Rocking Horse Land Illustration by Angela Carter.
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The Power of Story
A Christmas Carol was the catalyst for the holiday season that we observe and celebrate today.
This is a ghost story, a story of poverty, suffering, fear and redemption -- an unlikely sounding mix -- that comes together in a book that has touched people since it first appeared.
The power of the Spirit World -- in the form of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet To Be -- is able to transform the cruel and selfish Ebeneezer Scrooge into a charitable man who embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
The power of this book by Charles Dickens to inspire people and influence their thinking is quite remarkable. It came at a time of great change in the United Kingdom and Europe -- the time of the Industrial Revolution.
The book cover is by Carol Grange
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Charles Dickens Brought Joy and Hope The industrial revolution was profoundly changing England during the nineteenth century. A burgeoning middle class flourished. At the same time, cities expanded with growing numbers of impoverished factory workers struggling to survive. Health, poverty, and lack of hope made for grim lives.
Charles Dickens, a boy of 12 when his father was sent to debtor's prison, went to work in the harsh conditions of a decrepit, rat-infested boot blacking factory. Like many
children, he worked long hours for very little pay. On Sundays, he visited his family at the Marshalsea debtor's prison. These hard early years had a profound influence on his later years. His concerns for the poor, and particulary the homeless and orphaned children, were manifested in his writing, in his charity, and in his wide support for charitable organizations like the Hospital for Sick Children; Urania Cottage, a safe house for destitute young women; and the Ragged Schools for poor street children. His early years also influenced his novels. Oliver Twist stands, with its orphan hero, as a compassionate testament to the dangerous and painful life of the masses of poor boys in London.
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A Christmas Carol -- Joy and Hope
"Few works in the history of popular culture have had as much pronounced effect as Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843. While Christmas Day had always been a sacred, solemn feast day within the Christian faith (just as the Winter Solstice had been in many pagan cultures before it), it wasn’t until the middle part of the 1800s that many began to see it less as a site of religious devotion than as a holiday to be celebrated, and to be celebrated most specifically through the act of giving. While A Christmas Carol didn’t spawn this tradition itself, it, more than any other force, popularized it throughout the western world. . .
Dickens imparted to all that Christmas was a time to celebrate all that was worthwhile about the human race, most specifically our love for one another, and our compassion for those less fortunate." -- Excerpted from an in-depth article by Jonathan Morris, the Antiscribe.
The illustration is from a Disney production of A Christmas Carol.
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"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." Charles Dickens
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The Grinch -- A Modern Day Scrooge
But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
Book cover and text are by Dr. Seuss.
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And in the Land of the Elephants
" Children escape into reading not only in search of something beyond the space time to which they are confined, but also for comfort."
-- Maria Tartar, Enchanted Hunters, The Power of Stories in Childhood.
The illustration from Babar and Father Christmas is by Jean de Brunhoff.
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A Christmas Tale
"Snow Valley Heroes has the potential of becoming a favorite holiday story for both children and adults."
--Wayne Walker, Stories for Children Magazine, Home School Buzz, Home School Book Review
The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes, a Christmas Tale is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.
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Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.
Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
The poem is excerpted from Maya Angelou's Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem on Women You Should Know.
The painting, The Free Spirit, is by Sydney Neuwirth
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In Children's Books, Christmas is for All. . . from mice and badgers to rabbits and birds, from bears and lions to dogs and Moomins, Christmas is for all.
The illustration from the Wind in the Willows is by Inga Moore.
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Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa -- Celebrating African Culture
"Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah (celebrated Dec to Jan ), Kwanzaa was not born out of religion. Instead it is a largely social and communal holiday that grew out of the civil rights movement. Established by professor and activist Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa was meant as a way to bring the African-American community together once a year for a celebration of its culture and heritage. Over the years, the exclusive nature of Kwanzaa was stripped away by Karenga, and it is now looked at as a chance for people of all races and backgrounds to celebrate African culture the same way we celebrate Irish and Mexican culture on St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo."
Here is a link to read more about Kwanzaa
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Movies
His Dark Materials Returns on HBO
A riveting realisation of Philip Pullman's magic . . . This is the headline fom Lucy Magnum's Guardian review of the new HBO series based on His Dark Materials. "Religion, mortality and talking animals combine to gift us a series that captures Pullman’s magnum opus in all its glory. I suppose kicking off the Christmas programming season with an eight-part adaptation of a book about the death of God makes sense in this crazy, mixed-up world of ours."
And here is an excerpt from James Poniewoziks NYTimes review : "In HBO’s spirited fantasy epic 'His Dark Materials', Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), a runaway girl with a secret destiny, comes into possession of an alethiometer, a golden clockwork gizmo with the power to answer any question. One mystery, however, still eludes her. . . . 'I don’t think I understand any grown-ups at all,' she says.
'His Dark Materials'. . . based on the religiously skeptical trilogy by Philip Pullman, is a story about witches and giant polar bears, magic (or quasi-magic) dust and actual spirit animals. But above all, it is a story about parallel worlds, alike and yet wildly different, separated by an imperceptible barrier: the worlds of childhood and adulthood." -- Here is a link to the trailer for the HBO Series of His Dark Materials
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Little Women
In the October edition of this Blog, I wrote about this new film by Greta Gerwig, as well as posts about Louisa May Alcott, the era in which Little Women was written, and the impact of the book on readers through the years. Little Women opens in theaters around Christmas and I anticipate a wonderful film. Peter Bradshaw, in the Guardian, has written an enthusiastic, encompassing, joyous, pre-release review.
Here is a link to an insightful Guardian article by Adrian Horton.
Here is a link to the trailer of the new Little Women.
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Klaus on Netflix
Klaus, is an old-fashioned, animated, story of the beginnings of Santa Claus' (Klaus) Christmas Eve journeys with flying reindeer. I haven't seen this film, but the reviews are good, although with reservations. I have watched the trailer and think kids would much enjoy Klaus. The animation is a delight and I found the character of Santa to be very engaging.
Here is a link to the Trailer: Klaus
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Joy and Hope for All Seasons
Is Found Here
This is a link to a very lovely, very brief montage of Hayao Miyazaki's incredible films(3:23).
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The Legend Arrives
"And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!"
The legend of Santa Claus was greatly enhanced by the poem, A Visit from St Nicholas, written for his children, by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823...above is an excerpt with an iconic Christmas illustration (1866) by the extraordinary Thomas Nast.
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Christmas In A Cabin
Author C.A.Wulff lived in a cabin in the woods with her partner and rescued dogs of various breeds, sizes and shapes. The following is an excerpt from her touching memoir of many years of life as an animal rescue advocate -- Circling the Waggins-- with heartwarming escapades featuring an array of rescued dogs and other critters.
"Lammy-Lamb sits under the Christmas tree and looks up at the antique lamb ornament above her head. It’s a funny looking little bauble that looks just like her, all glittery, with its front legs stretched out like airplane wings – a little flying lamb. When we decorated the tree, I had held it up for her to see.
'Look at your ornament.' I had said. 'It’s a little Lammy-Lamb – just like you!' She had been so excited that she had done a little dance and wagged her tail like crazy. She has been obsessed with the ornament since then, and has been spending a little time each day staring up at it. 'Are you looking at your ornament?' I ask her. She looks up at me, sticks the tip of her tongue out, and wags her stubby tail. A wave of love washes over me."
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Mr. Dog's Christmas
Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn is a wonderful Christmas book and a rescued treasure. Originally published in 1898, it was a favorite in the family of Betsy Cordes for three generations. Written by Albert Bigelow Paine, the book was read aloud, every Christmas eve, to young and old alike. Under the guidance of Ms Cordes, and with delightful new illustrations by Adam McCauley, Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn has been given a new life.
"Well, the Hollow Tree people had never heard of Santa Claus. They knew about Christmas, of course, because everybody, even the cow and sheep, knows about that; but they had never heard of Santa Claus."
This book will become a favorite with children -- and with any family that reads it aloud on Christmas Eve.
Here's a link to learn more or to order this delightful Christmas book: Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn.
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Congratulations to"a folk school for the digital age"
There really are no words for how much this means to us. To have our work recognized by our field as 'innovative while steeped in pedagogy,' 'a folk school for the digital age,' an 'online program in traditional folk narrative [that] shows an innovative entrepreneurial effort,' and a place that 'provides lifelong learning opportunities globally' (all things they mentioned in their announcement/award letter!) was beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you so much to you all. " Excerpted from the Carterhaugh School Website.
Carterhaugh is now offering two more courses, one on winter folklore: Kindling a Light in the Darkness; and, a reprise of a self-guided Introduction to Fairy Tales. For more information visit: The Carterhaugh School
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Hanukkah -- December 22-30
Hanukkah is the Jewish Holiday that takes place over 8 days in December. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Holiday celebrates Jewish strengths, perseverance, and continuity. It has origins dating to 165BCE when Judea was freed from oppression and conquest of the Seleucid king. Hanukkah is a celebration of freedom and being.
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Awesome Illustrations
The 2019 New York Times/New York Public Library Selection of Wondrous Illustrated Children’s Books
Here is a link to these wonderful illustrations, chosen by jury, of children's books published in 2019. There is great variety and imagination in examples by extremely talented artists from many countries and cultures. In most cases, the artist/illustrators also wrote the books. The results are awesome. Also included, are brief summaries of story content. Illustrations2019
The illustration is from Child Of Glass, written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemaga.
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A Christmas Kindness
I found this book to be a quiet gem, perfect for kids to understand and connect to kindness. There is no didactic voice. The revelation of kindness, in a realistic story, flows from events in a suble and natural way. And the reader finds that they have shared an experience of kindness. The author, Cheryl Malandrinos, write books for children that "teach kids a lesson" She also writes (since 2009) discerning children's book reviews on her blog: Children and Teens Book Connection . Here is a link to A Christmas Kindness.
The cover illustration is by Coline Mabey
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Gift Books for Young Mothers
Another 9,583 free copies of Mommy Talk and Talk to Me books went to young families in 2019. The books focus on the importance of talking to and talking with young children ages zero to 3. This brings the total number of free books distributed by the Yeager family foundation to 82,925. Nonprofits, government agencies, pediatricians, pediatric clinics and pediatric hospitals are the primary channels for getting these books into the hands of young families. But, direct requests are always welcome: write to Douglas M. Yeager at [email protected]
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Where Are We?
Imagine shrinking and finding yourself lost on your neighbor's dog. That's part of the adventure of Andrew and Judy when they discover the world of dog. Imagination,suspense, science and fun are the keystones of this deligtful book for kids 6-10. It's part of a wonderful, humorous science series, Andrew Lost, by Judith C. Greenburg. They make science clear and understandable. (I gave them as a Christmas present to my grandchildren, and they were a big hit). Other titles in the 18 book Andrew Lost series include: In The Garden; Under Water; In The Kitchen, On Earth, and In Time.
The cover and book illustrations are by Debbie Palin.
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Somehow Hope through Save The Children
This video moved me and gave me hope.Save the Children video 2:25
"Save the Children has a bold ambition: we believe in a world in which all children survive, have the chance to learn, and are protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation."
Here is a link to their website: Save The Children
The photo of children in an Afghan refugee camp is by Behrouz Mehri,AFR,Getty Images
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Questions for the NRA
Why don't you want background checks? Why do you think my neighbor needs an assault weapon? What should we say to the students and parents of the murdered and wounded students in the November school shootings? How do I keep from being murdered if people who are not allowed to board a plane can buy guns? I have many more questions. But let's start with these.
Is that a real assault rifle? I think so. Typical cyclic rates of fire are 600–900 RPM for assault rifles.
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Happy Holidays to All
And a special greeting to the therapy dog owners and therapy and service dog organizations who make this world a better place. We here at Barking Planet continue to be awed by, and grateful to, the dog lovers and their dogs who help so many people, of all ages, in so many ways. Dogs have a unique quality that helps people heal, release fear, find joy, and often, find hope.
Note:Thanks to Richard Bradley for the photo of Darcy and Caboose. Every year at this time we post a photo of Richard's dogs from his website: A Rock In My Shoe.
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Fences for Fido
This vounteer organization brings Christmas joy to dogs all year round.
"Fences for Fido is an award-winning, non-profit organization that builds donor-funded fences free of charge for families who keep their dogs on chains, tethers and in small enclosures. We also provide: A warm, insulated dog house, Spay/neuter services, Critical vet care. . .In the past 9 years, Fences For Fido has unchained over 1600 dogs in NW Oregon, central Oregon and SW Washington! "
Here is a link to their website: Fido
Here is a link to a delightful: Unchained Dog Joy Video
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How Long Does It Take to Trim a Christmas Tree? In this link to a classic video , it takes the dogs only 3.8 minutes. And it made me smile.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
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Meeting Special Needs with Therapy Dogs
4 Paws For Ability is a remarkable organization where they train service dogs and then give them to children with special needs -- children with epileptic seizures, Downs Syndrome, Autism, physical disabilites, and combinations of these and other challanging conditions; they also provide dogs to combat veterans who have lost their limbs or had their hearing destoyed.
4 Paws For Ability has produced a documentary (10 minutes) that follows, step by step, the journey/process to properly train an assistance dog; and to prepare the needy recipient and their family. This is not a slick, PR type video. Here is a link: 4 Paws Dogs
The photo is from 4 Paws For Ability.
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Can the Dogs Save Christmas ?
If you have any doubts that there was once a time, long ago, when the unthinkable happened and there was to be no more Christmas, click this link...Interview with Santa
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There can be no more Christmas. Two of Santa's reindeer have been kidnapped by the King of the North. This is the true story of how dogs came from the Planet Of The Dogs to save Christmas for children everywhere. Here is an excerpt that takes place when the King of the North tries to recover his own reindeer, freed by the dogs:
"His men answered with a warlike shout of loyal agreement as they raced their horses across the snow, following their King. They were a fearsome sight to see. . . Slowing their pace when they reached the Forest, the horsemen continued on into the trees. The reindeer tracks remained quite clear as they rode deeper into the woods. The King, focused on revenge, was slow to realize that the unusual sound he had been noticing was becoming louder. When he finally looked up from the tracks and through the trees ahead, he saw that the sound was being made by reindeer—his reindeer—running at full speed through the forest, toward him and his men.
In a matter of moments, there were reindeer everywhere, running in panic at them and around them, separating the King and his men from each other and upsetting their horses. The King was furious and confused. How could this be?
It was then that Tok, Nor and the big dog from Shepherd Hills came at his horse, leaping, nipping and barking. The King’s horse reared up on his hind legs and twisted sideways when he came down. The King, although thrown halfway off the frightened horse, was able to hold on. Others were not as fortunate. The horses had never seen dogs before. . .
Separated from the others, and unable to find a way out of the whirling, noisy confusion, the King concentrated on trying to control his horse until he could find a way out of this dangerous place.The dogs seemed to be everywhere, barking, running at the horses, jumping on their legs and moving away quickly. In the middle of this confusion were the reindeer, running, turning, bumping into one another, and bumping into horses.. ."
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Here is what Don Blankenship, educator and reviewer -- Good Books for Kids -- and Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer had to say... “What a truly wonderful and unique Christmas story for the whole family. Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, by Robert J. McCarty and illustrated by Stella Mustanoja McCarty is the third offering in the Planet of the Dogs series; What an imagination this team has. . . an ideal book to snuggle up with the little ones on a cold winter night and simply enjoy.”
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We have free reader copies of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians, teachers and independent bookstores. Email us with a postal address to [email protected] and we will send you the books.
To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit PlanetOfTheDogs.
The Planet Of The Dogs series (including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale) is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes.
The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty
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“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner
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