Tough Love
A child's favorite toy or blanket soothes her through restless nights, accompanies her on every journey—and by childhood's end has often been worried to an unrecognizable mess. Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories (also available at John Derian) offers 50 intimate portraits of such objects. Blankie Belmont's travels have reduced him to a frayed mass of knots; a much-loved stuffed bear is secretly not the "real" Ralph, but one of nine standbys purchased to avoid an emergency state of complete destruction as the result of too much love. You and your child are sure to recognize something of your own first friends among the sweet, peculiar pages.
April 19, 2007
You can also go to John Derian's or call his shop and find well-worn, well-loved dolls and stuffed animals to buy. Last time I was in he had an old Wednesday doll - like the one shown on the last page of the featured book.