiday... we'll look forward to hearing how it all went when you get back!
Happy New Year!
David Sedaris is awesome. CrabMom, you will LOVE Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne. It is a faux autio-biography of a 13-year-old, and it had me laughing out loud almost on every page.
Christine, thanks for that most compelling-sounding rec. I love faux autobiographies -- except for James Frey's. :) Thanks too, Zaney, for your zany suggestions which sound fab too.