Barking Planet Children's & YA Books

July -- Nordic Tales of Life and the World Beyond -- Part One

                                                Painting by Albert Edelfelt 

We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel . . . an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.” 

― Ursula K. Le Guin 

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 Norway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Awareness, Pride, and Hope

The Nordic lands have their own heritage of oral tales, myths, and legends. Their stories, unlike the Grimm's Germanic tales, are embellished by description. As with the classic tales of Western Europe, they also embody fantasy, open the imagination, and give hope to the listener or reader.

Both Norway and Finland had witnessed centuries of intermittent war and oppression by others, namely, by Sweden, Denmark, and Russia. In both countries, there was a deep connection to nature -- to the land, the lakes, the mountains and the sea. 

In the nineteenth century, in both Norway and Finland,
their heritage of oral tales actually influenced history. Dedicated people went to the countryside, wrote down the ancient stories and songs and published them. They were widely read and played a major role in raising awareness and pride and influencing the rise of nationalism. 

The painting is by Erik Werenskiold.
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Preserving National Treasure

In Norway, the oral tales were collected by writers and scholars Peter Christan Asbjörsen (1812-1885) and Jorgen Moe (1813-1882). In Finland, a country doctor, Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884), traveled throughout remote areas where thousands of verse-songs from the Finnish past could still be heard. He attended to the medical needs of the country people and collected their verse-songs in what became known as the Kalevala. 

"Asbjörnsen and Moe developed a friendship while still attending school and together they determined to do for Norwegian folklore what the Brothers Grimm had accomplished for German folklore...(they) sought to preserve a national treasure, one that both reflected and shaped  a national identity...preserving the most profound expressions of the Norwegian soul...Asbjörnsen and Moe preserved a robust folkloric tradition and did for Norway what the Sagas did for Iceland and the Kalevala did for Finland." -- Maria Tatar, The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales.

A Land of Mountains, Trolls, Great Forests and the Sea

Several editions of the Norwegian tales were published beginning in 1841. They were very well received and very popular. Peer Gynt inspired the great playright, Henrik Ibsen, to write a verse play, that is still performed and celebrated today. Edvard Greig composed music for the play Here is a link to the music for Peer Gynt. 

 

In the celebrated Norwegian tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, all is lost after the young girl, who has ridden bravely on the back of a huge bear, kisses a handsome prince and lights a candle -- though forbidden to do so --  to see his face. Here is an excerpt: 

'What have you done?' he cried; 'now you have made us both unlucky, for had you held out only this one year, I had been freed. For I have a stepmother who has bewitched me, so that I am a White Bear by day, and a Man by night. But now all ties are snapt between us; now I must set off from you to her. She lives in a Castle which stands EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON, and there, too, is a Princess, with a nose three ells long, and she's the wife I must have now.". . . The story continues, for where their is courage, there is always hope.

 

Norway declared independence from Sweden in October, 1905. 

The illustration of the Trolls and the Changeling is by Jon Bauer.

The illustration from East of the Sun and West of the moon is by Ella Williams.

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Finland 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A New Nationalism

Imagine a northern country of ancient forests and lakes, sparsely populated by independent, hardworking but poor people who came into their own in 1809 when they were freed from Swedish domination. The Russian Empire attacked and defeated the Swedish Empire, and Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia. After six centuries under Sweden, Finland was on the way to self government and a new nationalism 

Here was a land bordered by the sea in the south and west, where the great trees of the heartland provided a source of income for many, and where the snows of winter were a major factor in developing a resilient people where children learn to ski at an early age. This is a land of people that had (and still have today) a very close connection to nature; a land which has, to this day, an abundance of wildlife including moose,  bear, wolves, and wolverines. And through their mythic oral history, they found added incentive to true Finnish identity.

Finland declared Independence from Russia in December, 1917.

The painting is by Albert Edelfelt.

The Kalevala

The Kalevala was passed on for centuries by rune singers before Elias Lönnrot, in his pioneering effort, recorded and published them in 1835 and 1849. In earlier times, there were hundreds of Rune singers in small villages and hamlets throughout the land. During  the Finnish Renaissance of the nineteenth century, artists, writers, composers (including Jean Sibelius), students, and ordinary people listened to Rune singers reciting the mythic verses of  The Kalevala.

Rune singers had  prodigious memories. For example, among the singers who contributed to Elias Lönnrot's  research was a woman, Larin Paraske (1833-1904), who could recite 32,000 verses.  accompanied by the soft string sound of the Kantele.

The painting of rune singer Larin Paraske is by Albert Edelfelt.

The Mythic Stories

The stories told by the rune singers range from the creation of the world to a journey to Deaths Domain; from wedding feasts to charms for getting cattle home. They include the forging of the magic Sampo -- a source of prosperity and  happiness -- and it's tragic loss by evil forces. Here is an edited excerpt of the loss of the Sampo: 

"She spreads her wings to fly, raises herself aloft like an eagle, 
She flies swiftly along  seeking out Väinämöinem,
one wing brushed the clouds, the other grazed the water . . .

Now the old woman of North Farm is coming, a remarkable bird is moving along,
Like a hawk to judge by the shoulders, a griffin to judge by the trunk,
She takes Väinämöinenby surprise . . .

The vessel was about to sink straight down, the ship to keel over on it's side . . .  

Translation from the Kalevala by Francis Magoun

The painting of the fight for the Sampo is by Gallen Kellala.

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Transcending National and Cultural Boundaries

The Kalevala is a great poem and a national epic, but it is also a work of art which trancends national and cultural boundaries, which is read in many languages, which has a message also for our time. General problems, difficulties and riches of human nature and human life can be seen behind its myths, and their message touches also the people of today." -- 
The Kalevala, An Epic of Finland and all Mankind by Heikki Kirkinen and Hannes Sihvo

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Tolkien and The Kalevala

"J.R.R. Tolkien, already a scholar of Beowulf and the Sagas, learned Finnish in order to explore the Kalevala for himself. . . He lamented the lack of proper English mythology and his ambition was to create a mythology for England, which he eventually did with his legendarium." 
Emily Watson,  Editor of Quadrapheme

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 Here is a link to music by Sibelius inspired by the story of Kullervo in the Kalevala. 

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 Tove Jansson -- From the Dark Years of War to the Wonder of the Moomins

Tove Jansson (1914-2001) was a young writer-artist when the Russians invaded Finland in November,1939. All of Europe was headed to the chaos, destruction and fear of WW 2. Like other Finns, the next years of her life would be dominated by war. Jansson used cartoons to lampoon both Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Her work became a feature in anti-fascist magazines. The Finnish war with Russia was in two parts,1939-1940. and 1941-1944. The Finns then had to drive the German Army out of Lapland. The war finally ended in 1945. It was in 1945 that Jansson created the Moomins, her benevolent troll-like characters, that would later become a beloved series of children's books.

In the years that followed, Moomin popularity spread, slowly at first, and then quite rapidly. A big push came when Jansson began publishing a Moomin comic strip (1954) in the London Evening News; at that time, the largest newspaper in the world. She was soon reaching 20 million readers daily in over 40 countries. Jansson created the comic strip for seven years while still creating books and painting.She then turned the comic strip over to her brother, Lars, who continued the strip, often with collaboration, until 1975. 

Moomins were also very popular in Japan where a charming cartoon series, aimed at adults appeared in 1969. I have posted a link below, You Tube offers many more.

Television followed in Europe. There then came movies, theater, theme parks, and even opera. Moomin merchandising grew in a multitude of ways, from coffee cups to stuffed toys.Today, the Moomin brand is estimated to have a value of 700 million Euros per year. What started as wonderful adventures in Moomin Valley has become a big business. 

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The Moomins --  Like Nothing Else in Literature

"A lost treasure now rediscovered . . . A surrealistic masterpiece."
Neil Gaiman 

"Jansen (sic) was a genius of a very subtle kind. These simple stories resonate with profound and complex emotions that are like nothing else in literature for children or adults: intensely Nordic, and completely universal."
Phillip Pullman

The illustrations are by Tove Jansson. 

Link to Moomin Blog

Link to well done profile/bio of Tove Jansson

Link to a charming episode from the popular Japanese animation Moomin series: Mörön

Link to the Moomin Cafe in Tokyo 

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Fairy Tales

"Fairy-tales are interesting things. Stories too large for one era or culture. Messages we shape and shape again. That draw us in and try to teach us lessons. Be wary of the stranger in the woods. Be kind to older ladies you encounter. The way you look can be a blessing or a curse, depending." Deirdre Sullivan: author 

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Nordic Tales, Part 2, will be posted in my August blog featuring Sweden, Astrid Lindgren; Selma Lagerdörf; the collector, Clara Stroebe; Tomten, the troll, and more.

 

 

 

 

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Movies

Briefly Noted:

Incredibles 2 : Light Fun . . . 

Isle of Dogs : Intelligent fun and delightful dogs . . . 

Early Man: inspired silliness and light fun . .  .

CoCo: excellent. a breakthrough film . . . great music

Treat yourself to the best. . . Here is a link to a 3 minute and 24 second montage of Hayao Miyazaki films: Miyazaki 

The illustration is from Howl's Moving Castle-

 

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The Animal Protector Series of Children's Books
 

The Animal Protector Series uses fictional
 animal characters and action-packed storylines to shine a
 spotlight on animals that are in need of human protection,
 but their plights have often been ignored in today’s
 society. To date, there are five planned books in the
 series; the first, out now, is called Smidgey Pidgey’s
 Predicament . . .  Books are also in the works featuring rodeo
 calves and hermit crabs, with more storylines planned for
 2019.

The series is written by Tamira Thayne, and illustrated by C.A. Wulff.

 

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What Happens Next?

"Since a gunman killed 20 first graders and six adults with an assault rifle at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, there have been at least 239 school shootings nationwide, according to an analysis in February of figures provided by the Gun Violence Archive. In those episodes, 438 people were shot, 138 of whom were killed."

Christine Hauser in the New York Times.

What happened to the momentum to modify the gun laws? The politicians are quiet. The president is quiet -- at least about the gun laws.

What happens next?

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PAL-- People Animals Love

Therapy dogs bring the human canine connection to Washington DC and nearby areas courtesy of PAL:

"Our mission is to utilize the human-animal bond to brighten the lives of the lonely, ease the pain of the sick, and enrich the world of at-risk children. . .  . In our Pet Visit Program, wagging tails and wet noses ease the loneliness of the elderly and comfort the sick. Warm, gazing eyes help early readers feel comfortable reading out loud when dogs visit libraries. In our PAL Camp and PAL Club, hundreds of lower-income children deepen their natural connection to the amazing animal kingdom with a rich Animal Studies program . . .. 

Here is a link to visit PAL

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"In contrast (to the written tales), the beauty of storytelling is how the same story is slightly different each time it is told, even by the same storyteller. Oral fairy tales are elusive creatures that folklorists study, record and try to trace through history." 

Excerpted from Heidi Anne Heimer's  excellent article, What Is a Fairytale?  on SurLaLune  

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 Why Am I ?

Why Am I ? – a joyous Yelodoggie Book – celebrates self-empowerment and the benefits of inclusion. It helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us.

Yelodoggie travels far and wide, up and down, inside and outside, from outer space to the waters of the sea –gaining confidence and leaving his insecurities behind – while seeking to answer Why Am I different ?...Why Am I Yellow ?

Why Am I ? opens the imagination and perspective of children to the world around them.

We are searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world. This is a book for our troubled times. Our primary motive is wide distribution.
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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes. 

"Castle In The Mist is the second book in the Planet of the Dogs series and I must say I enjoyed it, cover to cover. This work can be read as a sequel to Planet of the Dogs, an ideal situation, but can also be read as a stand-alone with no loss to the flow of the story." --  Don Blankenship, Teacher and Reviewer, Good Books for Kids

The photo by Susan Purser is of her therapy dog, Bandit, and his friend, Chase, reading Castle In The Mist.

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"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat." - Author Unknown

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April -- Wonder Stories That Endure

 

 
                                            The illustration from The Master Cat or Puss in Boots is by Arthur Rackham.

 

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Stories That Endure 

In Puss in Boots a homeless, cross-dressing, talking cat changes his life – and the life of his homeless human buddy – simply through telling stories. Story is everywhere, and it affects every choice we make: where we live, what we buy, what jobs we do, who we fall in love with. When children hear stories, they are making sense of the world, and casting themselves in the various roles. That’s one of the reasons girls grow up wanting to be princesses, if they’re not careful. . ."  Kathryn Heyman in the Guardian

The Lingering Question 

In the past, I had never paid much attention to Puss in Boots. I had rather quickly scanned through the story. However, Kathryn Heyman's breezy comment (above), and the lingering question of why this tale had become a classic, a tale with great staying power, motivated me to read the story anew. And to see where it came from and what others had said about it.

The illustration is by Carl Offterdinger

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When A Manipulative Cat is Smarter than the Man Who Rules the Land 

The premise of a cat overcoming the obstacles of society, king, and country certainly appealed to ordinary people. Here was a story where a cat succeeds in changing his life, and the life of his master, from no hope and despair into a new life where he overcomes the poverty and uncertainty of their lives in a splendid way. It had a timeless appeal and ordinary people told versions of this tale for centuries, long before and after it was served up in the literature of royal courts in Italy by Giovana Straparola (1553) and Giambattista Basile (1634).

It was a later written version, one of eleven in a collection  written by Charles Perrault for the salons of Louis XIV, that became the basis for the version written by the brother's Grimm. Perrault's collection was entitled Tales of Mother Goose,or Tales of Time Past (1697).

"The Contes (Tales) immediately enjoyed a great success: eight reprints and two imitations were published during Perrault’s time. It was quite a lot, even if most of those publications were popular and cheap. It should be mentioned that his success was quite uncommon: fairy tales made in the salons were usually not popular among the lower classes. Perrault’s tales definitely belong to the genre of French literary fairy tales; they have all their distinguishing features. On the other hand, Perrault used folktales and did not make drastic modifications in their structure; people easily recognized the stories they knew so well. Later studies of folklorists and literary historians showed that the book was undoubtedly based on a collection of traditional tales." Lydie Jean, University of Paris IV Sorbonne

The cover design and illustrations are by Walter Crane.

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Perrault's Moral 

Perrault, for every story, wrote a moral. One wonders if he doubted the ability of the fashionable salon reader to fully understand his tales. Here is his moral for Puss in Boots: "If the son of a miller so quickly could gain The heart of a Princess, it seems pretty plain,With good looks and good manners, and some aid from dress, The humblest need not quite despair of success." -- Charles Perrault  Stories of Times Passed

Male or Female, Fox or Jackal, Monkey or Cat

"While most western European versions of the tale feature a cat, eastern European versions favor foxes. In India, the title hero is a jackal; in the Philippine Islands he is a monkey. Perrault's cat is a male, but in many European analogues the obliging cat is a female and sometime's marries the miller's son after she has been disenchanted." Maria Tatar The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales. 

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Language, Lies, Cleverness, Manipulation, and Good Boots 

In former times, life was hard and uncertain and the oral tales that were told were important. They entertained, opened the possibilities of life, and gave hope. The attributes that allowed even a poor, uneducated orphan, who owned nothing but a cat, to prevail, offered hope to all. Good boots were expensive and a sign of status and prosperity. They provided Puss In Boots with credibility as to being from the upper class. 

Puss manipulates everyone from the king to an ogre. His cleverness in tricking the ogre into becoming a mouse -- and therefore an edible snack for a cat -- was used through the centuries by apprentices in wonder tales to overcome sorcerers. And in this tale, his cleverness allows Puss to gain a fine castle with servants and all the trappings for his master.

The illustration of Puss and the ogre is by Gustave Dore.

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Tom Thumb Had Much In Common With Puss

It occurred to me, when I was again reading the tale of Puss In Boots, that there were direct parallels with the story of Tom Thumb. Once again the underdog prevails. In a time of famine and despair,Tom manages to save his family, including his six brothers. He demonstrated that his small size didn't matter if you had courage and could keep your wits about you. He tricked an ogre, charmed his wife (who saved the lives of all the boys), stole the ogre's magic Seven League boots, and finally, tricked the ogre's wife into giving him the ogre's gold.

 The illustration of Tom Thumb and the ogre is also by Gustave Dore.

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 The Vital Connection

“For most of human history, 'literature,' both fiction and poetry, has been narrated, not written — heard, not read. So fairy tales, folk tales, stories from the oral tradition, are all of them the most vital connection we have with the imaginations of the ordinary men and women whose labor created our world.” 
― Angela Carter

 

 

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Perrault's Tales Were Anchored In Hardship

"Perrault's insistence on hardship anchors this tale (Puss In Boots) in the socio-economic climate of 17th century France. The plague had reappeared. droughts had caused disastrous harvests, famine was widespread, and an extra mouth to feed could literally mean the difference between life and death. Children were sometimes abandoned; widows with children needed to remarry; and became stepmothers. Reversal of fortune affected the upper classes as well. . ."

Mary Louise Ennis, author and Professor of French Literature at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, writing in The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. 

 

The illustration is by Jozaf Israels.

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The Castle In The Mist

How do you explain loyalty to children? Does loyalty have a place in their world?

Suppose it is long, long ago . . . a sister and brother are imprisoned in an old castle. Their father, a king, cannot rescue them, because he does not know where they are. The children are dismayed and frightened. 

Until one cold foggy night, with the forest and the castle enveloped in mist, the sound of howling dogs is heard by the imprisoned children – their dogs, their loyal dogs, have found them. Hope returns. And thus unfolds the story of the Castle In The Mist .

Click here to read sample chapters of Castle In The Mist. 

The illustration from Castle In The Mist is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

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Movies 

The Puss in Boots Movie (2011)

The story in the movie version of Puss In Boots is nothing like the original. Puss becomes an ace Latin swordsman, with a sexy Latina partner; he outwits Humpty Dumpty and acquires magical beans. The film was a financial success made as a spinoff from the extremely lucrative Shrek series. 

Here is an excerpt from the review by Ty Burr in the Boston Globe:" Is the movie itself any good? For a spinoff of a series (“Shrek’’) that has been pounded into the pavement, surprisingly so. “Puss in Boots’’ doesn’t break any new ground in the storytelling department, and its reliance on go-go-go state-of-the-art action sequences grows wearying by the end, but the movie has a devilish wit that works for parent and child alike, and it moves like a bobsled." (3 out of 4 stars)

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Peter Rabbit Dissapoints

Beatrix Potter would not have liked the Peter Rabbit film".This headline by Alison Flood in the Guardian was followed by a very insightful article. Here are excerpts:

"When Walt Disney offered to adapt the Tale of Peter Rabbit for film in 1936, Beatrix Potter did not hesitate: the answer was no. During her lifetime, the author exercised minute control over the reams of merchandise spun out of her work, which is why Sony Pictures’ new film adaptation would have been anathema to the Lake District author, according to her biographer . . . Matthew Dennison, said Potter would not have approved of Sony’s take on a story that has been part of millions of children’s lives. . . Dennison said the film . . . changes the essential character of its eponymous hero. 'Peter Rabbit emerges as a bully, and there really isn’t any evidence for that in the story. . . ' Reviews have taken issue with what the New Yorker described as 'violence and a puerile sense of humour'. The magazine called it 'an object lesson in how not to adapt a beloved volume to the screen' ”. 

 

The illustration of Peter Rabbit is by Beatrix Potter

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The Breadwinner

 A Tale of Courage by a Young Girl in Afghanistan

The Breadwinner is a celebrated animated film by the wonderful Norah Twomey and Tomm Moore. Their animation work is exceptional. The Breadwinner is based on a true story. Like their previous film, The Secret of Kells, it was nominated for an Academy Award. The film was adapted from a celebrated YA novel, the Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis.  

Here is an excerpt of a review by Kenneth Turan in the L.A. Times: "In its power and its beauty, 'The Breadwinner' reminds us that animation can be every bit as much of a medium for adults as it is for children."

Here is a link to the Trailer. The Breadwinner 

 

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The Shape of Water:  A Crossover Fantasy

The Shape of Water and the publicity surrounding the Oscars have made a global audience aware of Guillermo del Toro. I have a vivid remembrance of seeing, over 10 years ago, his incredible dark fantasy, Pan's Labyrinth. I was awed. His films are tales of wonder for adults and young adults alike. They deal with profound aspects of the life experience. I have posted below links to the trailers for his best known films, all of them doorways to an alternate reality. 

The Shape of Water

Pan's Labyrinth

The Devil's Backbone 

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Who Are We ?

"Who are we, if not a combination of experiences, information, books we have read, things imagined? Each life is an encyclopaedia, a library, an inventory of objects, a series of styles, and everything can be constantly reshuffled and reordered in every conceivable way."

• Italo Calvino, Six Memos for the Next Millennium

The illustration is by Gotthard Kuehl.

 

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Nancy Yeager's Heritage 

Nancy Yeager taught young children and left a legacy that continues to grow. Her family established the Yeager Foundation that supports, among other causes, early reading, through two books -- Mommy Talk and Talk To me. The books encourage early reading and language development, especially for disadvantaged parents and their very young children. Here is an excerpt from their site:

"Mommy Talk is available in English or in Spanish. Talk to Me is available only in English at this time.  Single copies are free to individuals and quantities are free to nonprofits, schools, public agencies, libraries, and pediatric clinics. . .  eBook editions of Mommy Talk are also available free of charge at Kindle eBooks on Amazon and at the iTunes Store, among other web sites in the U.S. and internationally."

Among the other meaningful initiatives given support in her memory, is a major gift by Doug Yeager to the Princeton Baby Lab. Here is an excerpt from their site:

"At the Princeton Baby Lab, we study how babies and young children learn to talk, see, and understand the world. This is an exciting time for research on child development, because we have the ability to study how a child’s ability to learn and their experiences work together to support their development.

Our research is important for many reasons. It helps us understand how the developing mind works, how biology and experience shape our lives, how caregivers can best support children’s development, and how we can help children at-risk for poor developmental outcomes."

If you are a teacher for preschool through fifth grade, you are eligible for a one week summer residency in southwestern Michigan sponsored in part by the Yeager Foundation. For information on how to apply, or how to obtain the free books, visit the Yeager Family Foundation Website. 

The photo is by Elise Piazza, Princeton Baby Lab.

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Finding Fido

"Between 3 and 4 million pets are put to death in shelters across the U.S. every year. Some of them are owner surrenders, some are impounds, but the vast majority of them are missing or stolen pets.

C.A. Wulff and A.A.Weddle, the administrators of the service Lost & Found Ohio Pets, have compiled a guide to address this sad reality. 'Finding Fido' offers tips for preventing the loss of a pet; advice for what to do with a stray pet you've found; and a step-by-step plan in case the unthinkable happens, and you lose a pet.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefit The Beagle Freedom Project."

This information was excerpted from Goodreads   I have read Finding Fido and it is excellent.

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Alice Is Back

The Lewis Carroll Society of North America will hold their Spring meeting hosted by one of the great Alice collections (over 3,000 rare books, manuscripts, and objects) on the weekend of April 13. Here is an excerpt from their announcement:  

"The University of Southern California, home of the Cassady Lewis Carroll Collection in the Doheny Library, will be our gracious host in Los Angeles on April 13. Our meeting is scheduled on a FRIDAY this time so that we may participate in the gala presentation of the 14th annual Wonderland Award at the culmination of a day of fascinating programming . . . The Cassadys and the Doheny Library’s curators are bringing to life everything the LCSNA could have hoped for in making Carroll collecting meaningful and inspirational to the next generation of scholars, artists, and enthusiasts . . . 

The illustration is by John Tenniel.

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Disney's Frozen follows the Money to Broadway

"Anxiety over the handling of a precious gift is the theme that comes through loudest in 'Frozen', the sometimes rousing, often dull, alternately dopey and anguished Disney musical that opened on Broadway on Thursday. . . , the precious gift causing so much anxiety at the St. James Theater is the 2013 blockbuster film from which the stage musical has been adapted. After all, $1.3 billion in box office is a lot of ice." -- Excerpted from the review by Jesse Green in the New York Times

And to think it all started with Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale for children: The Snow Queen. 

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 The Famished Road

"The Famished Road is fed by the dreams of literature. I devoured the world, through art, politics, literature, films and music, in order to find the elixir of its tone. Then it became a perpetual story into which flowed the great seas of African dreams, myths and fables of the world, known and unknown. I made up stories in the matrix of the ancestral mode. Many people read these stories and assume they belong to the oral tradition, but I had always believed that it is an artist’s function to enrich the oral tradition with stories of our own, inventions of our own, inspired by the tales we heard in the moonlight, sitting in a circle. But even in that the tone is the thing."

This is an edited extract from the introduction to the 25th anniversary edition of The Famished Road (Man Booker Prize Winner) by Ben Okri

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Marching, Protesting. Speaking from the Heart for Gun Control

This link will take you to terrific photos of gun violence protests around the world. Thanks to the Guardian: People March

The momentum continues to build, driven by students who refuse -- after the Parkland School murders -- to stop.

Their goal is to change gun laws -- more sanity and more safety. They are aiming for politicians and the November elections.

They have our total support. 

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Facts About the Refugee Crisis (from Save the Children's website)

• Worldwide, 22.5 million refugees, half of them children, have left everything behind to escape conflict, violence and persecution
• Many have experienced profound physical and emotional traumas
• Some are missing years of school, severely compromising their futures
• Children traveling alone are especially vulnerable – if they make it at all
• Others are starved out of their homelands due to drought and conflict

For more information, read the Refugee Children’s Progress Report and read What is a Refugee?

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The Boy and the Sea by Kirsty Gunn

Like the sea, this beautiful, gentle story about a growing boy is deeper than it appears on the surface. On the surface, the tale is about a child and how his relationship to the sea changes as he goes through life. On a deeper level, the tale reflects a child's relationship to a loving and supportive parent, and the lessons that can be learned from such a bond. Look even deeper and you will find the messages that unconditional love is its own reward; of the importance of giving freely of oneself; of recognizing the sacrifices of others and properly expressing gratitude. Look deeper still, and you will find a reflection of man's relationship to God. A lovely story for children and parents alike.

This review is by author C.A. Wulff.

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Tainaron: Mail from Another City

"The Writer: "How could I forget the spring when we walked in the University’s botanical gardens; for there is such a park here in Tainaron, too, large and carefully tended. If you saw it you would be astonished, for it contains many plants that no one at home knows; even a species that flowers underground . . .”

The Guide: "And this goes on all the time, incessantly," he said,". "Tainaron is not a place, as you perhaps think. It is an event which no one measures. It is no use anyone trying to make maps. It would be a waste of time and effort. Do you understand now?" Excerpted from Tainaron by Finnish author Leena Krohn  

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THE READING WITH ROVER STORY

Here is the story of this wonderful therapy dog organization excerpted from their website:

"Once upon a time, in the town of Bothell, Washington, there was (and still is) a Librarian named MieMie Wu. MieMie wanted to make reading more fun for kids because she LOVED reading and she knew how important it was for children to love reading too . . . MieMie needed help getting good dogs and kind people to volunteer so she contacted a nice lady named Dotti Snow. Dotti had Pet Partners® registered therapy dogs that went to hospitals to visit sick people. Dotti thought MieMie’s idea was GREAT and offered her therapy dogs as reading assistance dogs!

Reading With Rover started out as a community-based literacy program volunteering in the schools, bookstores and libraries of Puget Sound area of Washington State. We now offer the comfort of our therapy dogs at local hospitals, assisting living homes, rehabilitation facilities and we are very popular college stress relievers!  Our programs are a part of several school districts in the area as well. . .  We have provided over 10,000 book bags and new books to children in the Seattle area. . ." Here is a link to their website: Reading with Rover 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

Why Am I ? – a joyous Yelodoggie Book – celebrates self-empowerment and the benefits of inclusion. It helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us.

Yelodoggie travels far and wide, up and down, inside and outside, from outer space to the waters of the sea –gaining confidence and leaving his insecurities behind – while seeking to answer Why Am I different ?...Why Am I Yellow ?

Why Am I? opens the imagination and perspective of children to the world around them.

We continue our search for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world. This is a book for our troubled times; our primary motive is wide distribution.

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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes. 

"Even though this is a children's book, I, as an adult, enjoyed it very much. If only there really was a Planet of the Dogs!!"

From an Amazon review by PT Blonde 

The illustration from Castle In The Mist is by Stella Mustanoja-McCarty

 

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Every dog should have a man of his own, There is nothing like a well behaved person around the house to spread the dog's blanket for him, or bring him his supper when he comes home man-tired at night. -- Corey Ford (1902-1969)

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March: Wonder Tales - Where The Forest Never Ends

 

                                                 

                                            

                                                                          Photo by Ari Pöntinen


In Tales of Wonder, The Forest Never Ends 

Long ago, when folk tales were told by people in homes, in fields, in the marketplace and taverns, there were many stories of the forests.

The forests held beauty and danger, the known and the unknown, light and darkness. 

The forests were places of lost and abandoned children; homes of witches, elves, and dwarfs. They were the place where wondrous events occurred. 

The forests were a threshold of wonder.

In tales of wonder, the forest never ends.

 

 

J.R.R. Tolkien often walked here in Puzzlewood, The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England.

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Tolkien's Trees

"As a lover of trees and a man who abhorred the needless destruction of them, Tolkien the writer often defined his characters as good or evil in part by their feelings about trees. Many of the evil peoples in his stories are tree-destroyers. The orcs heedlessly and mindlessly hew away at the living trees of Fangorn; Saruman destroys the beauty of the Shire by erecting buildings from its trees; and Sauron’s evil presence turns Greenwood the Great to the black and decaying boughs of Mirkwood and makes Mordor so sterile that a tree cannot grow there. . .

Conversely, among the good peoples of Tolkien’s world are many tree-lovers; one could almost say it is one of the hallmarks of Tolkien’s good people. Galadriel, Legolas and the whole host of Elves show a deep regard for trees, almost as brethren; the Ents and Huorns tend and guard their forests as shepherds protect their sheep; Samwise, the hobbit-gardener, cherishes the soil of Galadriel’s garden, using it to restore his own devastated Shire. . ."

Excerpted from an article by Claudia Riiff Finseth in  The One Ring.net

The illustration is by Ted Nasmith. 

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Imagined Wonder, Forests and Tolkien

"The importance of ‘Imagined wonder’ is embedded in Tolkien’s treatment of the forest in the Hobbit. . .

For those who read the Hobbit as an introduction to the story of Middle-earth, his ability to engage with the ‘imagined wonder’ of his world is central to Tolkien’s lasting attraction. Not only does his method of blending the mythic with actual experience use the forest as a site of enchantment and adventure, but he also portrays the forest in such a way as to embody real forests rather than to translate them into something fantastical."

Excerpted from an article in Academia by Shelly Saguaro and Deborah Cogan Thacker

 The illustration of Treebeard, the Ent, protecting the Hobbits is by Stephen Hickman.

 

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The Forest Possesses the Power

"Inevitably they find their way into the forest. It is there that they lose and find themselves. It is there that they gain a sense of what is to be done. The forest is always large, immense, great and mysterious. No one ever gains power over the forest, but the forest possesses the power to change lives and alter destinies. . . ” 

Jack Zipes, The Brothers Grimm, From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World

The illustration of Tom Thumb leaving a trail in the forest is by Gustave Dore. 

 

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Their Secret Gifts and Perils 

"I believe that the great stretches of forests in northern Europe, with their constant seasonal changes, their restricted views, their astonishing biological diversity, their secret gifts and perils and the knowledge that you have to go through them to get anywhere else, created the themes and ethics of the fairy tales we know best. There are secrets, hidden identities, cunning disguises; there are rhythms of change like the changes of the seasons; there are characters, both human and animal, whose assistance can be earned or spurned; and there is -- over and over again -- the journey or quest, which leads first to knowledge and then to happiness. The forest is the place of trial in fairy stories, both dangerous and exciting. Coming to terms with the forest, surviving its terrors, utilising its gifts and gaining its help is the way to 'happy ever after."

Excerpted from Sara Maitland's wonderful book, Gossip from the Forest.

The illustration from Snow White is by Trina Schart Hyman.

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 "But I'll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you'll come to understand that you're connected with everything."  Alan Watts

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The Forest,The Folksinger, and His Wife

Oregon has dense forest.  Colin Meloy who lives in Portland, Oregon, created a children's book with his wife, illustrator Carson Ellis. They were inspired by Forest Park, a large wooded area contiguous to Portland.

Their book is called Wildwood and it is set in a huge forest area called The Impassable Wilderness. Despite its proximity to a city, people don't go there. In fact, they can't get through the wild overgrown bushes around the edge of the Wilderness.There are no roads, and there are powerful forces at work. Those who try to get in are soon lost and confused. However, a young girl named Prue (whom we learn has special powers) finds her way in when she attempts to rescue her little brother, (Mac) who was kidnapped by crows, and taken to the mysterious forest. Prue has entered a parallel universe.

The Tree of Wonder in the Impassable Wilderness

There are mystics in the North Forest of the Wilderness who are in communication with an ancient and wondrous tree that has great powers. The tree plays a critical part in Prue saving her bother and in good overcoming evil. Prue's quest is filled with never ending adventure, surprises, and dangers. There are talking animals and birds, bandits, coyote soldiers, and a ruthless Dowager Governess witch who intends to kill little Mac.

Two sequels have been published since the original Wildwood in (2011) and the creators of the Coraline movie have optioned the film rights.

Here is link to Colin and Carson discussing their Wildwood book in an engaging few minutes on YouTube.

Here is a link to preview the excellent illustrations for Wildwood in less that a minute. There are many original folksongs by Colin Meloy and his band, The Decemberists, on YouTube. Here is a link to the song, The Crane Wife.

The illustrations by Carson Ellis are from Wildwood.

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Children in Fairy Tales

"Fairy tales  did not gloss over these dark facts of life. Indeed, they confronted them squarely. The heroism of such children lies not in the recovery of a noble lineage but in the ability to survive and transform their fate -- and to outwit those who would do them harm without losing their lives, their souls, or their humanity in the process." Terri Windling -- Myth and Moor 

 

The illustration from Neil Gaimons version of Hansel and Gretel is by Lorenzo Mattotti.

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Hiding Places in the Dark Woods

"The Stone City Warriors will attack Green Valley in the morning when they emerge from the Dark Woods road. The farmers will resist, but alone they will have no chance to stop the invaders. It is up to Daisy and Bean, a sister and brother, and the dogs to stop them. Dogs are new on Planet Earth and only one warrior has seen a dog.

"Meanwhile, the woods became quiet again, and the horses were once again calm. They could not hear Edgar and hundreds of big dogs moving silently through the woods on both sides of the road. . .

They went into hiding places where they could see the road, but they could not be seen. They would smell the approaching army and hear the noise of the many men, horses, and supply wagons long before the warriors reached them. . ."

Excerpted from Planet Of The Dogs  Here is a link to read sample chapters.

The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

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The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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MOVIES

Early Man

Here is an excerpt from the review by the critic, Peter DeBruge ( Variety): "Early Man is as charming as they come, bursting with the kind of daffy humor and off-kilter characters that have earned the company a worldwide following." This new film from Nick Park tells the story of likeable stone age people up against hard, cruel bronze age invaders. The only chance for salvation is for the stone age people to win a huge soccer match against their vengeful bronze age enemies.

The trailer is fun to watch. Here is a link: Early Man

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Peter Rabbit

I concur with this excerpt from a review by Jane Horwitz in the Washigton Post

"Purists who cherish Beatrix Potter’s picture books about country critters with human traits may want to pass on 'Peter Rabbit,' a smarty-pants update on the Edwardian-era 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit.' The hybrid of live action and animation is quite handsomely rendered and amusing, as it happens. But its creators overindulge, to the point of crassness, in cliches drawn from action movies and pop culture.

Potter’s gently humorous prose and wondrous illustrations made her tales timeless. But with “Peter Rabbit,” director Will Gluck and co-screenwriter Rob Lieber aim to prove that there’s no classic that can’t be improved by an injection of modernity, all with an eye to mass-market appeal (read: ka-ching). 

Trailer for the Movie: Peter Rabbit

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Wes Mooreland's Isle of the Dogs 

This film was a big hit at the Berlin Film Festival. Advance reviews are excellent (Rotten Tomatoes). The Trailer is fun and tells the story. Opening March 23 in the USA.

 

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Congratulations to Black Panther

The Black Panther, a crossover film regarding both age and race has arrived with enormous audience response at the  box office and very favorable reviews. It is said to be a turning point film in the film industry. 

 

 

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 Wonder Trees and Enchanted Forests Live On In Today's Movies

The writers of movies are often influenced and inspired by the stories, themes, and myths of wonder tales. It follows that the forest and trees of wonder tales play significant roles in many eventful films that have found enormous audiences. This is in addition to those films that are direct adaptations, ranging from Tolkien's Fangborn Forest to Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood.

In James Cameron's Avatar, the Hometree of the Omaticaya clan is the center of spiritual life.  In the Harry Potter films, the forbidden forest next to Hogwarts has a wide array of strange and sometimes dangerous creatures -- including unicorns, hippogriffs, and centaurs. Into the Woods, a Disney live action musical, incorporates four Grimm fairytales and grossed 213 million dollars wordwide.

The illustration is from the forbidden forest in the Harry Potter series.

The Return of the Faraway Tree  

The producers of the Paddington films are adapting Enid Blyton's (1897-1968) Faraway Tree book (1939) into a film. Blyton's 762 books have sold 600 million copies and been translated into 90 languages. In the Faraway Tree book, three kids discover an enormous tree in the enchanted forest whose branches reach high in the sky. "When the children climb the Faraway Tree they discover it is a very strange tree,such as one which grows apples and pears,nuts. . .  and all sorts of different magical creatures, including Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, . . . and the Angry Pixie live there. . .  At the very top of the tree they discover a ladder which leads them to a magical land. This land is different on each visit, because each place moves on from the top of the tree to make way for a new land. . ."  Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Despite their great success, Blyton's books were banned from many UK libraries, banned from the BBC, and considered to be banal by many critics. Their apparent mediocrity didn't deter sales nor did it slow down the output of Enid Blyton. One of her daughters said that the Faraway tree book was inspired, in part, by Norse mythology.

 

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 Save the Children In a World of Violence

In 2016, Save the Children was involved in bringing vital humanitarian aid to over 56 million children worldwide. One in six children lives in an area where their lives are impacted by violence and conflict. Here is a link to an excellent Save the Children report: The War On Children.

The following excepts are from a Guardian report on another savage Isis attack affecting the lives of children in Afghanistan.

"Gunmen stormed the offices of Save the Children in Jalalabad on Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding 27 in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

The latest assault on a foreign charity in Afghanistan underlined the growing dangers for aid workers in the country, who have become casualties of an increase in militant violence in recent years. . . 

Save the Children confirmed “with profound sadness” that three of its staff members had been killed in the attack. 'All other staff have been safely rescued from the office. Four were injured in the attack and are receiving medical treatment,' a spokesman said.

“Save the Children condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms. We are shocked and appalled at the violence carried out against our staff in Afghanistan, who are dedicated humanitarians, committed to improving the lives and well-being of millions of children across the country.”

 Top photo courtesy of the Khaama Press. Bottom photo is by Berouz Meari/AFR/Getty Images.

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The NRA, Politicians, and Gun Manufacturers -- The Gun Laws Must Change

Hundreds of students across the country left class Wednesday to protest the nation’s gun laws. It was a show of solidarity with students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where last week a gunman shot and killed 17 students using an AR-15 rifle. -- Ryan Connell Holmes PBS

Amazingly, as I post this blog, it appears that the protests are actually making a difference. Watch this powerful video.Florida Shooting Protest 

 

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Brigadoon Service Dogs

Therapy dogs and the many volunteers who work with Brigadoon help children, adults, veterans, and even incarcerated people. The latter train dogs to help veterans with PTSD and other debilitating problems.

The man in the photo on the left is an incarcerated veteran who trains dogs for veterans on the outside who have been damaged during their service and suffer from PTSD.

There are many ways that Brigadoon Service Dogs benefit the people in Washington State. This is from their website: "In the State of Washington alone, there are 398,000 mobility-impaired, and 226,000 hearing-impaired individuals. This is only a small part of the services Brigadoon dogs provide help for, and a small part of the area that Brigadoon services." 

Here is the link to their website: Brigadoon 

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Terri Windling. . . Myth and Moor and Beyond

Terri Windling's splendid Myth and Moor blog begins like this: "Notes from a Dartmoor studio on folklore, fairy tales, fantasy, mythic arts & mythic living." Her blog, is all of these things. In fact, it is a celebration of all these things. Her
blog also comes with wonderful photos and illustrations and, at times, with evocative music.

Myth and Moor is an inspiration for anyone interested in tales of wonder, fantasy, and the mythic heritage.

I believe Terri Windling has a dancing mind. Her talents are many and diverse. She is a caring person, a gifted writer and artist. For many years she has been a major player in the world of fantasy, children's literature and a door opening sharer of her world. 

The illustration is by Terri. Here is a link to Myth and Moor. Terri has joined Patreon 

 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

Why Am I? – a joyous Yelodoggie Book – celebrates self-empowerment and the benefits of inclusion. It helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us.

Yelodoggie travels far and wide, up and down, inside and outside, from outer space to the waters of the sea –gaining confidence and leaving his insecurities behind – while seeking to answer Why Am I different...Why Am I Yellow?

Why Am I opens the imagination and perspective of children to the world around them.

We continue our search for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world.

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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes.

"A charming fantasy-allegory. . . Children will enjoy the story about dogs who come from another planet to help people on earth.  But under the surface are the important messages of friendship, love, loyalty, and how to overcome evil with good." Wayne Walker-Home School Book Review

The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

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"Before you get a dog, you can't quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can't imagine living any other way." -- Caroline Knapp
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February 2018 -- Truth, Reality, and Fantasy

                                                   
                                                      

                                   

"For fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual, but it's true. Children know that. Adults know it too and that's precisely why many of them are afraid of fantasy. They know that its truth challenges, even threatens, all that is false, all that is phony, unnecessary, and trivial in the life they have let themselves be forced into living. They are afraid of dragons because they are afraid of freedom."

Quoted from Ursula K. Le Guin on Terri Windling's Myth & Moor 

The illustration is by Jacub Rozalski.

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Ursala K. LaGuin has passed on.

I think of her as brilliant and imaginative; a pioneer who challenged complacency and set the highest standards.

Her books and her voice were important to the lives of many.

Here is a link to her website/blog. Here is a notice of her passing on from the NY Times: A Great Loss

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For centuries, great storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, plagues and war created chaos, disruptions and fear. 

Tales were told of those with uncanny powers, saints who had the power of rekindling life, shamans and healers who called on the beyond.

For centuries, imagination and oral tales, spoken or sung, explained the mysteries of life with stories.

Over time, they became what we call tales of wonder. They have been told and retold.

They inspire retelling in other media:books, film, theater, television, dance, puppetry, music. 

Tales of wonder continue to resonate with people. They have a life of their own.

Tales of wonder give hope.
 

The photo is of an Icelandic house from the middle ages. 

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An Uncanny Hypnotic Force from Angela Carter

“The Company of Wolves" is a dream about werewolves and little girls and deep, dark forests. It is not a
children's film and it is not an exploitation film; it is a disturbing and stylish attempt to collect some of the nightmares that lie beneath the surface of "Little Red Riding Hood."

The movie is based on a novel and a screenplay by Angela Carter, who has taken Red Riding Hood as a starting-place for the stories, which are secretly about the fearsomeness of sexuality. She has shown us what those scary fairy tales are really telling us; she has filled in the lines and visualized the parts that the Brothers Grimm left out (and they did not leave out all that many parts). The movie has an uncanny, hypnotic force; we always know what is happening, but we rarely know why, or how it connects with anything else, or how we can escape from it, or why it seems to correspond so deeply with our guilts and fears. That is, of course, almost a definition of a nightmare."   The film was directed by Neil Jordan.

Excerpted from http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-company-of-wolves-1985

The photo is of Sarah Peterson in the role of Rosaleen  in the movie, The Company of Wolves.

Here is a link to the trailer of The Company of Wolves.

Here is a link to the full film of The Company of Wolves

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 Victorian Fears

“Many bowdlerized versions indicated a Victorian-minded censorship, which feared that Little Red Riding Hood might some day break out, become a Bohemian, and live in the woods with the wolf.” 

― Jack D. Zipes, The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood

 

Click the illustration to better see an image encapsulating Victorian fear.

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Virtuoso Imaginative Writing

"The most incandescent work to arise from the feminist explosion is undoubtedly The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, a stretch of virtuoso imaginative writing and potent critique. . .

The Bloody Chamber has become the founding charter of modern fairy tale, and the catalyst of a million awakenings for readers (especially girls) coming upon it for the first time." -- Marina Warner, Once Upon a Time, A Short History of Fairy Tale

 

The photo of Angela Carter in the early 70's is courtesy of the Angela Carter Estate.  

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The Bloody Chamber

Angela Carter was a gifted writer, a serious writer, with a wonderful imagination. She was also quite courageous and something of a revolutionary with a voice that was uniquely her own.

The Company of Wolves movie evolved from stories in Angela Carter's book, The Bloody Chamber. . . Helen Simpson, in an article in the Guardian, wrote. . .

''A darkly erotic reworking of Bluebeard’s Castle, a bawdy Puss in Boots and a sado-masochistic version of Little Red Riding Hood, Angela Carter’s subversive take on traditional fairy stories in The Bloody Chamber is as shocking today as when the collection first appeared in 1979. . . 

The Bloody Chamber is often wrongly described as a group of traditional fairy tales given a subversive feminist twist. In fact, these are new stories, not re-tellings. As Angela Carter made clear, 'My intention was not to do 'versions' or, as the American edition of the book said, horribly, 'adult' fairy tales, but to extract the latent content from the traditional stories and to use it as the beginnings of new stories.' "

Angela Carter website

 The illustration for The Bloody Chamber is by KiKi McNee. 

 

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The child I once was is buried within me. I visit her grave daily. I tell her about our new life -- because I wouldn't have it without her, and would not forgive myself if I ever took her, or my life for granted.

Angela Carter.

 

 

 

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Witches Have Never Gone Away

“ 'Blessings be on this house,' Granny said, perfunctorily. It was always a good opening remark for a witch. It concentrated people's minds on what other things might be on this house.” 
― Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad 

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Witches have moved through time.

Religion has fought against witches.

Witches have never gone away. At least in the minds of some people.

They can be found in books, in theater, in dance, in literature, and in certain cultures, they may live nearby.

And they can certainly be found in wonder tales. 

 In our popular culture witches take many forms.

American Witches . . . From the Nightmare of Salem to the Success of Wicked 

L.Frank Baum. in creating the world of OZ, opened a door for both young and old to a world of fantasy that lives on, in many forms, today. The story he gave us was a very successful book and inspired many sequels, imitations, and theatrical versions. 

After the stunning movie version in 1939, Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, the lion, and the wizard all became icons. The witches later became the heroines of a popular book, Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995). Gregory Maguire, the author, totally reinvented their story.

 

 

Inspired by Maquire's book, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman created a major hit Broadway musical, Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.(2003) 

The witches of Wicked have toured the USA and the world, including London, Australia, Mexico, Germany, and Korea. The original production won many awards, including several Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy Award for its original cast album. It has continued to play for 14 years in the Gershwin Theater in New York City. 

Twenty witches were executed in 17th century Massachusetts, all but one by hanging. They were said to be evil and cohorts of the devil. Times have changed. Today, the witches of Wicked have admirers. They have been seen by millions of people and earned more than a billion dollars.  

Here is a link to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original witches in Wicked, singing Defying Gravity at the The Tony Awards in 2004 

 Here is a link to the first appearance of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz.

The top illustration below the pendant, is by Hyeronrmous Bosch; the Wicked Witch of the west (green face) is from the Wizard of Oz movie; the poster is from the musical, Wicked; the illustration on the right is the Hanging of Ann Hibbens by F.T. Merrill.

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MOVIES

Pixar. . . Truth, Reality, and Fantasy

 All 17 Pixar films have been written about and rated, in order, by the Guardians respected film critic  Peter Bradshaw.

His favorite is the Incredibles. You may not agree with his ratings, but just looking at the lineup is a delightful experience and a reminder of why Pixar is so well regarded by audiences as well as critics. I have provided some links to a few trailers and the terrific opening minutes of UP.

Here is A LINK TO THE wonderful opening of UP

 

Here a link to the trailer of UP

Here is a link to The Incredibles

Here is a link to the trailer for WALL E

The illustration is from the Incredibles.

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The Return of Jumanji

Is it advertising, word of mouth, or the fact that so many moviegoers laughed and whooped at the original Jumanji? Whatever the reason(s), a current box office hit is Jumanji 2. The movie looks like a combination of silly fun and action adventure when four miscreant teen enter a dangerous fantasy jungle world and find themselves with superhero skills that contradict their "real" personas. 

 Here is a link to the trailer for Jumanji 2.

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The Return of Paddington

Here is the Critics Consensus by Rotten Tomatoes: Paddington 2 honors its star's rich legacy with a sweet-natured sequel whose adorable visuals are matched by a story perfectly balanced between heartwarming family fare and purely enjoyable all-ages adventure.

On the other hand, here is an excerpt from Anthony Lane's review in the New Yorker: "Do we really need a sequel to "Paddington," which came out in 2015? Yes, partly because it boasted a surprising deftness and charm, but mainly because it took in more than a quarter of a billion dollars worldwide". .  .

Here is the trailer for Paddington 2

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"I would like to make a film to tell children it's good to be alive.” Hayao Miyazaki...

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The Stone City Warriors Will Attack Green Valley. . .

"I love this series of books and Planet Of The Dogs sets the stage for all that follows. . . The story borders between reality, a dream world, fantasy, fiction, reality and wonderful imagination. . . the author has done a wonderful job of weaving this tale, making it a first rate fantasy read, while at the same time addressing quite real problems and indeed, how to fix those problems". . . 

 Don Blankenship, Teacher, Editor/Reviewer at Good Books For Kids.

Here is a link for sample chapters from the Planet Of The Dogs Series.

Here is a link to Goodreads for more reviews

 The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

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LitWorld

We salute the wonderful work of LitWorld. For 10 years, they have brought literacy and hope to needy children around the globe. The work of non-profit Litworld has changed the lives of children.  Here is an excerpt from their LitWorld website:

"Stories are humankind's greatest resource, and these stories are the key to creating social change. 

When kids have access to spaces where they are free to explore their identities, discover their strengths, and express their dreams, they become empowered to create lasting change in their lives, in their communities, and beyond." 

Every year, around the world, LitWorld celebrates World Read Aloud Day. This year, the event took place on February 1. The photo on the left was taken in the Bangladesh.

Here is a one minute video visit with children whose lives have been touched by LitWorld.

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Farenheit 451 -- The World of Book Burning Returns 

For 8 minutes and 18 seconds on YouTube, Teatr KTO of Krakow presents a condensed version of their street theater production of Farenheit 451.

It is truly extraordinary. I know of nothing like this in the USA or the UK. 

Given the painful Polish experience in WW2, and their current ultra right wing government, the KTO performance, even for an American watching excerpts on YouTube, is a moving, poignant, and rather chilling experience.

Hundreds of spectators line the open Medieval square in Krakow and watch a vivid reinterpretation of Ray Bradbury's classic book.

The great Polish tradition of cutting edge theater is vibrantly alive.

 
The photo is from a performance by Teatr KTO in the Medieval Square in Krakow, Poland.

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"The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, wanted to ban storytelling. He understood its power and its danger. Aristotle though, believed that one of the primary uses of story was to make sense of our lives".     .    .  Kathryn Heyman in the Guardian

 

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The Children's Museum of Manhattan has a new Home for Truth, Reality, and Fantasy 

 Laurel Graeber  wrote the story for the NY Times: Here are excerpts: On Dec. 22, it completed the $45 million purchase of a new home: the former Church of Christ, Scientist, at 96th Street and Central Park West. . . The new building, set to open at the end of 2021, will be almost double the current museum’s total space: 70,000 square feet. . . 

The new quarters will focus on “four areas that we consider critical to a child’s development,” Andrew S. Ackerman, the museum’s executive director, said in an interview: arts and creativity, early-childhood programming, health education and cultural literacy. Exposing young children to different cultures is vital, he said, “especially before the age of 7 or 8, when they begin to really firm up their attitudes toward people different than they are.”

 The museum just ended the run of a groundbreaking show, “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” which explained Islamic life to the very young. 

The photo is by Cassandra Giraldo/NYTimes

 

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Life With Dogs -- Before and After

Before: C.A. Wulff has always been drawn to animals, especially those needíng rescue. And, especially, dogs. Her first book, Born Without a Tail, published in 2006 and revised in 2015, is a memoir of her life experiences and touching moments, primarily with an ever changing, unpredictable pack of loved rescued dogs. 

After: Circling the Waggins: How Five Misfit Dogs Saved Me from Bewilderness, followed in 2012. A deeply felt continuation of her life with dogs (and her partner) while living in an isolated cabin in the woods, this book is also a revealing and insightful saga of love, heartache, and ultimately, a realization that joy can always be found when wagging tails are an intimate part of your life.   

Here is a link to the revised version of Born Without A Tail

Here is a link to Circling the Waggins: How Five Misfit Dogs Saved Me from Bewilderness

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The miraculous ability of dogs to enhance the lives of children and veterans is exemplified by  
4 Paws For Ability.

Based in Xenia, Ohio, 4 Paws For Ability is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing; help with animal rescue, and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places." Visit their site, watch the videos, read the heartfelt, positive testimonials: 

Here is a link to their brief testimonial video of kids and parents whose lives have improved through their 4 Paws For Ability Dogs. 

Here is the link to their site: service 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

We continue our search for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children to understand and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. 

Why Am I ? teaches tolerance. We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new book, should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

 
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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes.

 The photo of Chase reading Castle In The Mist with Rose --  a wonderful therapy dog -- is by Susan Purser. Rose has passed on and Susan now woks with Bandit, a new therapy dog.

 

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"Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog."

 James Thurber

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January 2018 -- Wonder Stories in the Flow of Time

                                                  
                                                       
       
Scholars have traced the origins of Sleeping Beauty to ancient Greek myths and beyond.The painting of Eros and Psyche is by Edward Burne-Jones.           

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What makes some stories resonate through time?

Enduring themes emerge over centuries as wonder tales are retold. The variations are many and ongoing, but essential themes emerge and remain as the tales evolve. 

The Sleeping Beauty tale, a story that deals with women and vulnerability, as well as sex, power and beauty has become iconic.

As a princess, a woman had great power, as well as all the material things that common people, who told and retold the stories, usually lacked in their own lives. But a princess cursed by dark powers into a sleep where time stood still was vulnerable and without power.

The illustration of Briar Rose (Seeping Beauty) is by Walter Crane.

 

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The Evolving Fantasies of a Sleeping Beauty  

When I was young, I thought Sleeping Beauty was a rather simple story.

In my later years, I found that it had been -- for centuries -- a very dark tale, a disturbing story of vulnerability, the abuse of power, and even cannibalism. The Grimm's, after being criticized for harshness and cruelty in the earliest editions of their Tales, actually softened later versions of the tale compared to those that prevailed in Italy and France.

For instance, in Giambattista Basile's version(1634) entitled The Sun, Moon, and Talia, a king, after discovering a sleeping maiden,  is overwhelmed by her beauty --  and by his lust. He has sex with her while she sleeps. Here is an excerpt:

"At last he came to the salon, and when the king beheld Talia, who seemed to be enchanted, he believed that she was asleep, and he called her, but she remained unconscious. Crying aloud, he beheld her charms and felt his blood course hotly through his veins. He lifted her in his arms, and carried her to a bed, where he gathered the first fruits of love. Leaving her on the bed, he returned to his own kingdom, where, in the pressing business of his realm, he for a time thought no more about this incident."

The young maiden will later be awakened to find that she has twins (named Sun and Moon). After she is rediscovered by the king, she encounters a vengeful cannibalistic queen, and near death by fire. In Perrault's version, published in France in 1697, the events endured by the sleeping woman -- now a princess -- are similar.

The illustration of Sleeping Beauty is by Y. A. Craft.

 

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The Themes Remain, The Story Changes   

There are two contemporary versions of Sleeping Beauty that stand out in my mind: Maleficent and The Sleeper and the Spindle. Both illustrate the qualities of Sleeping Beauty that have endured through the centuries.

Maleficent, a movie inspired by the classic tales, was written by Linda Woolverton, with credited story input from Angelina Jolie.  In this imaginative version of the basic story, it is a fairy who has been violated. She takes revenge on the king, his followers, and the princess.

However, as the story evolves, the vengeful fairy finds compassion for the sleeping princess, and gives her a new life. Although produced by Disney, Maleficent is a complete departure from their sugar-coated animated version of 1959.  Yet despite the departure from the saccharine, Malieficent, with all its dark dimensions, was a critical and financial success.

The photo is from the movie. Here is a link to a very well done trailer for Maleficent 

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Neil Gaiman's Version

The second contemporary version that stands out in my mind is The Sleeper and the Spindle, by Neil Gaiman.

Gaiman has totally reimagined the story, while preserving the magic and wonder of key elements in earlier versions. An empowered queen, Snow White, and three dwarfs, much like the powerful Tolkien dwarfs, find that the woman thought to be the sleeping princess, when she wakes up, has become evil. There is a dynamic confrontation as queen Snow White confronts this challenge. 

Somehow, Sleeping Beauty, a story of an innocent and vulnerable girl betrayed and violated by dark forces, remains an ongoing part of our cultural lives. It seems to resonate in our imaginations.*
 
Here is a link to a Guardian review by Imogen Russell Williams.

The illustration from the Sleeper and the Spindle is by Chris Riddell.  

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The Facts of Life

 

"Fairy tales also face up to the facts of life: nothing is sacred or taboo. Meanwhile they glitter with beauty. I work at the weirdly fascinating intersection of beauty and horror.” Maria Tatar, Harvard Magazine

The photo is from the Matthew Bourne Ballet of Sleeping Beauty

 

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Wonder Tales 

“Since these wonder tales have been with us for thousands of years and have undergone so many different changes in the oral tradition, it is difficult to determine the ideological intention of the narrator, and when we disregard the narrator's intention, it is often difficult to reconstruct (and/or deconstruct) the ideological meaning of a tale. In the last analysis . . . it is the celebration of wonder that constitutes its major appeal. 

 Jack D. Zipes, Spells of Enchantment: The Wondrous Fairy Tales of Western Culture

The illustration from Brother and Sister is by Alexander Zick

 

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Thwarting the Cannibalism of the Ogress Queen 

"The poor man, knowing very well that he must not play tricks with Ogresses, took his great knife and went up into little Morning's chamber. She was then four years old, and came up to him jumping and laughing, to take him about the neck, and ask him for some sugar-candy. Upon which he began to weep, the great knife fell out of his hand, and he went into the back yard, and killed a little lamb, and dressed it with such good sauce that his mistress assured him that she had never eaten anything so good in her life. He had at the same time taken up little Morning, and carried her to his wife, to conceal her in the lodging he had at the bottom of the courtyard." 

Excerpted from Perrault's version of Sleeping Beauty

 

Book cover by Walter Crane.

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To Flourish Like the Green Bay Tree

"And finally, I believe that one of most deeply human, and humane, of these faculties is the power of imagination: so that it is our pleasant duty, as librarians, or teachers, or parents, or writers, or simply as grownups, to encourage that faculty of imagination in our children, to encourage it to grow freely, to flourish like the green bay tree, by giving it the best, absolutely the the best and purest, nourishment that it can absorb. And never, under any circumstances, to squelch it, or sneer at it, or imply that it is childish, or unmanly, or untrue."

Ursula K. Le Guin quoted by Terri Windling in Myth and Moor 

 

The illustration is by Nikolaus Heidelbach.

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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

The Planet OF The Dogs series takes place long ago before there were dogs on Planet Earth. 

And then there came a time when the abundance and happiness found on Planet Earth were threatened by people like the warrior tribes of Stone City. They had forgotten how to love. They took food, coins and beautiful objects from people and often hurt them. Their numbers began to grow and soon they were taking the homes, land, and farms where peaceful people lived.

Where once there had been harmony and friendship, there was now fear, anger and unhappiness. Something had to be done — but what could anybody do? No one knew it at that time, but help would come from far, far away, from the Planet of the Dogs.

The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

 
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INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

The United States has a long tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing persecution and war. With support, refugees go on to thrive and contribute to their new countries in many different ways. Among the many refugees of recent times who have contributed to our lives and culture  -- and given millions in refugee financial support --  are  Gloria Estoban, M.I.C (Mathangi Arulpragasam)., Sergey Brin (co-founder of Google), philanthropist George Soros, and Albert Einstein. Einstein said, " 'Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.'

The physicist Albert Einstein arrived in America in 1933 after he and thousands of other Jews fled persecution in Nazi Germany. That year, the Nobel laureate and humanitarian called for the founding of the aid organization that was to become the International Rescue Committee.

Although much of the world greeted the Nazi takeover with indifference or apathy, some people were alert to what was happening and the threat it represented. By July 1933, a new rescue committee of 51 concerned individuals had swung into action, galvanized by Einstein." This group evolved into the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Here is a link to read more about The IRC and their wonderful work: Refugee

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Movies

Disney in the Flow Of Time

Fairy tales have inspired Disney films since the introduction of the extremely successful Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. The company has grown, prospered, and diversified into a multi-billion dollar giant. Marketing has had a growing influence on production and Disney has been highly criticized for warping and sugar coating the original tales, often without crediting the source. This dumbing down of the tales has extended to books and merchandising. Market research and CGI lead the way in current productions. I doubt if there will be any more exceptions like Malificent. 

Footnote: I still find scenes in early Disney films like Snow White that I admire; they were imaginative, thrilling, and frightening. Here is a link to the great transformation scene in Snow White, where the  jealous, beautiful, and evil queen uses alchemy to become a witch: Transformation. 

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The 19th Animation Show Of Shows 

Judging from the trailer and the Rotten Tomatoes review (link below),this film is like the illustrations in children's books --  imagination unlimited.

"At a time of increasing social instability and global anxiety about a range of issues, the works in this year's show have a special resonance, presenting compelling ideas about our place in society and how we fit into the world. . . 

The 19th ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS represents the work of artists from eight countries, including nine women. Funny, moving, engaging, and thought-provoking, the ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS not only has something for everyone, but is a remarkable and insightful microcosm of our world."  Rotten Tomatoes

Here is a link to the trailer for this wonderous display of the imagination: Animation Delight

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Home of Wonder Tales and More

Frederick Wiseman is one of the world's great documentary film makers. The long list of his 42 exceptional and insightful productions includes Titicut Folies (!967); Public Housing (1997); and At Berkely (2013).  Last fall, Ex Libris: The New York Public Library, his latest film, was released. Here are excerpts from Stuart Klawan's thoughtful and informative review in the Nation. 

"Wiseman looks at his subject from both his Olympian and activist perspectives, and with attention to both major aspects of the NYPL’s mission: a center for scholarship and a resource for the city’s poor, ill-schooled, and homeless. Following an organizing scheme he’s used before, Wiseman bounces back and forth in his scenes between the marble palace on Fifth Avenue and a scattering of humble branch libraries in the Bronx and Harlem. . .Wiseman is interested in librarians as wonderful people—as comfortable making an impromptu translation from Middle English (while denying that they’re good at it) as they are teaching a blind person to read Braille, or directing a woman to copies of steamship manifests so she can trace her family’s arrival in America. . . "   

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Get Out

Get Out, inspired by wonder tale themes, is a phenomenal success: 99% approval from critics (Rotten Tomatoes) and over 254 million dollars worldwide box office. I was unaware of Get Out (it opened in February 2016) until reading about it in Maria Tatar's Breezes From Wonderland blog. Here is an excerpt:

"Then there was Jordan Peele’s Get Out, a Beauty and the Beast story that pulls out all the stops and gives us what horror movies do best, exaggerating and amplifying our cultural anxieties, and putting what Frank Bruni of the NYT called a “fantastical, grotesque spin” on things. Get Out (budget of $4.5 million) as a Beauty and the Beast story? Yes, it’s that and Bluebeard too. Only in this case, the monster is Rose (get it?), played by Allison Williams. As the social messaging of so many Beauty and the Beast story tells us, appearances are deceiving, and in this case they are beyond what we could imagine. Rose is the ferocious beast who lures an innocent into her childhood home, from which there appears to be no escape. She is also a Bluebeard figure . . . And suddenly we see how Jordan Peele, unike Disney, hit the refresh button and inflected the tale as old as time in new ways that speak to our own cultural anxieties about race and gender.

Here is a link to the trailer for Get Out.

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Everytown for Gun Safety

"Everytown is a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. Gun violence touches every town in America. For too long, change has been thwarted by the Washington gun lobby and by leaders who refuse to take common-sense steps that will save lives.

But something is changing. More than 4 million mayors, moms, cops, teachers, survivors, gun owners, and everyday Americans have come together to make their own communities safer. Together, we are fighting for the changes that we know will save lives.

Everytown starts with you, and it starts in your town." Here is a link to connect: Everytown

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Newtown and Sandy Hook -- Five Years Have Passed 

Here is a link to part one (under 10 minutes) of a powerful PBS documentary series about people who have become gun control activists after they have felt the pain of gun violence in their lives: We Are All Newtown

Here is a link to an excellent -- and moving --  article by Rick Rojas and Kristen Hussey in the NY Times about Newtown and Sandy Hook on the 5th anniversary of the murder of 20 first grade children and 6 adults:Healing

 

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The Unexpected Beauties of Life

Here is an excerpt from a review by an Amazon reader of C. A. Wulff's wonderful book, Circling The Waggins.

"The second book, following Born without a Tail, is if possible better than the first. The author brings alive the small pleasures and also the pain of those who live with a pack. Rescue people have some of the most extraordinary stories to tell and this book tells them well. The pain of loss and the unexpected beauties of life are shared in this book and I'm the richer for the reading. . . The author has spent a lifetime in exploration of the terrain where human and non human lives intersect and left us this treasure map. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

 

 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

With the arrival of the new year we continue our search for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children to understand and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. 

Why Am I ? teaches tolerance. We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new book, should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

 
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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes.

 

 

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"My father worshipped dogs, hunting, fishing, the state of Maine, and the complete works of William Shakespeare, in that order."
Susan Conant True Confessions (1995)

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December -- Hope and Snowflakes

                                                   

                                                                                         

                                                                                 

         Illustration from the Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. 

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The Tailor of Gloucester -- A Christmas Tale  

Talking animals and their involvement in the lives of people have always been part of the great tradition of wonder stories. The Tailor of Gloucester, Beatrix Potter's classic Christmas tale, revolves around many mice; Shimpkin, the cat; and a sick and impoverished tailor who is kind to trapped mice.

The tailor faces disaster in the early pages of the book. He is ill and will not be able to meet a deadline and finish a splendid coat for the mayor. 

But then, on Christmas Eve, a turning point comes --  in the form of compassionate mice.

Here is an excerpt from the book: 

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"But it is in the old story that all the beasts can talk in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the morning (though there are very few folk that can hear them, or know what it is that they say). . . 

From all the roofs and gables and old wooden houses in Gloucester came a thousand merry voices singing the old Christmas rhymes—all the old songs that ever I heard of, and some that I don't know, like Whittington's bells. . .  

From the tailor's shop in Westgate came a glow of light; and when Simpkin crept up to peep in at the window it was full of candles. There was a snippeting of scissors, and snappeting of thread; and little mouse voices sang loudly and gaily."


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Thanks to the wonderful work of the mice, the tailor's life changes on Christmas Day, his reputation flourishes, he prospers, and the reader finds a happy ending. 

The first draft of the book was in the form of a handmade, illustrated, book given as a Christmas present to a sick, young girl, Freda Moore. " And the queerest thing about it,' Beatrix wrote to the ten year old girl, who was fond of fairy tales,' is that I heard it in Gloucester, and that it is true! at least about the waistcoat . . . 

Despite the resemblance to older tales such as the Grimm's version of the Elves and the Cobbler, this story was completely new to Potter. Linda Lear, in her excellent biography, Beatrix Potter, A Life in Nature, presents a full story of Potter's life at the time and how this book evolved from a story, then prevalent in Gloucester, that Beatrix heard, "probably in 1897."

 Here is a link to read the Tailor of Gloucester 

All the illustrations from The Tailor of Gloucester are by Beatrix Potter.

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Holiday Carols from the Wind in the Willows

 Once again, the mice bring holiday joy to the world. This time by singing to the residents of the great meadow.

"I think it must be the field-mice," replied the Mole, with a touch of pride in his manner. "They go round carol-singing regularly at this time of the year. They're quite an institution in these parts. And they never pass me over—they come to Mole End last of all; and I used to give them hot drinks, and supper too sometimes, when I could afford it. It will be like old times to hear them again."

"Let's have a look at them!" cried the Rat, jumping up and running to the door.

It was a pretty sight, and a seasonable one, that met their eyes when they flung the door open. In the fore-court, lit by the dim rays of a horn lantern, some eight or ten little field-mice stood in a semicircle, red worsted comforters round their throats, their fore-paws thrust deep into their pockets, their feet jigging for warmth . . . As the door opened, one of the elder ones that carried the lantern was just saying, "Now then, one, two, three!" and forthwith their shrill little voices uprose on the air, singing one of the old-time carols . . . "

Here is a link to read The Wind In The Willows

The illustration is by Inga Moore.

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Christmas in America in the Golden Age

Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn, written by Albert Bigelow Paine,  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. In her family, the book was a tradition, and read aloud, every Christmas eve,  to young and old alike. Over the years, the book became lost to most of the world.

Under the guidance of Ms Cordes, and with the wonderful illustrations by Adam McCauley , Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn has been given a new life. It has the makings of a holiday classic.  I believe that this book will become a favorite with children -- and with any family that reads it aloud on Christmas Eve. 

"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. . ."

Here is a link to the Picture Book Review for an in-depth visit with Mr Dog and his friends.

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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A Christmas Carol. . . The Story that Changed Christmas 

A Christmas Carol (1843) was written with the passion born of Charles Dickens' painful childhood as an impoverished 12 year old boy from a broken family. With his father in debtor's prison, Dickens was forced to leave school and work ten-hour days for six shillings a week under harsh conditions in England's new industrial economy.  

"In the mid 1800s, Christmas was a dying holiday, much as it is today. Many of its traditions were being neglected, and even the idea of "Peace on earth, good will to men" was considered passe. Then something extraordinary happened: Charles Dickens published "A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas." It was an instant success, and launched one of the biggest comebacks in history: not of Dickens, but of Christmas."

The above quote is from a tribute to Dicken's Christmas Carol by Waitsel Smith

Here is a link to the Project Gutenberg's free ebook of the original Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

 
The illustration is by Carol Granger. 

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Free Books for Mothers of Infants That Open the Doors to More Books

Mommy and Me and Talk to Me are two delightful complimentary books available to new mothers. Over 60,000 have been donated thus far. If you know of a clinic, hospital, library or other organization that would help distribute the books, or to obtain copies for review, please contact Doug Yeager at [email protected]

Here is a comment from a social worker at an OB/GYN clinic in Denver: “I recently came across your book and loved it.  It would be wonderful to include it in our baggie of information and resources we give out to new patients coming to our clinic.”      
For more information regarding these very special books visit the Yeager Foundation Website.

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 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. 

Clement Clarke Moore

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 Memories from Born Without a Tail

Born Without a Tail is a real life memoir by C. A.Wulff, author of dog books, blogger, and life-long rescuer of animals -- especially dogs. Here is an excerpt that I find particularly telling in the Christmas season.

"Whenever I think back over the years...my thoughts return to the time when Gypsy, Dillon, Pluto and Troll were the cornerstones of our pack.These four dogs completed us...my favorite part of each day was when we would all settle down together to sleep...

In winter months, the wind would howl outside and I would feel warm and safe, denned with my pack. These were times of total contentment. Times when a deep abiding sense of belonging warmed me to my soul." 

The photo is by C.A. Wulff

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“Life is a winking light in the darkness.” 

― Hayao Miyazaki

 

 

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Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale

"What a truly wonderful and unique Christmas story for the whole family.

Snow Valley Heroes by Robert J. McCarty and illustrated by Stella Mustanoja McCarty is the third offering in the series; "Planet of the Dogs." What an imagination this team has! . . .While I grant you that this story is pure fantasy, it is logical fantasy and uses the story of Santa, his elves, real people, and of course the dogs of Planet of the Dogs . . .  an ideal book to snuggle up with the little ones on a cold winter night and simply enjoy." 

Don Blankenship, editor/reviewer, Good Books For Kids, Top 50 Amazon Reviewer

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Christmas Lights Move in the Hills of Scotland

Amazing Video...moving light patterns on darkened Scottish hills as border collies move sheep through amazing patterns...LED lights create a lovely surreal world that would stop a traveler in their tracks. Here is a link: Doglights

 

 

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SAVE THE CHILDREN

In this season of hope for all of us who are fortunate to have access to wonders like the world of children's literature, I think of the ceaseless work being done by Save The Children to bring hope to millions.

"Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.

We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

In 2016, we reached over 56 million children directly through our and our partners' work." 

Here is a link to read more: Save the Children

 

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Santa in America's Golden Age

Two years after his great success with the Wizard of OZ (1900), L. Frank Baum wrote The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Like the Oz book, there are a multitude of characters, struggles with good and evil, and many magical beings and events. Here is an excerpt describing the first time Santa goes off in his sleigh pulled by flying reindeer to deliver toys to children.

"All ready!" he shouted; "away we go!"

The deer leaned forward, lifted their slender limbs, and the next moment away flew the sledge over the frozen snow. The swiftness of the motion surprised Claus, for in a few strides they were across the Valley and gliding over the broad plain beyond.

The day had melted into evening by the time they started; for, swiftly as Claus had worked, many hours had been consumed in making his preparations. But the moon shone brightly to light their way, and Claus soon decided it was just as pleasant to travel by night as by day.

The deer liked it better; for, although they wished to see something of the world, they were timid about meeting men, and now all the dwellers in the towns and farmhouses were sound asleep and could not see them.

Away and away they sped, on and on over the hills and through the valleys and across the plains until they reached a village where Claus had never been before.

Here he called on them to stop, and they immediately obeyed. But a new difficulty now presented itself, for the people had locked their doors when they went to bed, and Claus found he could not enter the houses to leave his toys."

Here is a link to L.Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus .

The book and cover were illustrated by Mary Cowles Clark.

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Movies

I haven't seen The Man Who Invented Christmas, however this excerpt from the review of Ben Kenigsberg in the New York Times  reflects the general response I found on Rotten Tomatoes (105 reviews):

"Brightly lit and anchored by Mr. Stevens's infectious, live-wire performance, the film ... proceeds like a television holiday special, designed to distract children while winking at their parents."

Here is the trailer for The Man Who Invented Christmas.

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Kwanzaa

Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, 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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 Therapy Dogs United

 

 

 

The healing ability of dogs is exemplified  by the growing awareness of the many ways therapy dogs are able to help people of all ages. Therapy Dogs United (TDU) is an example of a grass roots volunteer organization that has grown continuously since being founded in 2008 by Pat VanZandt Christianson. TDU has made life better for thousands of people living in North Western PA and Western NY. Here is an excerpt from their site: 

"Our dedicated teams of certified volunteers work hand-in-hand with medical, educational, and social service professionals or one-on-one with patients to provide therapeutic and physical therapy. TDU makes daily visits to schools and learning institutions, book stores, homeless shelters, senior and nursing communities, hospice facilities, family service organizations, reading clubs, rehabilitation centers, and beyond."  

Here is a link to read more about this wonderful organization: Therapy Dogs United

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Flashmob Event of Joy

People and musicians gather one by one, and then more and more people,  in a wonderful video that celebrates the Joy of the season with music. This is also a timeless testament to humanity and hope. It builds, non-stop, to 6 wonderful minutes.

Here is the link to Joy...: Ode To Joy

 

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Holiday Nostalgia 

Darcy and Caboose are here once more to send us Holiday Greetings...

Richard Bradley (www.arockinmyshoe) has taken many photos of his beloved dogs, and every year he shares them with us. They have been with us here for many years. They have passed on, but remind me of how dogs, given a chance, bring us joy.

 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

With the arrival of the Christmas season we continue our search for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children to understand and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. 

Why Am I ? teaches tolerance. We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new book, should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

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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 at [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 book stores of all sizes.

 
The photo of Kite and Rose, the therapy dog, is by Susan Purser.

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" You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

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November -- The Borderline of Fantasy

                               

                                       

     

                                                        

                                                     The illustration is by Michael Sowa.

 

Fantasy and the Real Magic of Fairy Tales  

"By entering the world of fantasy and imagination, children and adults secure for themselves a safe space where fears can be confronted, mastered, and banished. Beyond that the real magic of the fairy tale lies in its ability to extract pleasure from pain. In bringing to life the dark figures of our imagination as ogres, witches, cannibals, and giants, fairy tails may stir up dread, but in the end they always supply the pleasure of seeing it vanquished."

-- Maria Tatar in her Introduction to The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales. 

 

The illustration from Perrault's Donkeyskin is by Megan Reichelt 

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Neverwhere and the Seven Sisters

 

Neil Gaiman,the prolific master of fantasy, whose books appeal to a worldwide audience of both young adult and adult readers, is currently writing a sequel to the extraordinary Neverwhere. The title of this new book is The Seven Sisters.

 

Gaiman said that he had been prompted to write the sequel both by the changes in the world over the past 20 years and his work with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Under the latter’s auspices, he has visited refugee camps in the Middle East and spoken to people displaced by the conflict in Syria. . . 

 

The title of the sequel takes its name from an ancient area of the real north London replete with myths and legends. The name comes from seven elm trees planted in a circle there, with suggestions of pagan places of worship dating back to Roman times. The area was also known, four centuries ago, as Page Greene – which might be a good name for a new protagonist. . . "

 

Here is a link to the David Barnett article in the Guardian regarding The Seven Sisters.

The illustration of the Black Friars from Gaiman's Neverwhere is by Chris Riddell. 

 

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"When angels go bad they are worse than anyone else. Remember Lucifer used to be an angel.” 

― Neil Gaiman Neverwhere 

 

The photo is by Stefan Keller.
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Stories Embrace the Great Breadth of Memory

"I believe in all human societies there is a desire to love and be loved, to experience the full fierceness of human emotion, and to make a measure of the sacred part of one's life. Wherever I've traveled--Kenya, Chile, Australia, Japan--I've found the most dependable way to preserve these possibilities is to be reminded of them in stories. Stories do not give instruction, they do not explain how to love a companion or how to find God. They offer, instead, patterns of sound and association, of event and image. Suspended as listeners and readers in these patterns, we might reimagine our lives. It is through story that we embrace the great breadth of memory, that we can distinguish what is true, and that we may glimpse, at least occasionally, how to live without despair in the midst of the horror that dogs and unhinges us.” ― Barry López 

 

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Alice Crosses the Borderline

"Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.

Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next." -- Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

The illustration is one of 92 created for the original Alice in Wonderland by John Tenniel.

 Here is a link to Grace Slick singing White Rabbit (Woodstock 1969): White Rabbit

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The Alice Books Liberated the Fairy Tale

"Like Dickens, Carroll fought tenaciously to keep the child alive in himself and in his fiction as a critic of the absurd rules and regulations of the adult Victorian world...

Carroll's contribution to children's literature and the fairy tale is immense for his Alice books served to liberate the fairy tale from moralism and encourage young readers to think for themselves and question the mores of the adult world."

Jack Zipes, writing in his book, Victorian Fairy Tales: The Revolt of the Fairies and the Elves.

 

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Crossing the Borderline

 
“Imagination is a form of seeing”  -- Phillip Pullman

"I'm thinking rather about those images, or words, or ideas that drop like trapdoors beneath us, throwing us out of our safe, sane world into a place much more dark and less welcoming."
--Neil Gaiman

 "We like to think we live in daylight, but half the world is always dark; and fantasy, like poetry, speaks the language of the night." -- Ursula K. LeGuin

 

The illustration is by Michael Sowa. 

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 A Christmas Fantasy

Two of Santa's Reindeer have been kidnapped and there can be no Christmas. . . unless they can be rescued by visitors from the Planet of The Dogs. . . 

"Loved it… This conclusion to the Planet of the Dogs series just caps off a wonderful tradition. The story is well suited to be read aloud to younger children and as chapter book for the older ones. All of your favorite dogs help rescue two of Santa's reindeer from the Evil King of the North. The story also imparts important lessons of cooperation and responsibility." -- Mary Jacobs, Editor/reviewer Bookhounds

The cover design is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty
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Movies - Wonderstruck, Miyazaki, Human Flow

New Worlds and Alternate Realities

Brian Selznick is a gifted story teller and illustrator (artist) who found a huge audience of all ages for his remarkable book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Stephen Spielberg made a wonderful movie based on the book. And now, Todd Haynes, also a very talented director, has made an "ode to the imagination" from Selznick's stunning illustrated book, Wonderstruck.

Both books and movies travel the borderline of fantasy with great originality and visual delight. Here is an excerpt from the review of the book, Wonderstruck (2011), by Adam Gopnik in the NY Times: "Selznick’s gift is for the uncanny and the haunting, and his subject is not only the strange poetry of ordinary things but the poetry of things from another time: train stations, frozen museum dioramas and old bookstores . . ."  

Here is an excerpt from the review of the movie (2017) by Manhola Dargis in the New York Times: "Stars glitter and worlds collide in Todd Haynes’s “Wonderstruck,” a lovely ode to imagination and to the stories that make us who we are. A cleverly bifurcated tale of two children. . . Storytelling lies at the heart of “Wonderstruck” — its two children are effectively writing their way out of one reality and into another — and the film is chockablock with those boxed worlds, with imitations of life like dioramas, doll-size figurines, stuffed animals, illustrations and an ingenious paper city. Much like the cabinet of curiosities that Rose and Ben each discover, these representations point to new worlds and alternative realities."

The illustration is by Brian Selznick from his book, Wonderstruck. The photo of Millicent Simmons is from the movie Wonderstruck. 

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Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki, is the movie master of the wonder tale who moves over, under, and beyond the borderline of fantasy. His films deal with many themes in myriad ways, from appreciating simple beauty to abuse of power and conflicts. His inspiration is stimulated by sources ranging from books and world events to children's behavior.

To visit his world, and be reminded of the magic he creates, I recommend a 7.5 minute video entitled the Making of Spirited Away, Part 1. Or, treat yourself to this 17 minute visual delight: a montage of film wonders from Miyazaki  in a video entitled The Essence of Humanity, written and narrated by Lewis Criswell

“I do believe in the power of story. I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings, that they can stimulate, amaze and inspire their listeners.”  ― Hayao Miyazaki 

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Human Flow

Human Flow, portrays the refugee world. I haven't yet seen it. But I will see it. Manohla Dargas has seen Human Flow and this is an excerpt from her review in the NY Times: Manohla Dargas  

"There are moments in “Human Flow,” a bracing, often strangely beautiful movie by the artist Ai Weiwei, when it can be hard to see the individuals who make up the roiling, surging rivers onscreen. This difficulty in isolating specific people — really seeing them as sovereign beings rather than as an undifferentiated mass — is crucial to the meaning of the documentary, which charts the global refugee and migrant crisis. Shot over the course of one year in 23 countries, the movie tracks the here and there of people whose relentless ebbing and flowing make startlingly visible what news headlines repeatedly suggest: that ours is an age of ceaseless churn with no calm in sight. . . .

What Mr. Ai seeks is to go far beyond the nightly news; he wants to give you a sense of the scale of the crisis, its terrifying, world-swallowing immensity. And so he jumps from one heartbreak to the next . . ."

The photo is from the film. Here is a link to the trailer to Human Flow .

 

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UNHCR  Bringing Hope to Refugees

The work of the United Nations Refugee Organization reduces pain, fear, chaos for what has become an endless stream of refugees.

"For over half a century, UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives. They include refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. Our protection, shelter, health and education has been crucial, healing broken pasts and building brighter futures."

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La Belle Sauvage - Book One of Phillip Pullman's The Book of Dust Trilogy

Some time ago, I read Pullman's version of the Grimm's Fairy Tales. I was very taken by his versions of the tales and by his very articulate Introduction. And, I admired the bravado of such an undertaking.

Later, I read the trilogy, His Dark Materials. I was pulled in and intrigued by the vast scope of his stories: Paradise Lost, tyrannical religion, and particle theory, to name a few. And the imaginative adventures of Lyra ranged from fun to challenging.

And now, the Pullman journey continues; I am reading La Belle Sauvage and have crossed the borderline of fantasy. In preparation, I read a most insightful review/article in the Guardian by Marina Warner, author, critic, and cultural historian. I highly recommend it. Here is a link to Marina Warner's Guardian review.

Here is a brief excerpt from La Belle Sauvage: "As Malcolm followed her gaze (his daemon's), he saw the man reach the middle of the footbridge and hesitate, because another man had stepped up from the other side, a stocky man dressed in black with a light-stepping vixen dæmon, and Malcolm and Asta could see that the second man was going to stop the raincoat man, and the raincoat man was afraid."

The top image is an alethioemeter. In Greek, alethes is the word for truth.

The bottom illustration from La Belle Sauvage is by Chris Wormell.

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Why Does Pulitzer prize-winning investigative reporter  John Woestendiek love How To Change The World in 30 Seconds? 

 

Here is the answer in John Woestendiek's own words:  "Combining case histories with practical tips on how to use the Internet to advocate for dogs, Wulff's book is an inspiring, informative and highly useful volume that anyone who thinks dogs are worth fighting for should have on their shelf."

 Here is a link How to Change the World in 30 Seconds by C.A. Wulff

Cover design by C.A. Wulff.

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Chad and Norman

A true story of hope, healing and caring support from a therapy dog.

I was very moved by this excellent video profile of a veteran, Chad Myrick, and his recovery from PTSD with his therapy dog, Norman. I highly recommend it.

Here is a link to this CBC documentary: Chad and Norman

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Guns are not a fantasy.  Guns are real.

The following is an excerpt from an incisive NY Times Article on the aftermath of the Las Vegas massacre.

"This is the road after Las Vegas, after a high-stakes gambler named Stephen Paddock hauled powerful weapons into a gilded casino and opened fire on a country music festival below. The journey — as the survivors of so many other American mass shootings will say — is one full of chronic pain, fights with insurance, ruined marriages, lost jobs, anguished parents and children, and the injustice of being forced into a new identity: victim."- Julie Turkewitz

The NRA seems to be reacting by keeping a low profile and silence.

A link to the Guardian documentary, Gun Nation, a journey

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Girls Who Sit Crying

"This bowdlerization of fairy tales continued in the 20th century, epitomized by the simple cartoon versions created by Walt Disney. Alas, these simple versions of the tales are the only ones most readers know today -- versions in which the complexity, sensuality, and horror have been carefully toned down, or stripped out altogether. Where once we had stories of active heroines making their own way through the dark of the woods, now we have girls who sit crying in the ashes, awaiting rescue by a rich Prince Charming. Where once Sleeping Beauty was impregnated by her prince, waking all alone at the birth of twins, now she's awakened by a chaste kiss and the tale ends promptly with a wedding."  -- Terry Windling

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The invisible is only another unexplored country, a brave new world.” 

― Angela Carter, The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

The Why Am I ? Book Search for a Wonderful Publisher Continues.

We are actively searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children to understand and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. 

Why Am I ? teaches tolerance. We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new book, should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.


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 The Planet Of The Dogs Series
 

"Any one of these books would make for a delightful—and one would assume cherished—gift for any child. All three would be an amazing reading adventure." -  Darlene Arden, educator, dog expert, author, and editor of PerPetually Speaking 

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 book stores. 

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 at [email protected] and we will send you the books.  

To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit  PlanetOfTheDogs 

The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

 

 

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"When a man's dog turns against him it is time for a wife to pack her trunk and go home to mama." - Mark Twain 

 

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October -- When Animals Talk and the Light Shines In. . . books, kids, movies, and dogs

 

                                 
                                              
       There Have Always Been Stories of Talking Animals...

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       The First Beatrix Potter Book Began Like This...

"Once upon a time there were
four little Rabbits, and their names
were—
     Flopsy,
          Mopsy,
               Cotton-tail,
                    and Peter.

They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.

"Now, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.' "

The book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was first created in the form of an illustrated letter for a sick child. For several years, Potter had been drawing animals, birds and other creatures, in her own anthropomorphized version of the world and sending them, usually with some text, to young children in her family circle. Today, more than two million Beatrix Potter books are sold across the world every year.

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Beatrix Potter

The book cover above reminded me of a magic world that I first encountered as a child. Many years later, in reading to my own children, I saw, as an adult how Beatrix Potter was able to connect to children with simple ease. And
when I started rereading her stories in preparation for this blog, I found myself again being pulled into Beatrix Potter's world. I wanted to know more about this woman.

What was it that set her off from thousands of others who have illustrated and written children's books about the worlds of animals? The more I learned about her life, the more intrigued and appreciative I became. Beatrix Potter was an Incredible woman who overcame the suffocating restrictions of a relentless mother and the mores of upper middle-class Victorian England. She did this by creating and sharing, through her art, her own world of stories and animal creatures.  

She was gifted with a talent for art and writing. She loved young children and shared with them, through illustrated letters, and later books often derived from them, her lifelong fascination and love of the natural world.  

 

A Secret World and True Love

Fortunately, her repressive, London-based family spent summers in country estates, where Beatrix and her younger brother, Bertram, became close to nature. Beatrix, from an early age, developed a world of her own with stories about rabbits, mice, hedgehogs and more. Many of them were also pets which she drew, painted, and wrote about in the form of illustrated story letters to a wide circle of children. Responses to her illustrated story letters later evolved into her career of creating children's books.

Her oppressive family life required great secrecy about her private life. During the course of developing her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she and her editor-publisher, Norman Warne, fell in love. Beatrix was 39; he was 37. After their secret engagement, Beatrix revealed her plans to her family. A storm erupted. 

 

Tragedy and a Turning Point

"The Potters vehemently disapproved of their daughter marrying a publisher. . . and objected to a family 'in trade'. His was precisely the sort of family and social status they had worked to distinguish themselves from. . . Beatrix believed their opposition to Norman was patently hypocritical and unreasonable (particularly since the family money came from the Manchester textile trade). . . Helen Potter (Beatrix's hectoring mother) found the proposed liason particularly abhorrent." --Linda J. Lear from her excellent biography, Beatrix Potter: A Life In Nature.

Tragedy followed this ugly, unresolved conflict. Beatrix and Norman were determined to marry, but within two weeks time, he  became ill, and shortly thereafter died of lymphatic leukemia.

 

This became a turning point in her life: she became quite independent and
started a new life based in her beloved Lake Country; with proceeds from her books, she bought and lived in Hill Top farm, the first of 15 farms she bought over the years to help preserve the countryside. She continued creating books and, at age 49, married William Heelis, a local man, a soliciter, who guided her in buying land.They lived together happily at Castle Cottage in their beloved Lake District until her death in 1943. Today, as per her will, the farms and land she purchased are part of The National Trust.

 

A North Country Woman 

Beatrix Potter helped to save the beautiful lake country district with funds from the sales of her books and related merchandise. James Rebank,  author of the acclaimed, The Shepherd's Life, lives and farms, as did his ancestors, on lake country land. Here is an excerpt from his Introduction to Linda Lear's biography, Beatrix Potter: A life in Nature. 

"Beatrix Potter seems always to have considered herself a northern or north-country woman (even thought she spent much of her life in London). I think of her in the same way; there was about her a grit and a toughness, that is similar to some of my neighbors. One of the things I love most about Beatrix Potter is that she seems to have had an almost total lack of self-pity or pretension. If a door closed on her, she pushed at it harder. If it were locked in her face, she would find another door and push through that instead. She was tough as old boots. Her prose is simple (in the best sense of the word), disciplined, hard and pure, the kind of writing that very few writers master." --James Rebank, sheep farmer and author of The Shepherd's Life.

The illustrations above are by Beatrix Potter. 

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Girl From the North Country

If you're traveling to the North Country Fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine . . . 

Here's a link to The Girl from the North Country sung by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. I think Beatrix would have liked it.

The photo is from the movie Miss Potter.

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 A Life Inspired by Nature

 I found Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, by Linda Lear to be an insightful, warm, and  very informative  biography. 

Here is a link to the Peter Rabbit website. There you will find many photos and a biography of Beatrix Potter; you will also find, in chronological order, summaries and illustrated covers of the 23 Tales.

This is a link to the trailer for the movie, Miss Potter,with Rene Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. This is a link to the movie Miss Potter.  

There are a multitude of videos about Beatrix Potter, her books, and adaptations in other media on YouTube. Here are links to two videos: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter and episode 1 from The World Of Peter Rabbit & Friends,  The Tale of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny.

Here is a link to Gutenberg to read Beatrix Potter's  wonderful and clever stories.

 

Here is a link to a trailer for a new Peter Rabbit movie to be released in 2018.

The illustration is by Beatrix Potter.

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Talking Animals, Birds, Reptiles, and Even Insects

In reading Seth Lerer's book on Children's Literature, I was reminded that fables with talking animals, birds, reptiles, and even insects have been part of children's literature since the era of Aesop in Classical Greece. And over the centuries the tales of the past have inspired and influenced the creation of oral tales and classic stories that followed
and endured.

Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse. . . One day a lion was wakened from his afternoon nap by a group of mice scurrying all about him. Swat! went his huge paw upon one of the little creatures. The mouse pleaded for mercy from the stately beast. The lion took compassion upon the tiny mouse and released him.  
A few days later, the lion became trapped in a hunter's net. His roars made the whole forest tremble. The little mouse whose life was spared approached the lion in the snare and used his sharp little teeth to gnaw the strong ropes until the lion was free.
 
Moral: One Good Turn Deserves Another

The illustration of the Lion and the Mouse is by John Vernon Lord.

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Talking Bears  

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” 
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

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Phillip Pullman's Talking Daemons

Daemons are creatures who are an expression of people's souls. They take the form of animals, birds, reptiles and insects. They can change form when one is a child. They can appear and disappear. And they speak.

Every character in Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, has a Daemon. Daemon's will continue in his new trilogy, The Book of Dust. The first volume, La Belle Sauvage, will be published this month, on October 19th. 

The primary character in Pullman's first trilogy -- His Dark Materials -- was the young girl Lyra,and her daemon was named Pantalaimaon (all compassionate in Greek). Lyra called him Pan. In time, Pan took the form of a pine marten. 

Here is a link where you can see daemons in a well done trailer of Pullman's Golden Compass (Volume 1 of The Book of Dust Trilogy).

Here is a link to more information on The Book of Dust, Volume 1, La Belle Sauvage

The photo is of a pine marten. 
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Dogs Talk to Children in Castle In The Mist

"The fantasy involved in the Planet of the Dogs series is appealing. It involves dream sequences, travel through space and time between planets, dogs who can talk to children and healer-women through thoughts and barking, and seeing information through dreams. The reality involved is also appealing. It involves the universal love of dogs by humans and vice versa, human condition of fighting and war and capacity for love and peace. . ." --  Review by Karen Boss

The illustration from Castle In The Mist is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

 

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A Pictorial History of Fairy-tale Postcards 

Tales of Wonder, a new book edited and written by Jack Zipes, presents "a fascinating look at how key scenes of fairy tales have been rendered over time (since 1800), suggesting a rethinking and reliving of the tales through the years. Jack Zipes tells this intriguing history of the postcards as well as providing new perspectives on familiar stories."

Here is an excerpt from the Foreward by Marina Warner: "This highly illustrated volume offers a historic chapter in the cultural story of fairy tale as a shared symbolic system. Jack Zipes is the most learned and indefatigable historian and polemicist of fairy tale as a cultural phenomenon, and he has always been alert to the technologies of the stories' circulation.... The speaking pictures Jack Zipes has archived here will never be repeated in this form again, as the stories migrate and come to inhabit new vehicles, new technologies of enchantment."

Publication Date: Oct 10, 2017: Tales of Wonder: Retelling Fairy Tales through Picture Postcards

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Talking Water Rats

“This is the place of my song-dream, the place the music played to me,’ whispered the Rat, as if in a trance. ‘Here, in this holy place, here if anywhere, surely.” 
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

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Book Giveaway For: How to Change the World in 30 Seconds: A Web Warrior's Guide to Animal Advocacy Online 

Do you love animals? Are you dismayed when you see stories of animal abuse and cruelty in the news? Just 30 seconds a day on the Internet can not only make a difference, but can also change the world. This inspiring, informative and highly useful resource is for novices as well as experienced animal rescuers. Combining case histories with practical tips, this guide demonstrates how to use the Internet to advocate for dogs; from simple clicks to more advanced methods. This guide, by C.A. Wulff, will show you how just one person can put change in motion.

 

We are holding a book giveaway of How To Change The World In Thirty Seconds on Goodreads from October 5-20. Here is the link where you can enter.  

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Kidlitosphere...A Unique Children's Book Experience 

If you want to immerse yourself for two days in children's literature with kindred spirits, consider being part of the welcoming Kidlitosphre annual conference on November 3rd and 4th. The program is exciting, varied, and inclusive. Here is a quote about her Kidlitosphere conference experience from Charlotte Taylor, of Charlotte's Library. 

 "Lots of conferences have authors, but at KidLitCon you will actually have the chance to make friends with them. Lots of conferences have people talking, but at KidLitCon we hope the audience will jump into the discussions too. KidLitCon is more than just a learning and thinking opportunity; it is also my favorite social event of the year.  I go to every KidLitCon looking forward to good times with my children's book friends, and every year I come home again having made new ones." 

 

Click the link for information on the terrific program and attendees. The latter includes librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, parents, and book reviewers. Link:  Kidlitosphere 

 

 

The illustration of the Bremertown Musicians is by Oskar Herrfurth.

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 Movies

The movie world for kids and YA between now and the Christmas Holidays brings us originality and breakthrough as well as tradition and nostalgia. 

Nostalgia: Ferdinand, inspired by the beloved book "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, opens December 15. Just in time for the Holidays

Here is a link to the trailer for this story of a giant bull with a good heart:  Ferdinand

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Originality: Wes Anderson is known for original and eccentric films (The Grand Budapest Hotel; Moonrise Kingdom; The Life Aquatic and more). The plot in this animated film revolves around a boy searching for his dog, Spots. All dogs have been outlawed and Spots has been taken to an isolated island where all dogs are quarantined. Here is the trailer for Isle of Dogs . The film opens on April 26, 2018

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Breakthrough: I was surprised by this early and positive review of Coco in the NY Times by Mekado Murphy:The film deals with death (among other matters like music) and does not open until November 22. Here are excerpts: 

"With the new "Coco”  Pixar Animation Studios aims to bring the dead to vivid, reverent life. The movie is set against the backdrop of Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), the Mexican holiday when families gather to honor ancestors by building altars to them and decorating their grave sites.

The film centers on a young boy, Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), an aspiring musician whose adventures take him to the land of the dead, a towering metropolis that is home to departed loved ones. In their research, Pixar filmmakers made trips to Mexico and embedded with families to observe the ways they paid tribute to their forebears. Hallmarks of their traditions (like paths of flowers and the warm glow of candlelight) are woven into the movie’s visual language."  -- Here is a link to the Coco trailer.

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Nostalgia and Tradition combine in a film that follows Charles Dickens as he creates the characters and story for the great classic, A Christmas Carol.

Opening November 22, well in time for the holidays -- The Man Who Invented Christmas.

 

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Refugee Children

I write monthly posts on this blog about refugee children. And the crisis grows worse with every month. The number of refugee children has increased to staggering dimensions: A recent "Unicef  Report shows child refugee figures have jumped by 75% in five years to 8 million, and calls for urgent action to protect the 50 million child migrants worldwide." With the brutality in Myanmar the crisis is extended and becomes more complex.

Refugee children live in fear and experience loss and brutality first hand. The lucky ones live in refugee camps and some of their family members are still alive. What will the survivors be like when they grow to adulthood?

Here is a link to an excellent Guardian article on refugee children by Kate Hodal. 

The photo of Myanmar refugee children is by Soe Zeya Tan/Reuters.

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Talking Wolves

"Put the cake and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with me."

Charles Perrault -- Little Red Riding Hood 

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 Birds in Children's Literature, Myth and Folklore

Here are excerpts from a fascinating article by Terri Windling ranging from ancient Greece to The Ugly Duckling and beyond . . .

"Birds have been creatures of the mythic imagination since the very earliest times. Various birds, from eagles to starlings, serve as messengers to the gods in stories the world over, carrying blessings to humankind and prayers up to the heavens. They lead shamans into the Spirit World and dead souls to the Realm Beyond; they follow heroes on quests, uncover secrets, give warning and shrewd council....The movements, cries and migratory patterns of birds have been studied as oracles. In Celtic lands, ravens were domesticated as divinatory birds, although eagles, geese and the humble wren also had their prophetic powers. . .A dove with the power of human speech sat in the branches of the sacred oak grove at Zeus's oracle at Dodona.Endurance, Survival, and Becoming . . . 

Here is the Link to read all of this fascinating article by Terri Windling on her Myth and Moor site.

 

The illustration is by Trina Schart-Hyman

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Lewis Carroll Society of North America

The Fall 2017 LCSNA meeting will take place on October 28 at the University of Delaware in Newark. Here is an excerpt from the announcement: "Our host, Mark Samuels Lasner, a distinguished Victorianist, bibliographer, and collector. The program, from 10 to 5 on Saturday, October 28, will include Dana Richards, who is Martin Gardner's biographer; scholar Victor Fet, who will be talking about Russian translations; Edna Ranck, a children's literature expert, on Carroll's language; Sarah Boxer, a critic, author, and journalist, on Alices in the culture; and, contextualizing our visit to Delaware, August Imholtz on Eldridge Johnson and Delaware, and Mark Samuels Lasner on his collection. The English Department is graciously hosting a reception for us at 5, and there will be a restaurant dinner at the end of the day." The LCSNA website has more news, and delightful graphics.   

 The illustration is by John Tenniel.

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I've Been to the Edge With My Thoughts

The powerful human canine bond helps to heal and support veterans who have left the military with emotional as well as physical wounds.

K9s on The Front Line, a non-profit organization based in Portland, Maine, trains rescued dogs as service dogs and provides them at no cost to veterans. Many have been helped. Here is an excerpt from a testimonial by veteran Raymond MacGregor about his dog, Dawson.

"It may sound over the top, but in some ways, it is a matter of life and death. I’ve been to the edge with my thoughts. Dawson helps with anxiety and to center me, or find a place where I am not as numb. He is trained to sense my emotional trigger situations and respond by climbing on my lap and settling me down by nuzzling me. In stores, he will sit behind me to provide the additional personal space I need in lines. He has high energy and kind of gets me up when I need it..."– Raymond MacGregor (US Air Force) with  his family and K9 Dawson. The photo is of MacGregor, his family, and Dawson.

Here is a link to their website: K9s on The Front Line

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Talking Dogs

"Our plan is to begin with the children. They are more open to trust, love, and learning new ways than adults."  Miss Merrie -- The Planet Of The Dogs 

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Why Am I ?...A Yelodoggie Illustrated Story Book

The Why Am I ? Book Search for a Wonderful Publisher Continues.

We are actively searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, embrace its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. 

Why Am I ? teaches tolerance. We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new book, should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

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 The Planet Of The Dogs Series

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 book stores. 

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 at [email protected] and we will send you the books.  

To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit  PlanetOfTheDogs 

The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

 

 

 

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         "To err is human, to forgive, canine" .. Anonymous

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September...Magic Journeys from Middle Earth to OZ

                                                                              

  The illustration from the Hobbit is by Eric Fraser

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The Surprising, Unexpected Journey

"But there is something else more profound in these stories that captures our hearts. Tolkien based his hobbits partly on the everyday Englishman. These are stories about ordinary characters doing extraordinary deeds filled with nobility, self-sacrifice, danger and the pursuit of justice and good...

But there is something deeper here. Like the eternally watchable "The Wizard of Oz" or the wildly popular Harry Potter books and movies, these are stories that touch us, about beings like you or me overcoming terrible odds — with a dash of wizardry and sorcery thrown in.

Yet the magic only works because the heroes' hearts are pure, their cause is just and their dreams are noble. They flow from a wellspring of love and compassion of spirit that bears all things and conquers all things, especially evil, and sometimes dragons . . . 

And of course, it is in no small measure about the journey — the surprising, unexpected journey — and a need for faith in our collective humanity, or, if you will, our fellow creatures. Even quiet, humble, respectable hobbits need an adventure from time to time. We all need a little magic in our lives." -- Storer H. Rowley, Chicago Tribune

The illustration from Lord of the Rings is by Alan Lee.

 

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Stories of Wonder

There have always been journeys of wonder and magic in stories. Many began as oral tales, stories that opened the imagination. 

Many stories told of quests to exotic or dangerous places; they told of demons, mythical creatures and wars. They often told of triumph and awakenings by ordinary people, young and old alike.

For centuries these stories were told by travelers, by merchants, by minstrels and teachers. Most people did not make journeys to new places unless forced to move by circumstances beyond their control. Travel was not an option. Survival was a full time job. 

Stories were often shared and talked about. It was good to have happy endings after danger and travail. Stories gave hope.

The illustration from East of the Sun, West of the Moon is by Kay Nielson

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Stories of the Sea

Stories of the sea have been told from the earliest time. The Homeric epics were originally oral tales, told over many years.

There were many who had heard of the sea, but never seen it.

Even for those who lived by the sea, and those who worked on the sea, the oceans had a mystery about them; there was always the unknown. 

Despite dangers on the sea from storms, pirates, and other enemies, there were always men who made journeys on the sea for food, or trade, or in pursuit of riches.

And there were always stories told of these journeys on the sea. 

The painting is by Ivan Aivazovsky.

 

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A Breakthrough Journey -- An Immense Impact 

I read Robinson Crusoe many years ago and marveled at the clever ways that the shipwrecked man of the sea was able to survive by creating a life with all the necessities through his ingenuity and courage. And he did a brave act by saving and befriending another man, a savage, a man unlike anyone whom he had known back in England.

I had no idea that the book I was reading was one of many, many distilled and rewritten versions of the original. Nor did I know that this book had paved the way for -- and actually influenced --  other early favorites of mine; stories that also took place on faraway islands: Swiss Family Robinson (1812), Treasure Island (1863 ), and Kidnapped (1886). 

 

I learned of the significance of Robinson Crusoe when reading Seth Lerer's book, Children's Literature, A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter. Here is an excerpt:

"Almost from its original publication in 1719, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe had an immense impact on literature for children and adult . . . The novel brings together the two major early modern philosphical and social strands that contributed to children's literary culture: Puritan devotion and Lockean epistomology. . .In effecting this synthesis, Robinson Crusoe did something new, as if it gave voice to the childhood of the English novel itself." 

Facts and Figures

"The book was published on 25 April 1719. Before the end of the year, this first volume had run through four editions. By the end of the 19th century, no book in the history of Western Literature had more editions, spin-offs and translations. . .than Robinson Crusoe, with more than 700 such alternative versions, including children's versions with pictures and no text." --   WikipediaCrusoe

The book cover illustration is by J. Ayton Symington.

The bottom illustration is by Walter Padgett.     

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"The meaning of a story emerges in the meeting between the words on the page and the thoughts in the reader's mind." - Phillip Pullman author of His Dark Materials

 

 

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 Castle In The Mist

 

"I read the book and really enjoyed it! It's the sequel to another book called "Planet of the Dogs" and even though I hadn't read the first volume it was still easy to follow. It's a fun fantasy chapter book with a lot of great lessons to be learned. Most of these lessons come from dogs, of course. . .My favorite parts of the book had to do with how the dogs help the people of Earth .  . . .They even helped save some kidnapped children from an evil Prince. . . I would recommend Castle In The Mist for children as well as adults". . . Reviewed by Ann Staub for PawsitivelyPets

Here is the link to read sample chapters of Castle In The Mist: Planet Of The Dogs 

The illustration of Prince Ukko from Castle In The Mist is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

 

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From the Very Beginning

 

"From the very beginning, thousands of years ago, when tales were told to create communal bonds in face of the inexplicable forces of nature, to the present, when fairy tales are written and told to provide hope in a world seemingly on the brink of catastrophe, mature men and women have been the creators and cultivators of the fairy tale tradition ..." Jack Zipes, scholar, author, and pioneer in children's literature. 

 

 
The photo is of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland.

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World Vision International works around the world. "Everything World Vision does is focused on one goal: the sustained well being of children, especially the most vulnerable."

The number of refugee children in the world is staggering. Their pasts are filled with devastation, pain and loss. The work of NGOs like World Vision, to bring some hope into their lives, is of supreme importance. 

"World Vision has been working in the Middle East for more than 35 years and currently has long-term development projects in Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza and Lebanon.

In addition to on-going long-term development work, World Vision is working directly and through partner organizations to support the needs of those affected by increased violence in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq and is also helping families in Gaza as they attempt to rebuild their lives after the most recent conflict." 

Here is link to their website:World Vision

Photo AFP/Getty

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Fairy Tales

"Fairy tales are like riddles wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, and that’s what accounts in part for our fierce repetition compulsion when it comes to stories like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, or The Frog King. It is always something of a challenge to figure out what makes a fairy tale tick and whir with cultural energy and why each one tends to carry some kind of emotional charge." -- Maria Tatar in Signature  

The image of Puss 'n Boots is by Gustav Dore.

 

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Fantastic, Marvelous, and Manifestly Unreal

"Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations."  -- L. Frank Baum

 

The original cover and illustrations are by W.W. Denslow

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A Magic Journey from a Drab and Isolated Grey World to the Emerald City

When people think of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, they generally have the movie in mind, a movie inspired by, and based on, Baum's exceptional book. First published in 1900, the book tells the story of a magical journey that would fulfill all wishes, if only one followed -- and stayed on -- the yellow brick road. For this special road would take you to the Wizard of Oz, a man who could give you courage, compassion, and intelligence. He could even get you home to Kansas. . .or not. There were many obstacles and dangers along the way, from nasty witches to poppy fields that looked lovely, but could put you to sleep --  forever.

Dorothy, a brave little girl, showed the reader that by working together with her friends, they could overcome frightening dangers and difficulties, and make their hopes and dreams come true. 

 

The American Golden Age Of Children's Literature

Jerry Griswald, scholar and author, in his book Audacious Kids, The Classic American Children's Story, positions Baum's book as a shining example of The Golden Age of American Children's Literature, 1865-1914. Griswald cites many books to illustrate the Golden Age concept, ranging from Little Women and Tom Sawyer, to Hans Brinker and Toby Tyler. He writes of parallels in plot and structure found in American children's literature of that era. To further illustrate the Golden Age concept, he cites ongoing " best seller lists headed by children's books that were read by young and old alike." It seem that what we today characterize as crossover books were quite common in the Golden Age.

According to Snopes, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz "had sold 5 million copies before its copyright expired in 1956, and the 1939 musical film version with Judy Garland (although not initially successful) has probably been viewed more times by more people than any other film in the history of cinema." 

Where did the name Oz come from? Here is a link to the Etymology of Oz: Snopes.

The above illustrations by W.W. Denslow are from the original 1900 edition of the book.

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KIDLITOSPHERE Conference 2017

KidLitCon is an annual gathering of people who care about, and blog about, children’s and young adult books, including librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, parents, and book reviewers. "This is a small, friendly conference, perfect for (often) introverted book lovers. Attending is a great way to turn virtual blogging friends into real world friends."

"I was thrilled to attend the 2016 KidLit Con event. . . I didn't know what to expect but I was welcomed by everyone. The event was informative and engaging. All attendees were enthusiastic and ready to chat about all things books. I had so much fun and made so many wonderful friends."     Kristi Bernard, Writer, Blogger, Reviewer, first-time attendee, and presenter at Kidlitcon 2016. 

KidLitCon 2017 will be held November 3rd and 4th in Hershey, PA. 

The illustration is by Terri Windling.

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How to Change the World in 30 Seconds

An Audacious Title -- What Does It Mean?

The following summary from Amazon explains the truth of this provocative title. The book was written by author and animal advocate, C. A. Wulff.

" If you lo ve animals and are dismayed when you see stories of animal abuse and cruelty in the news; if you ever wished you could do something about it, but you just didn't know where to start, this book has you covered. Just 30 seconds a day on the Internet can not only make a difference, but can also change the world. . . . for novices as well as experienced animal rescuers.  Combining case histories with practical tips, this guide demonstrates how to use the Internet to advocate for dogs; from simple clicks to more advanced methods."

Review Excerpt

"...This book is a great read for anyone who is into animal rescue or anyone who is just an animal lover who feels like there is nothing they can do. VERY informative & VERY well written. I will be keeping this book close by to refer back to for the amazing resources. One person CAN make a difference!" Excerpted from an Amazon Review by Krysta Kaos

 

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Movies

Brigsby Bear sounds like imaginative fun for kids, young adults and older adults in the crossover world. Based on the reviews and trailers, I will certainly see it when I have an opportunity. 

Here is an excerpt from the NY Times review by Manohla Dargis

". . .That’s partly what “Brigsby Bear” is about, though mostly it’s a sweet and sometimes delightful melancholic story of a lonely man saved by imagination and love. That sounds like a bushel of cornball and might have devolved into pure ick if the director, Dave McCary, didn’t lead from the heart and wasn’t adept at navigating seemingly clashing tones. He hooks you early with an uneasily ha-ha, strange opener in which James and two others — Jane Adams plays April while a warm, wonderful Mark Hamill plays Ted — engage in “Brigsby” banter. Soon, sirens are flashing and the movie darkens; a few beats later, it brightens, then swerves into silliness only to veer into seriousness. . ."

Here is the Critics Concensus from 91 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: "Audiences attuned to Brigsby Bear's  strange frequency will be moved by its earnest -- and endearingly original -- approach to pop culture's impact and the creative urge."

Here is Trailer #1

Here is Trailer #2

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Miyazaki Returns

"If anyone’s earned the right to do whatever he likes in retirement, it’s Hayao Miyazaki. This includes un-retiring, as the venerable 76-year-old animation master has now done four years after his swansong film. After rumours earlier in the year, Studio Ghibli recently confirmed it had reopened to begin making a 12th Miyazaki feature. He is thought to be expanding Boro the Caterpillar, a 12-minute short he had been making for the Ghibli Museum, which he was unsatisfied with." -- Phil Hoad in the Guardian

 

Promo for new Miyazaki film: Boro

Here is a brief profile of Miyazaki and the new film

The illustration is from My Neighbor Totoro.

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Therapy Dogs for Veterans in the UK..."The UK's first charity organisation training Assistance Dogs for British ex-servicemen and women with service-related mental health conditions"

I learned from the excellent Channel 4 documentary video (link below) that this group was started by a Veteran with PTSD and that they are overwhelmed by requests for dogs.

". . .We have seen the self worth that Veterans develop when experiencing the positive aspects of dog ownership and the companionship it brings, and have witnessed the fantastic effects of the therapeutic values that dogs can bring. . .  

 More veterans are dying from suicides as a result of the impact of the psychological and emotional trauma than have been killed in conflict. The divorce rate, number who are now in prison or homeless, and the impact these issues are having on the children of our veterans are shocking. Many have severed relationships, are afraid to leave their homes, get little sleep due to recurring nightmares, and are emotionally numb.

Our PALS Programme to train and provide assistance dogs for mental health is just one adjunct to treatment that is having a profound effect on helping Veterans to increase their quality of life and regain independence."

Here is a link to their website: Veterans With Dogs. 

Here is a link to the excellent video of therapy dogs with several veterans produced by Channel 4.

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Another Train...Like oral tales and ballads of centuries past, this is a wonderful song of hope...click here for the experience: Poozies

The beginning is now
It will always be
You say you lost your chance
Then fate brought you defeat

But that means nothing
You look so sad
You've been listening to those
Who say you missed your chance

There's another train
There always is
Maybe the next, one is yours
Get up and climb aboard
Another train. . .

 

Pete Morton, Harbourtown Music, Composed Another Train

The illustration of a Girl Reading in an Orphanage is by Gotthard Kuel 

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  Home Again

Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.

"My darling child!" she cried, folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses. "Where in the world did you come from?"

"From the Land of Oz," said Dorothy gravely. "And here is Toto, too. And oh, Aunt Em! I'm so glad to be at home again!" -- from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.

Illustration by W.W. Denslow

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Why Am I ?

The Yelodoggie Book Search Continues

We are actively searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, embrace its potential, and launch it into the world.

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. Why Am I ? teaches tolerance.

We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new Yelodoggie book should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

 

Here is an advance review of Why Am I ? by Sophia, Age 9.

"It was a wonderful story of a sweet little puppy
who goes to find an answer of why he was yellow.
I like it because he went on a journey and it was
like an adventure around the country. In the end
he comes home being happy the color he is." 

 

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 The Planet Of The Dogs Series

 

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 at [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 book stores of all sizes.

 The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

 

 

 

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“You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you they will be there long before any of us.”  

 -- Robert Lewis Stevenson

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August -- Stories Without Boundaries, and Centuries of Magical Tales

     

                          
                        
                                    

The illustration is by Ireland's Tomm Moore from his magical film, Song of the Sea. The story concerns a quest by a boy and his mute sister to free the fairies. The young girl is actually a selkie, a magical spirit from the sea in the form of a seal who has changed into human form and lives on the land as part of a family.   Here is a link to the trailer: Song Of The Sea

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Selkies...Shape-shifters from the Sea

 

Selkies are mythological creatures who live in the sea in the form of seals; they are also shape-shifters, and may live on land as humans if they wish to do so. However, this requires the selkies to shed their skin. Selkies are living legends, part of the ancient folklore of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Certainly, Tomm Moore was inspired by the legends.

 

"Kalsoy, a rugged island in the Faroes, has many legends, the best known of which is the legend of the  Selkie  or Seal-Woman of Mikladalur...  A young farmer from the town of Mikladalur on Kalsoy island goes to the beach to watch the selkies dance. He hides the skin of a beautiful selkie maid, so she cannot go back to sea, and forces her to marry him. He keeps her skin in a chest, and keeps the key with him both day and night. One day when out fishing, he discovers that he has forgotten to bring his key. When he returns home, the selkie wife has escaped back to sea, leaving their children behind. Later, when the farmer is out on a hunt, he kills (unwittingly, I believe)  both her selkie husband and two selkie sons, and she promises to take revenge upon the men of Mikladalur. Some shall be drowned, some shall fall from cliffs and slopes, and this shall continue, until so many men have been lost that they will be able to link arms around the whole island of Kalsoy; there are still occasional deaths occurring in this way on the island."

"This revenge has always been taken seriously, not only in Kalsoy but in the Faroe Islands generally. The descendants of the 'Seal-woman' are still known in the country by certain characteristics, especially their short fingers." Deaths of men at sea and by falling from cliffs still take place in the Faroe Islands, leading many people to think that the selkie's revenge continues.

The top photo was taken on the isle of Kalsoy.

The statue of the Selkie of Mikladalur is found on Kalsoy island. 

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Fantasy and Real Life

"At heart, the issues raised in a work of fantasy are those we face in real life. In whatever guise -- our own daily nightmares of war, intolerance, inhumanity, or the struggles of an Assistant Pig-Keeper against the Lord of Death -- the problems are agonizingly familiar. And an openness to compassion, love, and mercy is as essential to us here and now as it is to any inhabitant of an imaginary kingdom." -- Lloyd Alexander,  Newbery award winning author of children's fantasy literature.

Here is a link to read all of Lloyd Alexander's insightful comments on  Terri Windling's Myth and Moor

The painting is by Andrea Kowch.

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On Reading

But surpassing all stupendous inventions, what sublimity of mind was his who dreamed of finding means to communicate his deepest thoughts to any other person, though distant by mighty intervals of place and time! Of talking with those who are in India; of speaking to those who are not yet born and will not be born for a thousand or ten thousand years; and with what facility, by the different arrangements of twenty characters upon a page...

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642).

The photo is of the Long Room in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. 

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Opening the Door to Magic...The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice, An Anthology of Magic Tales, edited by Jack Zipes, opens with a powerful and highly personal statement ( in the preface):

"As I was developing this project (over the course of six years), it gradually became clear to me why I had become infatuated with these tales: they have given me some signs of hope when it seemed that we were living in hopeless times..."

Why Magic Matters

Zipes then goes on in his introduction (77 pages), Why Magic Matters, to speak to the relevancy of the Sorcerer's Apprentice Tales -- whose origins are ancient -- to painful societal problems that continue to endure today:

"Though many of the diverse tales about sorcerer's apprentice's are quite old, they still speak to contemporary problems of mentorship, child abuse, and exploitation as well as the misuse of cultural and political power. For instance, during the past thirty years there has been a worldwide crisis that involves the maltreatment of young people by sorcerers, the degeneration of public education, slave labor, child abandonment, poverty, and violence..."

" 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' tales inform our lives more than we realize.They are historically and culturally prominent in our cultural memories. They make us aware that magic matters, no matter what its substance may be, no matter what form it takes,"

Self-Empowerment Through Magic 

Zipes illustrates the theme of transition from domination and abuse to self-empowerment and a new life through the taking of power through magic. He offers over 50 tales and examples of the sorcerer's apprentice, ranging across time and cultures including, Ovid, Goethe, Strapola, the Grimms, Ursala LeGuin, and J.K. Rowling, as evidence. 

He shows how there are two versions of the basic tale that have continued through the millennia . There are stories about "humiliated apprentices" who are defeated by magic, and there are stories of "rebellious apprentices" who work hard, endure hardship, learn how to use their cruel master's (the sorcerer) magic for themselves, and ultimately, triumph. As did Harry Potter.

As a reader with an ongoing interest in the evolution, meaning, and relevance of tales of wonder from the past, I found the insights and information in this fascinating and groundbreaking book trenchant and compelling; it opened new awareness and new understanding for me. 

The top illustration is by wyldraven.

The lower illustration is by Hiro Isozaki.

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Her Love Of Animals Shouts Out From Every Page

C.A. Wulff's Born Without A Tail, a memoir about growing up connecting to and loving animals from childhood to womanhood, established her as an author who drew the reader into her world...

 "I can't say too much about this book, it's more than a 'dog book' it's a people, animals, life book. I was hooked from the first page and read it straight through"-- from a review by an Amazon Verified Reader

Circling The Waggins, How Five Misfit Dogs Saved Me From Bewilderness, is a continuation of Wulff's life story in her mature years as an animal advocate, rescuer, artist, and author...

"I am not really sure what it is about these books by Wulff, but I simply love them. The story telling and commentaries are engaging, honest and sincere. And, her love of animals shouts out from every page." -- Amazon review by Nancy Segovia, NY Times and USA Today award winning author.

 

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Castle In The Mist

"Do you think that it is possible for dogs to stop a war?...  Children will enjoy the story (Castle In The Mist) about dogs who come from another planet to help people on earth. But under the surface are the important messages of friendship, love, loyalty, and how to overcome evil with good…  It will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. . ." 

Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker, Stories for Children Magazine, Home School Book Buzz

Here is the link to read sample chapters of Castle In The Mist: Planet Of The Dogs 

 

The illustration from Castle In The Mist is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty

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Time Gone By...Visions, Miracles, Angels, and Devils

For hundreds of centuries, people have lived in a world of many dangers from wars, natural disasters, famine and sickness. They found support in stories and events that gave them hope. They became integral to cultures, and unlimited by time and borders; they have been passed on to us today. Often they have become memes, themes that touch us deeply and color our perceptions. We know them today as myths, folktales, fairy tales, and legends.

Among the stories and events from past times that gave hope and also explained the mysteries of existence were those relating to religion. Life was short and difficult, but holy men and saints had the power to help and even to protect people in myriad ways.

There are records, from past ages, of miracles in many forms: holy men and women driving out devils and disease, speaking to angels and devils, making predictions, and even bringing the dead back to life. Such a man with this power was the fourth century Saint, Martin of Tours. In his early life, he was a soldier; in his later life, he was a holy man and a miracle worker.

A Dead Man Returns to Life

Here is an excerpt from the story of St. Martin's life written by a man who met with, and spoke with him, Sulpitius Severuson. This excerpt tells of the occasion when St Martin brought a dead man back to life:

"The body being laid out in public was being honored by the last sad offices on the part of the mourning brethren, when Martin hurries up to them with tears and lamentations. But then laying hold; as it were, of the Holy Spirit, with the whole powers of his mind, he orders the others to quit the cell in which the body was lying; and bolting the door, he stretches himself at full length on the dead limbs of the departed brother...Martin prays and exalts, and then...those who had been standing at the door immediately rush inside. And truly a marvelous spectacle met them, for they beheld the man alive whom they had formerly left dead. Thus being restored to life, and having immediately obtained baptism, he lived for many years afterwards...From this time forward, the name of the sainted man (Martin) became illustrious..."

Here is the link to read more of Sulpitius Severuson's story of this miracle and the life of Saint Martin: St Martin

 

 

The top photo is of the Famine Walk Memorial, Delph Valley, County Mayo, Ireland
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The forest will answer you in the way you call to it ~ Finnish proverb  

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I Would Like to Be There in November ...

I would like to be there at the KidLit Conference in Hershey, PA, among the annual gathering of people who care about, and blog about, children’s and young adult books, including librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, parents, and book reviewers.

Here is what author Jen Swann Downey wrote after attending last year's KidLit  conference:

 

" The organizers and attendees of the event are passionate committed appreciators, evaluators, and disseminators of fiction for young people. Panels and talks addressed kid lit matters seminal, philosophical and practical. In the spaces between these official events, attendees forged friendships, had enthusiastic discussions about the role of stories in kid’s lives, and explored possibilities for collaborations on various projects. The net effect of the event was to renew my belief in the power of children’s literature to help kids navigate, and when necessary or desirable, reimagine life; and feel encouraged in my efforts as a writer."

 

 

Here is a link to read more about the next KIDLITOSPHERE Conference (November 4-5) 

 

The illustration from the Grimm's Maid Maleen is by Arthur Rackham.

  

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“Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recovered at will.” 

"This supremacy of sensibility is no doubt due to the child’s voracious and indiscriminate curiosity, which furnishes a mastery at the art of observation superior to the adult’s by immeasurable orders of magnitude. This seer’s superpower is what glimmers in the personal histories of geniuses, in their recollections of those memorable moments in which they first glimpsed their artistic sense of purpose..."

The above is an excerpt from Maria Popova's article, Baudelaire on the Genius of Childhood, on her fascinating website, Brainpickings .

The photo illustration is by Laurent Lavender.

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Haunted in Real Life by the Myth of the Fairy Stepmother 

The fairy stepmother in fairy tales is often cruel and heartless.  Author and new stepmother Leslie Jamison found herself confronting the legacy of fairy tale mythology when she became stepmother to a lovely little girl named Lily. The situation was compounded by the fact that Lily's mother had died. Here is an excerpt from this fascinating account of a new life for both Leslie and Lily.

"I wondered if it was comforting for Lily to hear stories about fairy-tale children who had lost what she had lost — unlike most of the kids at her school, or in her ballet classes, whose mothers were still alive. Or perhaps it brought the stories dangerously near, the fact that she shared so much with them. Maybe it peeled away their protective skins of fantasy, made their pepper water too literal, brought their perils too close. When I read her the old fairy tales about daughters without mothers, I worried that I was pushing on the bruises of her loss. When I read her the old fairy tales about stepmothers, I worried I was reading her an evil version of myself."

Here is a link to read all of Leslie Jamison's account:   FairyStepmother

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The Nightmare Plight of the Yazidi and Their Children

The photo is of a Yazidi woman and her family. The Yazidi are caught up in genocide. The following is excerpted from the Guardian

"Islamic State fighters are committing genocide against Yazidis in Syria and Iraq by seeking to destroy the group through murder, sexual slavery, gang rape, torture and humiliation, UN investigators have said.

"One Yazidi woman recalled being bought by an Isis fighter at a Raqqa slave farm. On placing her in his car, he told her: “You are like a sheep. I have bought you.” He sold her seven days later to an Algerian Isis fighter living in the Aleppo area..."

One very active source of aid amidst this madness is the UNHCR. I salute them. They seek funding. This is from their website..."UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people."  

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MOVIES

 Okja...an Adult Crossover Fantasy

"Okja is a most remarkable pig. As big as a medium-sized elephant, with a snout that looks more canine than porcine, she is slobbery and sometimes flatulent, but also loyal, gentle and brave. Okja is devoted, above all, to a girl named Mija. They have grown up together on a remote mountain farm that belongs to Mija’s grandfather, inseparable companions in a classic literary and cinematic tradition...But anyone familiar with that tradition — I’ll mention “Old Yeller” and leave it at that — knows that stories of children and their pets are almost inevitably shadowed by tragedy and loss. The adult human world regards animals through a callous, utilitarian lens, as sources of food, labor or ornamental cuteness, a fact that “Okja,” Bong Joon-ho’s wonderful new film, takes to a dystopian but also an unnervingly realistic extreme." -- excerpted from A.O. Scott's review in the NY Times.

Here is a link to the very engaging OKJA Trailer

Captain Underpants...a Movie for Kids

I haven't seen the movie and I haven't read the book, but to my surprise, the reviews are mostly excellent; apparently, the movie is smart, creative, definitely for kids, and very funny. Here is an excerpt from Wendy Ide's review in the Guardian:

"Although one of the foundations on which much children’s cinema was built, lavatory humour was always perceived as an inglorious last resort. Can’t think of a funny line? Have a character break wind instead. By this logic, Captain Underpants, a film almost entirely crafted out of lavatory humour, should be a soul-crushing, puerile slog. However, David Soren’s animation, which was adapted from the children’s books by Dav Pilkey, is a delightful surprise. It’s a celebration of friendship, of the boundless creativity of children’s minds. It’s a dizzily silly collection of sly cultural references. It’s visually inventive, narratively agile. And yes, it has fart gags..."

Here is a link to the trailer for Captain Underpants.

A Disappointing Valerian... despite limitless imagination 

The consensus seems to be that Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets has very imaginative animation, excellent CGI, but a disappointing story that bogs down...Here is an excerpt from a review by Thelma Adams in the New York Observer:"In the end, Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a mixed bag: a ripe visual adventure of limitless imagination hamstrung by an undercooked plot propelled by lackluster heroes.

Here is an action filled trailer (there are several) for Valerian

Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Film Festival USA

Thanks to Once Upon a Blog (INK Gypsy), I learned of the Miyazaki Ghibli Film Festival, happening now and through the fall, in multiple locations, across the country. To locate when and where one of these six extraordinary films is playing in your area, click this link, MIYAZKI      

The festival films are: My Friend Totoro; Kiki's Delivery Service; Howl's Moving Castle; Nausica, Valley Of The Wind; Castle In The Sky; and Spirited Away.

 

The illustration is from Howl's Moving Castle.

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The Man Who Read 100,000 of Lewis Carroll's Letters

A co-founder of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, Morton Cohen, died last June. People from many walks of life, and many countries, who have an active interest in Alice or Lewis Carroll, are members. The following is excerpted from Morton Cohen's NY Times obituary article in the NY Times.

"Morton Cohen, a scholar of Victorian literature who spent much of his career editing the letters and writing the definitive biography of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author, as Lewis Carroll, of "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" and “Through the Looking-Glass,” died on June 12 in Manhattan. He was 96....Carroll was such an astonishingly prolific correspondent — he wrote at least 100,000 letters in his lifetime — that the project, a feat of prodigious research and patience, took Mr. Cohen and Mr. Green nearly two decades to complete. It was published in 1979. Mr. Cohen notably tracked down many of the adult women to whom Carroll had written when they were children... "

Here is a link to the Richard Sandomir's NYTimes article/obituary of Morton Cohen

Here is a link to the Lewis Carroll Society of North America.

 

The illustration, Never too Late, is by Lyndsey Pyne

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Paws Giving Independence

Paws Giving Independence (PGI) is a multi-faceted, grass roots, volunteer organization, located in Peoria, Illinois, that does wonderful work in providing service dogs for people with disabilities. Their dogs serve people ranging from the Jesse Brown Veteran's Hospital in Chicago to the Peoria Children's Home Youth Farm. PGI is non-profit. They depend on volunteers and donations.

The photo on the left is of Monty, a PGI trained dog, going to school with his friend, the young girl in the photo. They are both in fourth grade. Monty lives with her in her home, and they go everywhere, including the school bus, together. I have posted this photo in the past; I am heartened and touched by this little girl and Monty.

Monty was trained by a Bradley University student as part of the Wags for Mags program, initiated by Paws Giving Independence  .This ongoing program of student volunteers train dogs for people with disabilities. Anyone with a disability can apply for a PGI service dog. There is no charge for the dog, the training, or the service. And, many of the PGI trained dogs are rescued dogs.

The PGI annual Running With The Dogs fundraiser will be held in Peoria on September 30. There will be medals, and the annual pet costume contest.  

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Excerpt from The Tailor's Apprentice...a sixteenth century Sorcerer's Apprentice Tale

 "Lattantino...practiced in public, namely his trade of a tailor, while the other, the art of necromancy, he did in secret. Now, one day Lattantio took the son of a poor man as his apprentice in order to make a tailor of him. This young man was called Dionigi, an industrious and smart fellow, who learned everything as soon as it was taught to him. One day, when Maestro Lattantino was alone, he locked himself in his chamber and began conducting experiments in magic. When Dionigi became aware of this, he crept silently up to a crack in the door and saw very clearly what Lattanto was doing. As a result, he became so entranced and obsessed by this art that he could think only of necromancy and cast aside all thoughts of becoming a tailor."

Excerpted from Straparola's Pleasant Nights (1553), his collection of oral tales which were told to him, "by the ladies, nobles, learned men and gentlemen who gathered together for recreation." One of the stories appearing in Zipes' Sorcerer's Apprentice.

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The Yelodoggie Book Search Continues

Why Am I ? is a joyous book that helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. Why Am I ? teaches tolerance.

We are actively searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, embrace its potential, and launch it into the world.

We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new Yelodoggie book should have wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we see it as the beginning of a series.

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The Planet Of The Dogs Series

We have free reader copies of the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians and teachers... email us at [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 book stores. 

 

The photo of Jordy reading is by Jennifer Wickham.

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 "I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons." -- Will Rogers

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