Barking Planet Children's & YA Books

June -- Women Prevail, Hope in Darkness

 

                                                      The photo of Maijana is by Tadas Kazakvicius

Home in Wonder Tales

 

Home and all that it meant to people, from safety and belonging to fear and danger, are certainly found in wonder tales. Through the centuries, women, like Maijana, the Lithuanian woman above, have endured and somehow prevailed. They have endured wars, famine, sickness and loss; they have been the center of home.

 

Survival has been an an issue for much of humanity. 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

"Magical folk tales, of course, have been part of the storytelling tradition since the dawn of time -- including stories of fairies, sorcerers, witches, and human folk under enchantment. Folk tales are humbler stories than the great cosmological myth cycles or long heroic Romances, and as such have been passed through the generations largely by the lower caste portions of society: women, peasants, slaves, and outcast groups such as Tinkers and Travellers."

Terri Windling Myth and Moor

 

The painting is by Jean-Francois Millet.

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Survival

 

Survival is not simple. There may be no end to the obstacles, traps, mountains and rivers to cross; the journey may seem endless. It requires  courage, resilience, and luck to take you home. 

In our era, Neal Gaiman, a great creator of written wonder tales, rewrote Hansel and Gretel, the classic story of abandoned children in a time of famine and the aftermath of war. Gaiman's decision to spell out the chaos and hunger that overwhelmed the woodcutter and his family, is the impetus for all that follows.
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"War came, and the soldiers came with it -- hungry, angry, bored, scared men who, as they pushed through, stole the cabbages and the chickens and the ducks. The woodcutter's family was never certain who was fighting whom, nor why they were fighting, nor what they were fighting about. But beyond the forest, fields of crops were burned and barley fields became battlefields, and the farmers were killed, or made into soldiers in their turn and marched away. And soon enough the miller had no grain to mill into flour, the butcher had no animals to kill and hang in the window, and they said you could name your own price for a rabbit."   Neil Gaimen 

 

 

I just reread this powerful book. Neil Gaiman is at his best and the illustrations by Lorenzo Mattotti are extraordinary. This is a fairy tale, and therefore has a happy ending. The children's ordeal ends and they return home to a great embrace by their father who has been searching for them every day in the forest. Mother has died for reasons "no one alive can say". However, "the treasures they had brought from the old woman's cottage (the witch) kept them comfortable, and there were to be no more empty plates in their lives."

All the above illustrations of Hansel and Gretel are by Lorenzo Mattotti.

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Mythic Archetype.

The orphaned hero is not, however, a mere fantasy cliché; it's a mythic archetype, springing from some of the oldest stories of the world. This archetype includes not only those characters who are literally orphaned by the death of their parents, but also children who are lost, abandoned, cast out, disinherited by evil step–parents, raised in supernatural captivity, or reared by wild animals. Terry Windling-JoMA Archives.

The illustration of Snow White is by Arthur Rackham,

 

 

 

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 I'm Finding New Voices of Wonder

 

There is today an endless stream of books and stories. It would be so much more difficult to decide which writers to read without the guidance, experience, and thoughts of others. I have gained insights and information from many including: Terri Windling, Maria Tatar, Jack Zipes, Seth Lerer, Marina Warner, Jane Yolen, Ursula LeGuin, Ellen Datlow, Alison Lurie, W.B. Yeats, Jeff VanderMeer, and Angela Carter. I continue to read them to guide me through the multitudes of writers of wonder tales, fantasy, and as Terri Windling notes the term below, interstitial writers. 

 

The comment below by Terri was taken from her introduction to In The Forest of Forgetting (2006) by Theodora Goss, published by Mythic Delirium Books. Although she has published several well received, award-winning books, Theodora Goss was new to me. I became an admirer of this exceptional writer when reading In The Forest of Forgetting and, a later book (2019), Snow White Learns Witchcraft.

 

Here is an excerpt defining Interstitial from Terri Windling's  Introduction to In the Forest of Forgetting: 

 

"As a writer who has moved across many borders in her life, she (Theodora Goss) moves easily across the category borders erected by the publishing industry, creating works that could be alternately labeled as fantasy, horror, magic realism, surrealism, revisionist fairy tales and gothic romance, or that fall into the interstitial realm that lies in between these genres. . . . 'interstitial fiction', a term used to identify, study, and celebrate works that cross the border between categories. . ."

 

 

The painting for the cover of the Tor book Red as Blood and White as Bone ( by Theodora Goss) is by Anya and Elena Balbusso

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Snow White Learns Witchcraft by Theodora Goss -- An Excerpt

 

". . . How comfortable it was to live with dwarves
who didn't find her particularly attractive.
Seven brothers to whom she was just a child, and then
once she grew tall, an ungainly adolescent,
unlike the shy, delicate dwarf women
who lived deep in the forest. She was constantly tripping
over the child-sized furniture they carved
with patterns of hearts and flowers on winter evenings.
She remembers when the peddler woman came
to her door with laces, a comb, and then an apple. . ."

 

 

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The Power of 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 that they have let themselves be forced into living." Ursula Le Guin.

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Changing Times

 

Then suddenly, in or about the Ninth Century B.C., some overpowering new ferment began to sweep through this straggle of tribes. Something dislocated them, transformed them. Something came and moved so swiftly that archeology has not been able to detect the transition, only the results. . . Peoples who had been previously distinct, now became mingled. . . Some cultures vanished abruptly. . .

 

What had happened? The age of the horseman had dawned -- the long and turbulent age of the Scythian, the Sarmatian, the Hun, and the Mongol had dawned. . .

The horseman was a new breed of man. He was not a mere rider and breeder of horses, nor did he simply exploit the horse: he merged with the horse in a remarkably thorough way. He reshaped his entire mode of life around the capabilities of his horse. . .He stripped himself of all identification with a permanent home. . . His dwelling had become a collapsible tent, his hearth could be anywhere. . . Here was a total adjustment to the horse as the pivotal fact of life."
Ralph Trippett, Dr. Ruth Tringham The First Horsemen

 

Scythian tomb art of a warrior.
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Home Is In The Heart 

Kij Johnson wrote a powerful story -- The Horse Raiders, a story about people -- horsemen and horsewomen -- from a tribe famous for their wonderful horses and their deep attachment to their homeland, n'dau, and home.  Their identity is one with their horses and their homeland. Here is an excerpt as told by Katia, a healer, and one of nine extended family members:

"We were far from n'dau.The sun rode too high in the sky. The shadow that dogged my heels was too short. We had wandered so far from n'dau because we had found a broad ribbon of Earth grasses and shrubs rooted into the soil left over from a Dawn meltwater river, dried now to a marshy trickle. The horses could eat the native vegetation of Ping, but the grass from ancient earth was best for them and so we let the herd graze noonward. . .

 

A group of barbarian riders appears from the grasslands, holding the white flag that signifies a meeting to trade. Questions are asked. Suddenly however, the barbarians attack and swiftly kill all but the narrator, Katia, who is overwhelmed and saved because she is a medicine woman for the horses. Her young niece is spared because she is Katia's apprentice. The culture of the barbarians like the culture of Katia's people is built around, and dependent on the horses; however, all the barbarian horses are dying.

Kij Johnson's wonderful story is a metaphor for life in the centuries of the horse-based cultures that dominated the vast steppe lands of Eurasia, reached across Russia and far into Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary.

Photo of horses credit Mari Art/Thinkstock

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The Infinite

 

Patience Agbabi, a poet and the author of The Infinite -- a book of wonder written for Middle school readers --  is an Oxford graduate, a former Poet Laureate of Canterbury and was cited as one of the Next Generation Poets. She also performs as a spoken word artist. Born in London of Nigerian parents, she is the loving mother of two young boys.

 

The Infinite fairly dances with words and language. The central figure, Elle, is a gifted, 11 year old black girl. She tells the story and in doing so, pulls you into her world. She also happens to be a novice time traveler (a "Leapling"), born on 29 February and a very unique girl. Here is an excerpt:

 

"My school is called Intercalary International because its a boarding school for Leaplings who have The Gift. It only has two classes with a four year gap in between and goes up to Fourteenth Year. It looks like a country mansion and you have to go up a drive with lots of tall trees to get to it. There's no sign outside apart from 'Private' because it's a secret. Locals think an eccentric billionaire lives there. It's the only one in the world and some of the pupils come from places like India and Brazil.

I'm a day pupil because I live very close by..."

 

The story is filled with surprises, celebrates differences, and protecting our future. Phillip Pullman recommends the book.

 

Among her several books, Patience Agababi has written ,Telling Tales, which retells Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales for the 21st century. Here is a link to see Patience performing an excerpt from her version of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.

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Exceptional Independent Animation

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Part 5/8 Poetry of Perception

Emily Dickenson inspired animation created by Brian Smee

Music and Sound Skillbard

Part 5 ofan 8 part series. Producer Nadja, HarvardX Neuroscience

Here is the link: 5/8 Time 1:51

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My Friend Marjorie

A poignant tribute

A lifetime

Created by Louise Wilde

Here is the link; Marjorie Time 4:32

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Levitation

Alternate reality. Exceptional.

Cutting edge creativity. See it to the end.

Co-director choreographer Anna Abalikhina, Art Director Arthur Kondrashen

Creative Producer Alexader Us, Producer Denis Astarkhov

Presented by Sila Sveta Productions, Moscow

Here is the link: Levitation Time: 3:22

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Gun Violence

I find it dangerous for all of us that no Federal law requires a background check for gun buyers in the USA. An organization, Everytown (for Gun Safety) was formed In April 2014 by the merger of Mayors against Illegal Guns and  Moms Demand Action. They are fighting an ongoing battle to end the epidemic of gun violence in the USA.

Moms Demand Action began one day after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Ct, where 27 were murdered: 20 children ages 6-8 and 7 staff. The murderer (20 years old) used assault weapons and a pistol. 

The US gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than that of other high-income countries.

 Here is a link to connect: Everytown

The photo is of a Sandy Hook mother.

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Refugee Children

There were over 13 million refugee children in 2019. How many are there now? How many are orphans? 

How many are in schools in camps?

How many can read?

What is their future?

To Visit Save the Children

 

Photo credit: our world.unu.edv

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PAL -- People, Animals, Love

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

The number of visits, ranging from hospitals to libraries that PAL make in a year are staggering. As the photo demonstrates, kids read to PAL dogs even now, in the COVID era. 

"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 Photo credit Michael Kranefield.

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How to Change the World in Thirty Seconds is dedicated to all of the individuals and groups who devote their heads, hands, and hearts to improving the world for companion animals.
You are all, every one of you, my heroes -- C.A. Wulff

 

Amazon Review Excerpt:

"This is probably the best "how-to" book I have ever seen. It is written in a very conversational manner while being extremely educational. Along with giving step-by-step instructions on how to use each advocacy tool, Cayr gives some background on each website, organization, and group... She walks you through the necessary steps and gives tips..." 

 

Cover design by C.A. Wulff.

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Castle In The Mist Is the second book in the Planet Of The Dogs Series 

"...the McCarty's again succeeded in bringing archetypal themes such as good vs evil, man vs nature, love, faith and faithfulness into the story without being overly teachy or preachy. We were riveted by the story and its main characters (both human and canine); we shared in their challenges and celebrated their victories. Melinda Gates, Reading Mother

Visit our website for sample chapters: http://www.planetofthedogs.net

The illustration is of Susan Purser's nephew, Chase, reading Castle In The Mist to therapy dog, Bandit. 

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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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May -- Women and Girls, Danger and Resilience

                                                                                                 

                                                               
                                                                    The painting is by Andrea Kowch.

Stories to light the path. . .

Long, long ago, when the first fairy tales were being dreamed up, mothers were always on the verge of disappearing. To be an adult woman was to live a precarious existence at best. Too soon you could be sure of violence, of rape or beating or even murder. Too soon you could be sure of illness or death in childbirth. Too soon you could be gone, replaced with the next young fertile woman, still able to suckle your young. (The story of stepmothers is a whole other essay.) In those days, you had to create something you could leave behind to light the path, to keep throwing those bread crumbs, to clear the thorns from the thicket. A tree or a ghost or a bear or a good fairy—but something, something to outlast you.

A mother had to bequeath a gift, a story. And a daughter had to be ready. For her mother’s disappearance—and for her own, too. -- Amber Sparks Lit Hub

The illustration is by Caitlin Hackett.

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Why Do these Dark Stories Endure

I had found the stories of Bluebeard and Beauty and the Beast  fascinating. However, I also found them disturbing and overwrought. The illustrations were gruesome. The basic ideas were horrific.

In one tale, a demonic murderer uses exceptional wealth and deception to lure his wives to a nasty death.

In the other, a lovely young woman is forced to be the wife of a man who was a beast -- a powerful man, a wealthy man, a man who was more than he appeared to be. But a beast nevertheless.

According to researchers at the universities in Durham and Lisbon, the basic story of Beauty and the Beast can be traced back to the Bronze age, about 4,000 years ago. Many variations of the basic theme have been developed throughout the centuries reaching from Europe and Russia to Asia.


The illustration is by Angela Barrett.

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The Voice Of Women

Why does this story endure? . . .Why has a variation of the story, based on versions written by two French women in the 18th century become a classic? Madame de Villeneuve (1740) and  Madame de Beaumont (1756) were both adroit survivors of French court life as well as talented writers who gave voice through stories to issues of concern to women at all levels of society.

Versailles and the court of Louis IV were a world unto themselves. A world of power, wealth, and rules. Well connected, intelligent women, developed literary salons. They were initially inspired and led by a talented and brave woman, Madame D'Aulony. Known as the conteuses or storytellers, they wrote, read, and recited.

"D’Aulnoy and her peers used exaggeration, parody and references to other stories to unsettle the customs and conventions that constrained women’s freedom and agency. Throughout her writing career, D’Aulnoy’s central theme was the critique of arranged marriage, her heroines repositioned as agents of their own destinies." Link: D'Aulnoy

The illustration is from the TV series Versailles.

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A Beast In The Marriage Bed

Terri Windling in Myth and Moor, explained the background and motivation for Madame de Villeneuve's story.

"The story she came up with was uniquely her own, however, and addressed issues of concern to women of her day. Chief among these was a critique of a marriage system in which women had few legal rights — no right to choose their own husband, no right to refuse the marriage bed, no right to control their own property, and no right of divorce. Often the brides were fourteen or fifteen years old, given to men who were decades older. Unsatisfactory wives risked being locked up in mental institutions or distant convents. Women fairy tale writers of the 17th & 18th centuries were often sharply critical of such practices, promoting the ideas of love, fidelity, and civilité between the sexes. Their tales reflected the realities they lived with, and their dreams of a better way of life. Their Animal Bridegroom stories, in particularly, embodied the real–life fears of women who could be promised to total strangers in marriage, and who did not know if they'd find a beast or a lover in their marriage bed.

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Who by Fire-- in Your Merry Merry Month of May

Who by fire, who by water,

Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of May
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?   Leonard Cohen  -- Live in London

 

 

The painting is by Andrea Kowch.

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Bluebeard, Lydia Millet reminds us, is a story about illusion, transgression, and the dark side of carnal appetites. It cautions us to beware of strangers in the woods...and of gentleman in the front parlor.

 

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Perrault and Bluebeard

 

The wonderful Terri Windling, in a definitive article in Myth and Moor, reveals the many variations on the Bluebeard story through time and in many cultures. It seems that the version that we know was written by Charles Perrault (1697). Perrault presents Bluebeard as a serial murderer of great wealth and superficial charm, who deceives, exploits, and kills fatuous women (his brides); they are driven by greed and craven curiosity.  Perrault blames the murdered women for their fate. This includes as well Bluebeard's new bride, who is about to become his next victim. Perrault gives the young woman no inner strength; she behaves in a helpless manner.

She impetuously disobeys her husband's command, thereby learning that she has married a murderer.  And she will be next. Luckily, her brothers save her just in time.

 

Perrault does not criticize Bluebeard's murderous behavior. However, Perrault does scold the young wife. both in the story and in the Morals that follow. Perrault's motivation for writing in this way remains a quandary for scholars. 

 

 

Angela Carter, inspired by the Bluebeard legends, wrote a wonderful new story, The Bloody Chamber. It is very different from Perraut's story and appears in her book, The Bloody Chamber.

 

The illustration is by Nadezhda Illarionova.

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Angela Carter -- Metamorphosis and Empowerment 

 

 Beauty and the Beast and Bluebeard inspired new stories in Angela Carter's exceptional book, The Bloody Chamber. . . " 'The Bloody Chamber' is like a multifaceted glittering diamond reflecting and refracting a variety of portraits of desire and sexuality - heterosexual female sexuality - which, unusually for the time, 1979, are told from a heterosexual female viewpoint. . . 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'. . . Carter regarded them in this light, using them as a way of exploring ideas of how things might be different."

Guardian article re Bloody Chamber by Helen Simpson.

The illustration for The Bloody Chamber is by Kate Meyrick.

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New Stories

The writing in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber is brilliant. It flows easily. The places and characters are vividly described.

The stories pull you in to a fantasy world that becomes quite real for the reader.

The style, appropriately, has a sensual quality with darkness lying beneath the surface of events. 

Metamorphosis and transition are integral to the stories.

The young women protagonists become empowered; they are no longer victims.

 

The illustration by Angela Barrett is from Beauty and the Beast .

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Acts of Imagination 

"A great writer of fiction both creates — through acts of imagination, through language that feels inevitable, through vivid forms — a new world, a world that is unique, individual; and responds to a world, the world the writer shares with other people but is unknown or mis-known by still more people, confined in their worlds: call that history, society, what you will."

Excerpted from At the Same Time: Essays and Speeches by Susan Sontag 

The photo of Angela Carter is by John Mahler/Toronto Star.

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Soul Lives On

Soul has now won the Academy Award. Soul has received  a multitude of very good reviews worldwide. Here is the Critics Consensus from Rotten Tomatoes: "A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed."  Soul is streaming on Disney+.

Here is the Link to the trailer for Soul.

 

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Exceptional Independent Animation

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My Galactic Twin Galaction Trailer

Surreal, Hyper visual, Tongue in Cheek

Director Sasha Svirsky, Composer Alexy Prosvirnin

Producer Alexander Gerasimov, Master Film Movie Film Company, Russia

Link : My Galactic Twin Time 45 Seconds

 

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Storm

HIgh drama, huge storm, man on boat

Outstanding. Emile Cohl Ecole student film by Nicolas Bressonat

Music/sound by Max Ollier

Link: Storm Time: 2.01

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End The Death Penalty

Chilling, difficult. True story

By Jonatan Hodgson

Produced for Amnesty International

Link: End The Death Penalty  Time: 5.35

 

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"HI, WE'RE SARA AND BRITTANY!"

"We’re folklorists, teachers, and writers, and together we're the founders of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic! We teach online courses that celebrate traditional tales and everyday magic. Our goal is to re-enchant daily life, one story at a time. . . Myths, legends, and especially fairy tales are our passion."

 

These two women are passionate in their love of myth, wonder tales, and folklore. They have brought their broad knowledge (they both have PhD's) to the Internet and are teaching and sharing with award-winning, interactive, original courses on the Internet. Here is a link to information about these women, the courses, and their remarkable Carterhaugh School

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King Soopers Murders

In the USA, we are in a continuum of mass killings of innocent people and children. We can only hope that President Biden has success in passing some gun control laws. The two young people in the photo have come to an informal, spontaneous memorial for their friend Nevin Stanisic, 23. He was murdered, as were nine other innocent people, in Boulder, Colorado. on March 25, 2021.

Credit:Michael Ciago/Getty

 

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Ottawa Therapy Dogs

Ottawa Therapy Dogs provides invaluable care and support through animal-assisted interventions. We serve people of all ages struggling with physical and mental health challenges. Our teams visit over 60 health care, educational and social services facilities regularly throughout the National Capital Region. The wonderful work done by Ottawa Therapy Dogs  volunteers and their dogs includes working with teachers and kids in the excellent  R.E.A.D. program , where kids with problems become readers.

 

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The Infinite

I just ordered this book

When I read that Phillip Pullman said that The Infinite, a book about a 12 year old girl time traveler is: " Vivid, funny, exciting and inventive", I wanted to read it. High praise from the master. It was written by UK poet, Patience Agbabi.

I'll review it in next month's blog.

 

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A Woman's Life With a Pack of Rescued Dogs

"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."

Excerpted from an Amazon reader review of C. A. Wulff's wonderful book, Circling The Waggins. Wulff also designed the cover.

 

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"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

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Castle In The Mist

“Do you think that it is possible for dogs to stop a war?"

"Author Robert J. McCarty has created a charming fantasy-allegory that can be read and understood on at least two different levels.  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.”  The same things are true as the story continues in Castle in the Mist.  The book is well written and easy to read.  It will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next..." 

From a review by Wayne Walker -- Stories for Children Magazine, Home School Book Review, and Home School Buzz. To read sample chapters of the series, visit PlanetOfTheDogs We have free reader copies of the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians and teachers...simply send us an email at [email protected] and we will send you the books. 

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

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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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April -- Forbidden Books, Absurdity, Confrontations

 

                                                 

              Dr Seuss, and the World of Dick and Jane 

Six books have been removed from further publication by the folks at Dr. Seuss Enterprises and caused something of an furor. Problems like this have been with us forever. In 1970, Alison Lurie (photo), wrote a wonderful article for the NY Review of Books entitled Fairy Tale Liberation. This was the same year that she joined the Cornell University English Department to teach children's literature. Lurie was also a multi-award winning novelist, including the Pulitzer prize for her novel, Foreign Affairs, in 1985. She also wrote Boys and Girls Forever (2003), a classic book about children's literature. Below, is an excerpt from Lurie's Fairy Tale Liberation, still very relevant today.

Fairy Tale Liberation

"When I was small it was believed in high-minded progressive circles that fairy tales were unsuitable for children. . . Does not ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ delay a child’s rationalizing of the world and leave him longer than is desirable without the beginnings of scientific standards?” as one child education expert, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, put it. . . Mrs. Mitchell’s own contribution to literature was a squat volume, sunny orange in color, with an idealized city scene on the cover. Inside I could read about The Grocery Man (“This is John’s Mother. Good Morning, Mr. Grocery Man”) and How Spot Found a Home. The children and parents in these stories were exactly like the ones I knew, only more boring. They never did anything really wrong, and nothing dangerous or surprising ever happened to them—no more than it did to Dick and Jane, whom I and my friends were soon to meet in first grade.

After we grew up, of course, we found out how unrealistic these stories had been. The simple, pleasant adult society they had prepared us for did not exist. The fairy tales had been right all along—the world was full of hostile, stupid giants and perilous castles and people who abandoned their children in the nearest forest. To succeed in this world you needed some special skill or patronage, plus remarkable luck; and it didn’t hurt to be very good-looking. The other qualities that counted were wit, boldness, stubborn persistence, and an eye for the main chance. Kindness to those in trouble was also advisable—you never knew who might be useful to you later on. . ."

 

Here is a link to Subversion In The Forest, the Guardian review by Michael Rosen of Boys and Girls Forever.

Here is a link to Alison Lurie's article, Fairy Tale Liberation, in the NY Review of Books

The illustration at the top of Snow White and Rose Red is by Mercer Meyer.

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"A fairytale doesn’t exist in a fixed form; it’s something like a tune that can migrate from a symphony to a penny whistle."

 Excerpted from Marina Warner’s Once Upon a Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale.

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Wonder Tales Always Change With Time

In early versions, Rapunzel's long hair allowed her royal lover to climb the tower for romance -- until she became pregnant. This was in the original story by the Grimms in their celebrated first book (1812). By 1857, the connubial bliss and the pregnancy were changed, rewritten and eliminated. References involving sex were censored. Rapunzel no longer became pregnant -- with twins, no less. The Grimms often felt  pressure to conform pagan tales. In this case, conservative forces had spoken and prevailed.

Disney, the master of sugar coating fairy tales, made many more changes to the story of Rapunzel.  In the movie Tangled, based on Rapunzel, her parents are now rich, her Prince is now a charming bandit, and the enchantress, Goethel, now steals Rapunzel away from her parents. Among other differences from the original include the facts that there is no magic flower, and her hair does not have magical or healing powers. 

The information about the Disney movie Tangled is from the website Disneyfication: The Consequences

The illustration of Rapunzel and the Prince is Trina Schart Hyman.

 

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Censorship

"The history of children’s book publishing in America offers insight into the ways in which traditional attitudes about “appropriate” stories often end up marginalizing the lives and experiences of many young readers, rather than protecting them. . .The distinction between books that have inspired calls for censorship (including series like Nancy Drew and The Hunger Games) versus the works that more often have actually been kept out of children’s hands (Huckleberry Finn, To Kill A Mockingbird, the novels of Judy Blume) reveals the insidious effects of this tradition. . ." Paul Ringel, The Atlantic 

The Illustration of Huckelberry Finn and Jim on their raft is by Thomas Hart Benton.

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Dr Seuss and Other Dangerous Influences 

I have questions of my own to add to the many that have already been asked of Dr. Seuss Enterprises regarding their recent decision to remove six books from the world of children's literature. Was their committee a true cross-section of opinion from qualified and diverse people? And, even if it was a top notch group of well-informed people. why not revise what they regarded as offensive or dangerous material -- both words and illustrations? Revisions have always been an integral part of both oral and written children's literature.

 

The wonderful Richard Scary, creator of Busytown and What Do People Do All Day did exactly that. He made several revisions in his work. For example, A Bear Policeman became A Female Bear Police Officer. Even Roald Dahl, the imaginative but often cantankerous author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, although he vehemently resisted critics, ultimately made changes.

On the left is the offensive illustration from  And to Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street. I find it hard to believe that this book will never again be published because this illustration insults Asians and will cause bigotry amongst young readers! If the management at Dr Seuss Enterprises really believe that this is a dangerous illustration, then change it (Try clicking it for a better image).

 

Here is a link to a comprehensive NYT article on the Seuss controversy by Alexandra Alta and Elizabeth Harris.

The illustration from "And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street" is by Dr. Seuss. 

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Babar Was Accused

I was astounded to recently learn that in 1996, scholar, educator, and prolific writer, Herbert R. Kohl, published a book, Should We Burn Babar? I was further amazed to find that the review in Publisher's Weekly cited Kohl's book as a "bracing critique of children's books and U.S. public schools" which found "Jean de Brunhoff's Babar the Elephant and Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio. . . illustrate tacit support for sexism, racism and colonialism."

How could this be? I read Babar books to my children. And grandchildren. In our family we consider Babar books to be quite wonderful. I fail to understand Kohl's point of view.

Alternatively, I found the article, Freeing the Elephants, by the New Yorker writer and critic Adam Gopnik, to be insightful and spot on.

The illustration of Babar and Celeste is by Jean de Brunhoff,

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"You can find magic wherever you look.  Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss

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Are Those Young Girls Safe With That Bear?

If the critics of Dr Seuss, Barbar, and Huckleberry Finn see the illustration of Snow White and Rose Red with a powerful looking bear at the top of this page, will they write that it places children in danger? When the bear knocked on their door seeking shelter from brutal winter weather, should they -- or their mother -- have sent him on his way?

And what of the father in East of the Sun, West of the Moon? What should he have done when the bear knocked on the door and what should he have done when his young daughter rode off into the unknown on the huge white bear?

Should we banish Jackie Morris and her moving book of The Ice Bear?

 

Is there a censorious critic anywhere who would dare to confront Phillip Pullman with the idea of changing the story of Lyra and Iorek, the great Alpha bear, in The Golden Compass? Isn't she taking her life in her hands with her behavior when she goes alone and confronts the ruthless bear king? However, critics, both individuals and organizations, ignored the danger of the bear(s) but did manage to ban his book, and the film version on religious grounds. According to an article in Esquire, "It was No. 8 overall for the decade stretching from 2000-2009 on the ALA’s Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books list. (The Harry Potter series claimed the top spot.)" 

These questions -- never mind Goldilock's behavior --  are not absurd given the conservative, self-righteous, hubris of the past.

The top illustration is by Jackie Morris.

The illustration of Lyra riding the bear, Iorek, is from the film of the Golden Compass.

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Should Young Readers Be Allowed To Confront the Brutalities of the Holocaust?

Jane Yolen wrote a compelling Holocaust novel for adults that also appealed to young adults. Yolen's Briar Rose (1992) was based on her revised version of Sleeping Beauty. Yolen's story is that of a quest to uncover brutal events of the past by a young American woman. This is a deeply moving story, based on real events that took place at a Nazi extermination camp based in an abandoned castle in Chelmno, Poland. Briar Rose, dealing with the horrendous events of the past in this way is a triumph of honest sensitivity.

Briar Rose was lauded as a wonderful book. It was also criticized and censored.  Ms. Yolen had previously written another Holocaust novel, The Devils Arithmetic. RoseEtta Stone has a very interesting interview with Jane Yolen about Censorship and her Holocaust books. Excerpt: "Because there is a homosexual character in the book, the novel has been banned in some places, and actually burned in Kansas City on the steps of the Board Of Education by a right-wing religious group. I do not believe they read the book."

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The Erasure of Safety and Comfort and Trust

"The reason that most people value fairy tales, I would say, is that they do not detain us with hope but simply validate what is. Even people who have never known hunger, let alone a murderous stepmother, still have a sense—from dreams, from books, from news broadcasts—of utter blackness, the erasure of safety and comfort and trust. Fairy tales tell us that such knowledge, or fear, is not fantastic but realistic. Maybe, after this life, we will go to Heaven, as the two little girls who starved to death hoped to. Or maybe not. Though Wilhelm tried to Christianize the tales, they still invoke nature, more than God, as life’s driving force, and nature is not kind."

Joan Acocella, Once Upon A Time, The New Yorker.

 

The illustration from Snow White is by John D. Batten

 

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Movies

Raya and the Last Dragon

There is a new Disney Movie that has good reviews. I haven't see this movie, Raya and the Last Dragon. It is doubtful that I will see it. The trailer is very well done, however the film appears to be another predictable saga of sugar-coated violence.

I prefer Miyazaki's films. Many also have scenes of war, danger, and violence, but somehow strike a balance for the viewer.  

Link to trailer: Raya and the Last Dragon   

 

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Wonderful Independent Animation

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I Want To Be The Ocean

Identity amidst a Flood.

Abstract yet tangible; Choices and doubts.

Written, directed by Raman Dijafari; Sound design by Max Gausepohi.

Produced by Blink Ink for Adult Swim - Off the Air.

 

Link: I Want To Be The Ocean  Time 1.06

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The Colors That Combine To Make White Are Important

From Another World.

Unknown surreal, Beyond the boundary.

Barry Doupe. nh

Link: The Colors That Combine To Make White Are Important  Time:1:09

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11th Great Iranian Animation Celebration

Stylish, Abstract. 

Perceptions become movement. 

Created bt Mehdi Shiri.

Link: The11th Great Iranian Animation Celebration Time: .56

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New Children's Book That Delights In Words Through Art

A book filled with imagination and surprises where words and illustrations are in total harmony, balancing a delightful adventure with words and ideas. A book for young and old to delight in. I was smiling as I read it.

Written by Robert Vencio and illustrated by Joanna Bartel. Published by EK Books, a division of the innovative Exisile Publishing, a global press based in New Zealand and Australia.

 

 

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Ariel Wulff's Misfits

" I was belly laughing on the first page. Lammy Lamb is a compulsive foot licker! This short book is so full of love and creative, tender animal care that I forgot I was reading a book. I felt like I was in the house with the dogs, at the Halloween Costume Contest and in every other scene. That's great writing, and great content too. The pictures are adorable."
Amazon review by MaryAnn Fry, Author of Going Naked Being Seen

Here is link to Parade Of Misfits

Cover design by Ariel Wulff

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"Dog Rescue Charity Linked To Lara Trump Funneling Money Into Donald Trump’s Pocket

The Big Dog Ranch Rescue has spent as much as $1.9 million at his (Trump's) properties in recent years and is spending $225,000 more at Mar-a-Lago this weekend. . . .According to a permit filed with the town of Palm Beach, Florida, Big Dog Ranch Rescue estimates it will spend $225,000 at the club where Donald Trump has taken up full-time residence since leaving the White House. All the profit from that spending winds up in his pocket."

 

From an article in the HUFFPOST on March 13, 2021 by S.V. Date

 

 

The photo is of Birdie at the Big Dog Ranch Rescue. 

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Message for Politicians

 

 

An anti-assault weapon sign outside of the King Soopers store in Boulder following the Murder of 10 people on March 23, 2021

 

Photo by Stephen Speranza for The New York Times.

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The Civilizing Process

 

At their best, the storytelling of fairy tales constitute the most profound articulation of the human struggle to form and maintain a civilizing process. They depict metaphorically the opportunities for human adaptation to our environment and reflect the conflicts that arise when we fail to establish civilizing codes commensurate with the self-interests of large groups within the human population. The more we give into base instincts – base in the sense of basic and depraved – the more criminal and destructive we become. The more we learn to relate to other groups of people and realize that their survival and the fulfillment of their interests is related to ours, the more we might construct social codes that guarantee humane relationships. - -Jack Zipes

The cover illustration is by Jean Lurcat.

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"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” 

Antoine de Saint-Exuprey, The Little Prince

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Hiding Places in the Dark Woods -- from Planet Of The Dogs

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. The invaders 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

of all the books  -- Castle In the Mist, Snow Valley Heroes -- in the Series.

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

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"The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's". .. Mark Twain

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March -- Country People, Wonder Tales, Struggles

 

                                   Turn of the 20th Century, Galway, Ireland

The Brothers Grimm appear to have helped motivate a large number of nineteenth century writers and scholars --  in several countries -- to record and save wonder tales, folktales, and local mythology -- to save the culture of the past. Aside from overcoming lethargy. religious beliefs, and political hubris, there were issues of language and tumultuous events to overcome. In Ireland, the issues also involved the Gaelic language and became very political. 

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"A Land Without a Language Is a Land Without a Soul"

". . . Gaelic scholars and writers had never quite faded out. To a few of these, looking at the question from the standpoint of patriot as well as scholar, it was apparent that in allowing the national language to perish, the country was severing the strongest tie that bound her to the past; that with the language would go the traditions and ideals that had kept alive the spirit of patriotism through the centuries of suffering; that an English speaking Ireland would cease to realize herself as an individual among nations and sink hopelessly to the condition of a characterless British province."

Moira Ray, The Sewanee Review, 1906

 

The photo of the Irish countryside is by Darren McLoughlin.

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Fairies Were Real

Few people believe in fairies, now, but they featured powerfully in the belief systems of the past, and not always benignly. Like witches, fairies have inspired fears that led to terrible acts, and not only in the pre-modern societies far away, but ones closer to hand. King James 1 believed in demons.                                   

Marina Warner, Once upon a Time

The illustration is by Arthur Rackham.

 

 

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 A Living Form Of Literature

"Irish and Scotch Gaelic folk-stories are, as a living form of literature, by this time (1890) pretty nearly a thing of the past. . . Until quite recently there existed in our midst millions of men and women who, when their day’s work was over, sought and found mental recreation in a domain to which few indeed of us who read books are permitted to enter. Man, all the world over, when he is tired of the actualities of life, seeks to unbend his mind with the creations of fancy. We who can read betake ourselves to our favorite novelist. . .His book is the product of his individual brain, and some of us or of our contemporaries have been present at its genesis.

But no one can tell us with certainty of the genesis of the folk-tale, no one has been consciously present at its inception, and no one has marked its growth. It is in many ways a mystery, part of the flotsam and jetsam of the ages, still beating feebly against the shore of the nineteenth century, swallowed up at last in England by the waves of materialism and civilization combined; but still surviving unengulfed on the western coasts of Ireland, where I gathered together some bundles of it, of which the present volume is one." 

The above is from the Preface to Douglas Hyde's Beside The Fire, A Collection 0f Irish Gaelic Folk Stories (1890) 

The illustration of Fairies Dancing in the Full Moon is Aby rthur Rackham.

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Honoring the Heritage

Douglas Hyde was quite extraordinary. In a chaotic century wherein Ireland experienced political upheavals, horrible famine, millions dying, and millions of refugees emigrating, Hyde emerged as a scholar and a leader in the gathering wave of Irish nationalism and the Gaelic revival.

The tales that Hyde collected were transcribed in the original Gaelic, as told to him by older farmers who had heard them many years before. Hyde, a scholar, would later translate them to English. Like many 19th century Irish authors -- Yates, O'Connaire, Synge, Stephens -- he  worked to preserve the old tales, the old culture and the Gaelic language, all among the driving forces of Irish nationalism. Hyde was deeply involved in politics, ultimately becoming first President of Ireland (1938 TO 1945).

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The Person Crushed. . .

The famine was also fuel for the Irish Cultural Renaissance.

“Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who feels what is happening. Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand.” -- Simone Weil, Lectures on Philosophy

The illustration, by an artist unknown, is of Bridget O'Donnell and her children shortly after their eviction from their home. Among one million victims of the great Irish famine, Bridget, her unborn child, and one of her two girls, died soon after the eviction. 

 

From the illustrated London News, 1849.

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The Second Coming

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), best known for his poetry, was another driving force in the Irish Literary Revival. He researched and published three major collections of traditional tales from the countryside. And he wrote many poems that reflected the painful world of Ireland. Here is an excerpt from The Second Coming. . .

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”

 

The painting is by Brueghal.

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Fantasy

"In fantasy stories we learn to understand the differences of others, we learn compassion for those things we cannot fathom, we learn the importance of keeping our sense of wonder. The strange worlds that exist in the pages of fantastic literature teach us a tolerance of other people and places and engender an openness toward new experience. Fantasy puts the world into perspective in a way that 'realistic' literature rarely does. It is not so much an escape from the here-and-now as an expansion of each reader's horizons." Jane Yolen quoted by Terri Windling in  Myth and Moor

 

The illustrations for Traditional Irish Fairy Tales are by Arthur Rackman.

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The Wooing of Becfola

I have found that Irish tales go far beyond fairies dancing in the moonlight. Here, for example, is a story of mysterious events, passion, identity, alternate reality, and great lust. Becfola was a beautiful woman of mystery, who was named by Dermot, king of all Ireland, after he saw her driving her chariot at great speed through forest and river. Dermot immediately fell in love with her.  

Incredible events mark this story from beginning to end. Here are excerpts from a retelling by James Stephens, a talented and versatile writer and dedicated Irish Republican:

"We do not know where Becfola came from. Nor do we know for certain where she went to. We do not even know her real name, for the name Becfola, “Dowerless” or “Small-dowered,” was given to her as a nickname (by Dermont, the King of all Ireland). This only is certain, that she disappeared from the world we know of, and that she went to a realm where even conjecture may not follow her. . .

The woman in the chariot had drawn nigh to the ford by which they were standing, and, without pause, she swung her steeds into the shallows and came across the river in a tumult of foam and spray. . .'She is in truth a wonder of the world and an endless delight to the eye.'

She was all that and more, and, as she took the horses through the river and lifted them up the bank, her flying hair and parted lips and all the young strength and grace of her body went into the king’s eye and could not easily come out again.

Nevertheless, it was upon his ward that the lady’s gaze rested, and if the king could scarcely look away from her, she could, but only with an equal effort, look away from Crimthann (the King's ward, a striking young man). . ."

The illustrations of Becfola are by Arthur Rackham. Being trapped in a tree by wolves was among Becfola's adventures in her quest for fulfillment.

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Pastures of Plenty -- in Ireland

Excerpt from the Lyrics

"It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free."

This classic Woody Guthrie song by the wonderful Irish musical group Solas. Link: Solas

 

Photo by Emmett O'Lunney.

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Exceptional Independent Animation

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Bumpers for FX Productions

 

Outrageous humor, characters, moments.

 

Truly original, surprises galore.

 

Written, directed, and animated by Joseph Bennet. 

Backgrounds-Charles Huettner, Music and sound design- Nic Snyder.

Link: Bumpers for FX Productions

 

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The Moon's Not That Great

 

Thoughtful and entertaining.

Imaginative animation.

 

Written, directed by Mathieu Libman; music/sound, Paul Michael Cardon.

 

Producers: Nexus Studios, Julio Bennet, Mickey Oz.

 

 

 

Link; The Moon's Not That Great  Time:8:14

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Dinosaurs In Love

A total delight, unique and special.

Official video for the wonderful song by 4 year old Fenn Rosenthal.

Her father, Tom, is a singer/composer.

Directed by Hannah Jacobs, Katy Wang and Anna Ginsburg.

Link: Dinosaurs in Love  Time:1.06

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Resurrecting Dead Fairy Tales

 

 

Jack Zipes recently gave an internet talk about his life's work, including his current endeavor -- to save forgotten fairy tales of the past. These gems include many stories relating to humanity and hope. Some of these are stories that deal with fascism. To further his efforts, Zipes has founded a publishing company, Little Mole and Honey Bear.

 

I have written in this blog about several of the tales and authors whom he has found and made available including Laboulaye's Fairy Tales, The Giant Ohl and Tiny Tim, as well as the initial publications of Little Mole and Honey Bear: Keedle the Great (November 2020) and Yusoff the Ostrich (January 2001).

 

To see the video of Zipe's talk, Resurrecting Dead Fairy Tales, go to Miscellaneous Productions on Facebook.

 

 

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Why Am I ?

 

A new revised version of Ariel Wulff's Yelodoggie book, Why Am I +, will be published by Who Chains You Books with an expected release date in early summer 2021. 

Why Am I? is a delightful picture book filled with many different creatures. It is also an examination about how everyone is different and that is what makes us all unique. When Yelodoggie asks various other creatures why he is yellow, they each respond with a question about their uniqueness, ie: When he asks the rhinocerous, "Why am I?"  The rhino replies, "Why do I have this big horn on my nose?"

The illustration is by Ariel Wulff.

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Black is a Rainbow Color

 

This is a delightful, imaginative, well written book for young black children by Angela Joy.

 

It can be enjoyed and help to enlighten children and parents of all colors.

 

The illustrations and page design by Ekua Holmes for Black is a Rainbow Color are terrifc.

 

There are rainbows and there are rainbows.

 

This is a link to see and hear Black is a Rainbow Color read by Ms Cece.

 

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The Wonder Tale Universe

 

Gypsy Thornton's Once Upon a Blog often discovers very interesting matters relating to the Wonder Tale Universe. In a recent blog, I found the following headline; "Fairy Tales De-stressed" Shows - and Teaches - the Transforming Power of Learning Mindfulness. . . Calm is the #1 app for guided meditation, breathing, focus, and mindfulness and uses a lot of nature-enhanced visuals and audio to help people deal with anxiety and stress. They also, however, have a whole library of "sleep stories", including some retold fairy tales.

Here is the Link to Once Upon a Blog to read more: Calm

 

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Siren and the Serenade

 

A Dog Detective, Wellington, tells the story of solving a surprising and unusual crime. A prize-winning show cat, a major local celebrity, has been murdered. The story takes place in a small port town located on an off-shore island. Detailed descriptions of the town, resident dogs and cats, Wellington's owner (his Patroness), and local life all attest to Wellington's ability to tell a good story. His search for evidence is never deterred even by his love of naps. Written by a dog lover, Angela Cummings, to delight young dog lovers.

 

Cover design by Pavel Soukenik.

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Reading with Rover

 

"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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Planet Of The Dogs

The Planet of the Dogs series of children’s books tell the stories of the first time dogs came to planet Earth to teach people about unconditional loyalty and love -- and to help bring peace from invaders. Here is an excerpt:

Two children are missing from Lake Falls Village. They were last seen going
into the Dark Woods. The dogs have gone ahead to find them. A search party, following the sound of excited barking, is rushing through the woods. . .

Running forward and breathing heavily as the ground continued to rise, they came to a clearing where they saw a huge black bear, surrounded by the barking dogs. And standing behind a large rock, their clothes torn, were the children. The dogs were racing toward the bear and then jumping back. The bear was furious.  One of his legs had been bitten, and Buddy’s fur was torn open at the shoulder. Omeg and Tibor, both carrying swords, shouted a fierce cry and ran toward the bear. Barka, Tomas and some of the others ran toward the children. The bear, seeing so many attackers, made a deep growl of anger, reared up on his hind legs, and then came crashing down in a place where Lucy was jumping and barking. For a moment, it looked like Lucy was crushed, but as the bear moved with surprising speed into the trees, and Lucy ran out unhurt and barking defiantly.

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

The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. Free copies for Therapy Dog owners and organizations, Email me at [email protected].

The illustrations above from The Planet Of The Dogs are by Stella Mustanoja McCarty. 

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“Be the person your dog thinks you are.” ― C.J. Frick

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February -- Home, Belonging, and Journeys

 

                                        Illustration by Inga Moore from Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon.

A Strange Enchanted World

 

"After all the internet's many diversions, people still yearn for the solitary refuge of reading, since a book provides a space for reflection, a private therapy that is hard to find online. Most of us remember from childhood the experience of being head-over-heels in a book, utterly absorbed. We entered into a strange enchanted world and traveled with an author's characters; we lived their lives with them. There's nothing in the online world that can fulfill the promise that we get in a work of fiction to give us a sustained picture of the self. . . "

David Mikics  (NYTimes)is the author of “Slow Reading in a Hurried Age.”

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She Just Wanted to Go Home

 

Dorothy, a young Kansas farm girl, is carried off by a violent tornado to a magical land where she must overcome strange and frightening dangers in her efforts to get home. Her journey will take her to Oz, the Emerald City, and beyond. It will also bring recognition and prosperity to author L. Frank Baum, thereby inspiring him to write many more wonderous Oz books.

 

“I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find my way?”. . .

The little old woman (The Witch of the North) took the slate from her nose, and having read the words on it, asked, “Is your name Dorothy, my dear?”

“Yes,” answered the child, looking up and drying her tears.

“Then you must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you.”

“Where is this city?” asked Dorothy.

“It is exactly in the center of the country, and is ruled by Oz, the Great Wizard I told you of". . .“How can I get there?” asked Dorothy."

“You must walk. It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm. . .The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick,” said the Witch, “so you cannot miss it. When you get to Oz do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you. Good-bye, my dear.”

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The Incredible Journey

The incredible journey to get home was undertaken originally by a naive young country girl and her dog (Toto), and not by a lovely adolescent played by Judy Garland. In any case, both the book and the movie have become classics, and are an integral part of the imaginative legacy of the USA.

To make the journey home, Dorothy must develop loyal, dedicated friendships with three misfits: a rusted Tin Man; a Scarecrow with emotional problems; and a neurotic, cowardly Lion. She must also walk a very long distance, sleep outdoors in the wild and overcome many extraordinary and dangerous problems. These include a field of poppies that put you to sleep forever; a vicious tribe of flying monkeys; the Wicked Witch of the West; and a fraudulent Wizard of Oz.

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The Silver Shoes

Dorothy does it all, making the journey with great courage, goodwill, and help from her no-longer-misfit friends. And so it is, with the advice of the Good Witch of the North (and more magic), Dorothy returns to Kansas and home. 

“The Silver Shoes,” said the Good Witch, “have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps, and each step will be made in the wink of an eye. All you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go.”

“If that is so,” said the child joyfully, “I will ask them to carry me back to Kansas at once.”

She threw her arms around the Lion’s neck and kissed him, patting his big head tenderly. Then she kissed the Tin Woodman, who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints. But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.

Glinda the Good stepped down from her ruby throne to give the little girl a good-bye kiss, and Dorothy thanked her for all the kindness she had shown to her friends and herself.

Dorothy now took Toto up solemnly in her arms, and having said one last good-bye she clapped the heels of her shoes together three times, saying:

“Take me home to Aunt Em!”. . .

Dorothy whirled through the air, landed in a Kansas field outside the new farmhouse, and was embraced by Aunt Em. She was home at last!

All of the above illustrations were created by W.W. Denslow.

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Bob Has Lost His Way Home

Livy is a 10 year old girl from the USA, visiting her grandmother for the first time in 5 years. Grandmother's farm is located in a drought-stricken area of the Australian  outback.

Bob is a lost, young, greenish alien boy who has been waiting five years in a closet in Grandmother's house for Livy's return. Livy's mother and her baby brother are with her.

Only Livy has ever seen Bob. Unfortunately, she has forgotten Bob and the fact that she promised him on her previous visit, as  a five year old, that she would help him get home. 

Bob is a delightful, imaginative book for young readers. It was written over a 7 year period by two talented and accomplished women authors: Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. Rebecca wrote the first chapter, in the voice of Livy, on a long flight home from Australia. . .the chapter ended with the introduction of Bob. . . Wendy wrote the next chapter from Bob's point of view and in his voice. They continued this process over the years, creating as they went. During that period, they continued writing well received books, "raised families, and got waylaid by the stuff of life."

Bob is a contemporary elf. In many ways, he is an heir to the elf traditions and stories from Nordic, Irish, British Isles, Iceland, and beyond.  Both Bob and ET want to go home, but the format, medium, and story are quite different. Bob is an original fantasy, filled with surprises and grounded in the "real world", as the search for Bob's home unfolds.

Here is an excerpt that takes place after Livy's mother has read a good-night story and left Livy's room. Livy's mother is unaware of Bob's presence as Bob cannot be seen by adults. Livy speaks:

"I feel him turn his head, and all I can see in the dark are his big wet eyes.

'I wish I had a mother,' he says.

I don't know what to say. Bob is alone in the world. Totally, completely alone.

'Bob', I say finally. 'Maybe you do have a mother. Maybe you have a whole big family!'

'Bob doesn't answer.'"

Ultimately, after many surprises and with Livy''s loyal help, Bob does get home.

The cover and illustration above are by Nicholas Gannon.

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The Idea of Home, and of Truly Belonging

"Many of us today have no kith. . .no ancestral place. Or we had one once, but lost it long ago. Or we've been transplanted into new soil, our roots still shallow, our claim still tenuous. Or we are homesick for a home we never actually had; for the idea of home, and of truly belonging.

That's how it was for me for many years, until I crossed the ocean to Devon and, to my eternal surprise, its rain-drenched hills whispered in my ears: Welcome home. You've come at last. We've been waiting and waiting, and now you're here. Until then, I'd found my home in the world only in the pages of certain books, and in the earth-colored tones of certain works of art: in Earthsea and Islandia, Rhyhope Wood and the farmyards of Hed, among Burne-Jones' briar roses and Arthur Rackham trees with goblins stirring at their roots. Those imaginary lands are as precious to me now as they were in my kithless, unmoored youth, and they formed me as much as any "real" place. They are real places. Or rather, I should say that they are true places, which is even better; and which, of course, is precisely why I was able to take shelter inside them. Some kiths exist in the physical world, and some only in the imagination. But all of them are real. All of them matter. All of them place us, nourish us, and give us the stories we most need."  Terri Windling, Kith and Kin

The photo is of Terri Windling in Devon with her dog Tilly. 

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Grounded in History

 

"Both the oral and literary forms of the fairy tale are grounded in history: They emanate from specific struggles to humanize bestial and barbaric forces, which have terrorized our minds and communities in concrete ways." Jack Zipes, The Irresistible Fairy Tale: The Cultural and Social Evolution of a Genre.

 

The illustration by C.R.W. Nevinson is from WW1,1916.

 

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The Great Hatred and A Wonder Tale - The Birch and the Star

 

The Brutal War

During the time of the mid-Nineteenth century Finnish Cultural Renaissance, the era of Sibelius, Gallen Kallela, and the Kalevala, a writer named Zacariah Topelius wrote a Wonder Tale, The Birch and the Star. It was inspired by a passed-down story about his great grandfather during a time period of the Russian conquest of Finland in the great Northern War (1714-1721); a war that was so brutal, that to this day, the Finns refer to it as The Great Hatred. The Russians and the Swedes both fought brutal wars over Finland for hundreds of years. Home was not always a safe place.

During this time, the Russians implemented a scorched earth policy over great swaths of Finland. In addition, current research estimates that close to 20,000 Finns were killed and close to 30,000 women and children were taken to Russia as slaves. "Thousands, especially officials, also fled to the (relative) safety of Sweden. The poorer peasants hid in the woods to avoid the ravages of the occupiers and their press-gangs." Source: Wikipedia

The painting, Victory at Narva, is by Gustav Cederström.

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Every Finnish Child Read the Book

I learned about the Birch and the Star from my Finnish wife. Russia had again invaded Finland at the beginning of World War 2. For many years, before and after the war's end, every second grade child in a Finnish school read the Birch and the Star.

During a post war period of 11 years, Russia built and occupied, in Finland, army and naval bases, and two airfields. Russia also extracted a war debt payment of 3.4 billion dollars. Russia took 11% of Finland's land, causing 400,000 Finnish refugees, mostly farmers, to leave their homes and resettle in Finland. Like Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, part of Finland became Russian territory. And it still is.

The photo is of farmer-refugees forced by the Russians to leave their homes in Finnish Karelia.

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The Birch and the Star -- The Opening of the Wonder Tale. . .

"About two hundred years ago Finland had suffered greatly. There had been war; cities were burned, the harvest destroyed and thousands of people had died; some had perished by the sword, others from hunger, many from dreadful diseases. There was nothing left but tears and want, ashes and ruins.

Then it happened that many families became separated; some were captured and carried away by the enemy, others fled to the forests and desert places or far away to Sweden. A wife knew nothing about her husband, a brother nothing about his sister, and a father and mother did not know whether their children were living or dead. Some fugitives came back and when they found their dear ones, there was such joy that it seemed as if there had been no war, no sorrow. Then the huts were raised from the ashes, the fields again turned yellow with golden harvest. A new life began for the country. . ."

The story, inspired by the true events of his great grandfather's life continues on. It tells of a brother and sister, kidnapped during the war, who escape and find their way back to Finland, home, and family. 

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What matters in literature in the end is surely the idiosyncratic, the individual, the flavor or the color of a particular human suffering.  Harold Bloom

Photo: Finnish refugee children after Russian invasion in WW2. 

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Every Path Leads Homeward

A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening. If one listens to them silently for a long time, this longing reveals its kernel, its meaning. It is not so much a matter of escaping from one's suffering, though it may seem to be so. It is a longing for home, for a memory of the mother, for new metaphors for life. It leads home. Every path leads homeward, every step is birth, every step is death, every grave is mother.  Hermann Hesse

The photo is by Julie Ivantsova/Shutterstock.

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Always Coming Home - Ursula Le Guin

Always Coming Home is a post-apocalyptic 1985 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. It takes us into the world of the Kesh people. The Kesh are living in a large California valley in the far future, long after our time. The book is a combination of elements and voices, a multi-dimensional record of narrative. In Le Guin's words," The main part of the book is their voices speaking for themselves in stories and life stories, plays, poems, and songs." 

The Kesh keep their numbers small, lead lives close to nature, in harmony with nature, much like native Americans did for millennium. The Kesh utilize some benefits of technology, including writing, electricity, and computers. They are pastoral and peaceful, as opposed to the Condor people who live in the City and are militant and expansionist. The book is presented by Pandora, a scholar; there is a strong archeology/cultural anthropological approach to the narrative. I think that for the Kesh people, the entire valley, and its past, is Home. 

Here is a link to Kesh music of the Eighth House by Ursula K. Le Guin and Todd Barton: Music of the Eighth House

The photo of the valley of the Kesh is by Tony Reid/Unsplash. The Illustration is by Mike Van Houten.

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Movies and Exceptional Independent Animation

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Wolfwalkers

 

There is a new critically acclaimed, feature length, animated film, Wolfwalkers, from Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, of Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny, Ireland. Here is the Rotten Tomatoes Critical Concensus (137 critics):

"A mesmerizing Celtic-inspired adventure, Wolfwalkers offers an epic ethereal fantasy matched by profound philosophies and stellar voice work."

I have very much admired the work of Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart since their first feature film, The Secret of Kells (2009) and later, Song of the Sea (2014). Both films, were made by hand drawing -- like Miyazaki and Ghibli studios -- and were, amazingly, financially successful; they both received critical acclaim and  both were nominated for Academy Awards. Cartoon Saloon also had international success with a TV series, Puffin Rock. I have only seen the delightful trailer: PuffinRock

 

"The movies of Cartoon Saloon aren’t direct adaptations of any particular tales either, but they incorporate folkloric creatures and beliefs. Wolfwalkers takes its central concept from old myths about natives of the Kilkenny region in Ireland being able to transform into wolves while their bodies lie in a sort of trance, while Song of the Sea is about selkies, or humans that could transform into seals. These two movies, as well as the studio’s feature debut The Secret of Kells, make up an unofficial trilogy about Irish folklore, using legends and myths to tell fantastical stories about the conflict that arises when belief and tradition are threatened or abandoned." Rafael Mottamayor, Rotten Tomatoes.

 

For More

For readers interested in learning more of the events and evolution of Cartoon Saloon, and the people who have played a significant role in creating its films and its culture, I suggest a recent New Yorker article by the prize winning author and journalist, Mark O'Connell.

 

Wolfwalkers is streaming on Apple TV.

 

Here is a link to the trailer for: Wolfwalkers

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Exceptional Independent Animation

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Yearbook

 

Imagination unlimited grounded in the future.

 

Rescuing the record of us, pulls you in.

 

Writer/Director Bernardo Britto, 

 

Music Matthew Cooper, Art Direction Alexa Haas

 

 

Link Yearbook 5:38

 

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No Reason

 

Surreal music video, the unexpected.

 

Grounded in the unexplainable.

 

Created by Amanda Bonaiuto

 

Music by Toth --Alexander Toth

 

 

Link: No Reason  Time: 3:24

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Agua Viva

Intimate, very human, even endearing.

 

The new life of a young woman.

 

Written, directed, and animated by Alexa Kim Haas.

 

Voice Meneda Zhang,  Music-The Blooming of Rainy Night Flowers, Performed by Tang Li.

 

Link: Agua Viva  Time 6:43

 

 

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Save The Children

 

 

The number of refugee children continues to grow. There are over 15 million refugee children, displaced by war, brutality, poverty, and hunger. Save the Children is always among the first to respond (and last to leave) when crisis strikes and children are most vulnerable.

Link: Refugee Children  Time: 59 seconds

 

Photo of Afghan refugee children is by Ben Brody

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Exceptional Children's Books by Vashti Harrison

 

New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on real and exceptional black women and men through history. They are part of the very special  "Little Legends series" by Vashti Harrison, a young woman gifted both as writer and illustrator. The legends in these books span centuries and continents, but what they have in common is that each one has blazed a trail for generations to come. These are important books. I recommend a very enlightening interview with Vashti Harrison on YouTube. 

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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, 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.

 

The cover design is by C.A.Wulff.

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Planet Of The Dogs

Long long ago, there were no dogs on planet earth. This is the story of how the dogs came to our planet to help people, and teach them about love, loyalty, and courage.

In this excerpt, Bean's father; Tomas, has brought him to tell Omeg, leader of the Lake Falls people, what happened to him.

“Bean will tell you what happened, Omeg,” said Tomas. Bean then told the story of Lucy (a small dog) warning the children that a rider was spying on them, and how he followed her and met this man. “He was covered in a garment made of skins and furs. He had a large bow and many arrows in a leather bag that hung by his side. And he asked questions about the dogs. I told him only what I knew he had already seen. I said that there are two dogs and that they help us with the sheep.”

“Was that all he asked?”

“He asked where the dogs came from and I told him he had to ask my father. I had already told him he was going the wrong way to Woodtown,” said Bean.

“And what else, young Bean?” asked Omeg.

“When he turned his horse to leave, Lucy frightened the horse for a moment and the outer blanket that covered him moved. And I saw the emblem of the axe.”

“Did the rider know that you saw this?”

“No, he was too busy with the horse.”

Omeg turned to Tomas. “Your son has done well. Only Stone City warriors ride horses with the mark of the axe.”  

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

The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. Free copies for Therapy Dog owners and organizations, Email me at [email protected].

The illustration above and the cover from The Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty. 

 

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“Just give me a comfortable couch, a dog, a good book, and a woman. Then if you can get the dog to go somewhere and read the book, I might have a little fun.”
― Groucho Marx

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January -- Walls Were Everywhere, Stories Endured

 

                                            

                                        Walls Were Everywhere

Walls were meant to keep out invaders, outsiders, sickness, death and chaos. Within the walls were royals, warriors, priests, traders, merchants, outsiders and the poor.

And there were stories. With time, most walls failed. The stories evolved and endured.
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The Stories Reflected Life 

"Anyone who returns to the original Grimms after their modern saccharinization sees the deep horror in the tales, the gruesomeness, the tragedy, the dark beliefs and practices."

 

Seth Lerer: Children's Literature, A Reader's History from Harry Potter to Aesop

The illustration from Snow White is by Angela Barrett.

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Tales Were Told and Retold 

"In the Middle Ages, the majority of the population lived in the countryside, and some 85 percent of the population could be described as peasants. Peasants worked the land to yield food, fuel, wool and other resources. The countryside was divided into estates, run by a lord or an institution, such as a monastery or college. A social hierarchy divided the peasantry: at the bottom of the structure were the serfs, who were legally tied to the land they worked." Alixe Bovey, British Library

Before and after the printing Press in Europe (1452), people passed on spoken tales that told in a direct, imaginative, and often entertaining way about the outrages, cruelties, and inequities of everyday life. These stories (wonder tales), told in a tavern, a market place, or a farm house could satirize directly, or by analogy, those in power --  their greed, cruelty, and incompetence, without persecution of the story teller. For example;

Unlimited Royal greed is personified in Rumpelstiltskin. And the incredible metaphor of the Fisherman's Wife poses the question. . .Can anyone who inherits power, even it the power comes from a talking flounder, be as greedy (constantly wanting more) as the woman who ultimately wanted to be God?

Outrageous and often brutal royal behavior can take many forms, even within one family. What should we think of a royal family with a son who has sex with a beautiful young woman in an enchanted coma, and who goes off, after impregnating her. Later, he leaves his new family with his mother, a cruel queen, who will try to cannibalize the now awakened young princess and her royal grand children.

And what of the boundless lust of a widowed king who tries to force his beautiful daughter into marriage, only to have her escape and survive. She is extremeley resourceful and disguises herself by wearing a Donkeyskin. She also has courage, resiliance, and imagination.

The conversations that followed these tales carried them far beyond their immediate listeners. They were told throughout Europe. Here was a way to laugh at the nobility, and talk about their own lives. We have parallels today with our TV news, internet fictions, media, books and movies. 

The illustration of the Gleaners is by Leon Augustin Lhermitte.

The illustration from Rumpelstiltskin is by Paul O. Zelinsky

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Fear and Chaos

For centuries the disputes of both minor nobles and powerful kings brought chaos to the lives of peasant families. Marauding knights, famine, and sickness were often compounded. The forests could be refuge or a nightmare.

And so you had tales of desperate children lost in the great and dangerous forests saved by their own resilience, courage and quick wits: Hansel and Gretel work together to overcome their abandonment, the witch, and being lost in the forest;  Fearless and resourceful, Perrault's Little Thumb, saves his brothers, outwits a murderous ogre, and returns home with wealth and power; and, in Russia there were tales of Vasilisa, an abused young beauty, who must walk through a dark forest and enter the house of Baba Yaga, the evil witch of many Slavic tales. All fear Baba-Yaga, who is powerful and devours humans. Vasilisa survives with courage, by alone facing the dark side, and through an enchanted doll that her dying mother gave her.

 

The illustration from Snow White is by Tina Schart Hyman.

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Lost and Abandoned

 

"Their father and mother brought them into the thickest and most obscure part of the forest; when, stealing away into a by-path, they there left them. Little Thumb was not very uneasy at it; for he thought he could easily find the way again, by means of his bread which he had scattered all along as he came. But he was very much surprised when he could not find so much as one crumb; the birds had come and eaten it up every bit. They were now in great affliction, for the farther they went, the more they were out of their way, and were more and more bewildered in the forest.

Night now came on, and there arose a terrible high wind, which made them dreadfully afraid. They fancied they heard, on every side of them, the howling of wolves coming to eat them up. . ." Little Thumb by Charles Perrault.

The illustration from Little Thumb is by Gustave Dore.

 

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Warriors, Weapons and War

In movies, videogames, and in legends, knights are usually romantically portrayed as noble, men of honor. Yet, the reality of these ruthless warriors usually brought a nightmare of fear, brutality, and pain to the common people who lived outside the castle walls. 

Knights, Violence, and Brutal Chivalry

"Chivalry in later ages may have had merits, but in the eleventh century it was a social disaster. It produced a superfluity of conceited illiterate young men who had no ideals except to rise and hunt and fight, whose only interest in life was violence and the glory they saw in it. . . They were no good at anything else, and despised any peaceful occupation". . .      David Howarth, author, The Year of the Conquest

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The Great Unknown of the Forest

"And yet, despite all the fairy tale warnings, sometimes we're compelled to run to the dark of the woods, away from all that is safe and familiar -- driven by desperation, perhaps, or the lure of danger, or the need for change. Young heroes stray from the safe, well-trodden path through foolishness or despair. . .but perhaps also by canny premeditation, knowing that venturing into the great unknown is how lives are transformed."              Terri Windling, Myth and Moor

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The Enchanted White Snake

"He went out for a last walk in the woods which he loved. And there, in a sunny glade, strewn with fillaries, purple spotted and delicate, he encountered a white snake, with bright gold eyes and a green forked tongue.

Conversing with snakes is dangerous, for they are in league with the Devil himself; but a man with clear eyes, a quiet mind and a gentle heart can do with impunity what others should not risk. . .the man approached the snake quietly and gently, and smiled at it. The snake stared back unblinking for a few moments and then, with a side slip wiggle, it smiled, then turned and vanished into the long grass." From the retelling of the Grimm's The White Snake, by Sara Maitland.

The image of the white snake is courtesy of KidsWorld.

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Music Within the Walls

Medieval music, often tied in with religious ritual, celebrations, and festivals, also transported people beyond their everyday lives. Usually heard in cathedrals, an otherworldly environment where the mysteries of life, evocative rituals, and incense filled the air. Several years ago, when I first heard medieval music in the church of Saint Lawrence (1450) in Vantaa, Finland, it was a musical surprise. Emotions and imagination were evoked. The photo was taken in that church.

Here is a link to delightful performances by different sources: MedievalMusic. Here is a link to Gregorian chants

 

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Common Bonds  

"On the whole, though, the historical reality that can be excavated from fairy tales does not carry the memory of extreme horrors, specific tragedies, or individuals, but rather dramatizes ordinary circumstances, daily sufferings, needs, desires -- and dangers, especially of dying young."

Marina Warner, Once upon a Time

The photo of Russian peasants is by an unknown photographer.

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Fallen Walls

Hitler was destroying Europe- His troops were in North Africa. It was then that an excellent children's book, Yussuf, the Ostrich, appeared. Emery Kelen, a talented Hungarian illustrator, who had escaped to the USA from Nazi Germany in 1938, used the North African war as a background for a delightful anti-Nazi children's book.  The book tells and shows with abundant illustrations, the story of a brave ostrich who outwitted the German general, and braved gunfire, to run at great speed and deliver the secret Nazi plans to an American general.

Yussuf the Ostrich was rediscovered and edited by Jack Zipes, and is published by his Little Mole and Honey Bear Publishing Company.

The illustrations are by Emery Kelen.

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The Human Struggle

"At their best, the storytelling of fairy tales constitute the most profound articulation of the human struggle to form and maintain a civilizing process. . . The more we learn to relate to other groups of people and realize that their survival and the fulfillment of their interests is related to ours, the more we might construct social codes that guarantee humane relationships. --Jack Zipes on The Art Of Storytelling Show

The illustration, by an unknown Russian postcard illustrator, is from Fearless Ivan and His Faithful Horse Double-Hump, by Pyotr Yershov. as retold by Jack Zipes.

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Movies and Animation

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Soul from Pixar

Soul is streaming on Disney+.

Soul has received  a multitude of good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Here is their Critics Consensus:

"A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed."

Here are excerpts from two of my favorite reviewers: "In about 100 jaunty, poignant minutes, “Soul,” the new Pixar Animation feature, tackles some of the questions that many of us have been losing sleep over since childhood. Why do I exist? What’s the point of being alive? A.O. Scott NYTimes

"A gentle, thoughtful picture with big ideas about personality, life and death. . .What comes after a metaphysical dramedy set against an often trippy, post-Sergeant Pepper vision of life before life and life after death, Soul is an imaginatively rendered mid-life crisis."  Tara Brady Irish Times

Here is the Link to the trailer for Soul

 

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Exceptional Independent Animation

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Knife Hanging from a Tree

 

Surreal, Imaginative 

 

You are pulled into an offsetting dimension

Surprises somehow make sense

 

Directed by JiHee Nam, CalArts, Music Mid-Air Thief

 

Link: Knife Hanging from A Tree Time: 3.27

 

 

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Batfish Soup

 

Bizarre Surreal

 

Another reality

 

Kafkaesque

 

Created by Amanda Bonaiuto  CalArts

 

Link: Batfish Soup Time: 4.35 

 

 

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Happiness

 

An incredible journey.

 

If mice were us.

 

The story of many; Imagination unlimited;

 

Created by Steve Cutts, Music by Bizet and Greig.

 

Link: Happiness Time 4.13

 

 

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Bookmarks by Netflix Jr Opens Doors to Reading Books in the IT World

 

 

I was curious about Sulwe, a prize winning book about a young black girl who doesn't like her dark color. This led me to a wonderful reading of Sulwe on Youtube by the author, Lupita Nyong'o. The book is outstanding, the writing and the story flow gracefully, and there is the wonder of love pervading the entire story. Lupita Nyong'o is also an amazing actress having won multiple awards in theater and film. These include an Oscar for her performance in 12 Years a Slave.

 

This reading of Sulwe also led me to an outstanding Netflix Jr series, Bookmarks, wherein celebrities and authors read outstanding books, written for black children, that focus on "empathy, equality, self-love, and antiracism." Charming illustrations blend perfectly.

 

Here is a link to your choice among many authors reading their books to children: NetflixBookmarks

Here is a link to author Lupita Nyong'o reading her book Sulwe on youtube.

The illustrations for Sulwe are by Anoosha Syed.

 

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Refugee Children
Excerpts from a painful, sad, disturbing article by Abdu Latif Dahur in the NYTimes

Almost 51,000 Ethiopian refugees — nearly a third of them children — have crossed into Sudan from Ethiopia since the Tigray conflict began.

Almost a third of the Ethiopian refugees are children, with at least 361 of them arriving unaccompanied, according to the United Nations refugee agency — a stark sign of the sudden nature of the violence that sent them running.

With the violence still continuing, some 2.3 million children in the Tigray region do not have access to humanitarian assistance, according to UNICEF, the U.N. agency for children.

Many of the unaccompanied children said they were separated from their families as they bolted from their homes in the middle of the night, trekking hours and days with nothing but the clothes on their backs to reach safety.

Photo by Tyler Hicks in the NYT. If you click the photo, a world opens up.

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The Human Canine Connection -- 4 Paws For Ability

 

It seems that it is difficult to find service dogs for young children with special needs, a dog that will alert others if a child has a seizure, who will awaken confidence in an autistic child, or open the door to much more of life for a crippled child.

4Paws For Ability is a remarkable organization where they train service dogs and then give them to children and veterans with special needs -- children with epileptic seizures, Downs Syndrome, Autism, physical disabilities, and combinations of these and other challenging conditions.

"Based in Xenia, Ohio, and Anchorage Alaska, 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 the link: service 

Photo from Memories by Beverly.

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Who Chains You Publishing

Author Tamira Ci Thayne is the founder of Who Chains You Publishing. The company was founded to publish books for and about animal lovers, activists and rescuers—in all genres from children's to fiction to autobiographies. The mission of Who Chains You is to amplify the voices of the animals through the empowerment of animal lovers, activists, and rescuers who write books elevating the status of animals in society . . .At the deepest level, WCY books explore which chains humans must break within themselves in order to free the animals.

Previously, Tamira was the founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, a rescue devoted to ending dog chaining.

Ariel Wulff is a dog enthusiast, dog owner and advocate, artist, and author of several dog books. She has also been illustrating a variety of delightful children's books for Tamira Ci Thayne. The covers of two of those books are posted here.

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Planet of the Dogs

 

"Our story begins long, 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. . .Their numbers began to grow and soon they were taking the homes, land, and farms where peaceful people lived. . . 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."

We have free reader copies of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians, teachers and independent bookstores. Email us with a postal address to [email protected] and we will send you the books. 

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

The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. 

The illustration of the Black Hawk Castle is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

 

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“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”
― Christopher Hitchens

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December 2020 -- Hope, the Season, and Celebration

 

                         
                                                                     Joy to the World

When Charles Dickens wrote the book, A Christmas Carol, it was a book about bringing joy to the world. It was written in the midst of a tumultuous industrial revolution, a time of expanding empire, and wide spread poverty. In the midst of British societal indifference to human suffering, it helped change the English attitude and ultimately, that of much of the Western World. The conservative British oligarchy was influenced by Tiny Tim and the three Ghosts of Christmas. And ordinary people took the message of charity to heart. The Christmas season has continued to evolve. In our era, it has become a time of celebration, charity and gift giving. And, a profitable marketplace.

Christmas Book Nostalgia

MR. Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn

The wonderful book, Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn brings the timeless charm of an earlier era to us. The author, Albert Bigelow Paine (1861-1937), was a friend and biographer of Mark Twain, as well as the author of novels, biographies, and many children's books. These included stories of The Hollow Tree Inn,  and all the animal inhabitants of The Inn and the Big Deep Woods. The wonderful illustrations by Adam McCauly in this reclaimed version add to the original story.

Paine created and told a multitude of stories to his own children. Over time, he wrote, among other children's books, three very popular books about the animal characters of The Hollow Tree Inn and the Big Deep Woods. These included: Mr. Coon, Mr. Possum, Mr. Crow, Jack Rabbit, Mr. Dog, and many others. They are all imaginative, charming, and well written.

Mr. Dog knew things that others did not know because he lived in the house of Mr. Man. He shared stories of things he had heard, or adventures he had, with his forest friends. Until Mr. Dog told them about Santa, his animal friends had never heard of him. The story unfolds when Mr Coon, Possum, and Crow put out big Christmas stockings, not knowing that Santa only visited children.

Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn is a rescued treasure of Betsy Cordes. Originally published in 1898, it was a favorite in her family and read aloud at Christmas for three generations. 

Here is a link to this delightful new edition of Mr. Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn.

Here is a link to many books by Albert Bigelow Paine on Project Gutenberg.

The cover and the illustrations are by Adam McCauly. Book design by Cynthia Wigginton.

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 Twas the Night Before Christmas

"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 (1823)

 

 

 

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Christmas Memories in the Great Meadow of Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows is a celebration of life, a holiday from the everyday world. The world of the Great Meadow, and beyond, has a comfortable beauty that offers the young and the young at heart a respite, a good place to be. This is especially true when the Christmas holidays are celebrated. . .

"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

Here is a link to Inga Moore illustrations.

The illustration is by Inga Moore.

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Father Christmas and Inga Moore

It was In an excellent article in the Guardian by Joanna Carey  about the wonderful illustrator, Inga Moore, that I first read about Father Christmas(1973) by Raymond Briggs, another celebrated book from an earlier era. Brigg's book was a turning point in Moore's life. Moore told Joanna Carey about her reaction to Father Christmas: " 'It was uplifting, life-enhancing, and I realized that making a picture book was one of the finest things one could aspire to.' She got started as an illustrator and in the early 80s, inspired by childhood memories, returned to England."

I then learned that Raymond Briggs was an award-winning and very popular author/illustrator of children's books, and very well known in England. Among other books, he wrote and illustrated The Snowman, Father Christmas, and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday. Each of these books became popular videos. The two Father Christmas books were combined into one story in their video versions. These are timeless books for young children.

Here is a link to a delightful 25 minute video version of the book for kids: Father Christmas.

Here is a link to the very different and charming 25 minute version of the Brigg's book: The Snowman.

The illustration above is by Raymond Briggs.

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Randolph the Reindeer --  A New Book

The story opens with Randolph's excitement at being in a competition to be selected as part of the team that will pull Santa's sleigh. That very night is Christmas Eve. However, Randolph, although extremely fast, is out of control and he is, inadvertently, a sleigh crasher. He means well, but he is immature, and seems unable to change.

Randolph ultimately redeems himself when he courageously flies Jeremy the Elf, through a terrible blizzard, to the home of a boy named Jamie. He promised to find a way to repair a camera that was broken through Randolph's out of control sleigh pulling. The camera meant a lot to Jamie, as it was a gift from his mother. Jeremy, being a member of Santa's workshop is able to repair the camera and Randolph has saved the Christmas day. This is a fun Christmas adventure book for young kids by Sean Patrick O'Reilly and with lots of colorful Disney-like illustrations by David Alvarez.

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Interview With Santa

Lost in the mists of time is a true Christmas story. . . Long ago, the unthinkable happened and there was to be no more Christmas. Click this link for more: Interview with Santa

 

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Ode to Joy -- Flashmob in Sabadell

Every year, when preparing this December edition of our blog, I treat myself to watching and listening to several Ode To Joy concerts. Watching ordinary people and children as the music grows before them, combined with the extraordinary music, is a very special experience.

Here is link for you to share in this wonderful Ode to Joy video from Sabadell, Spain. The photo was taken early on as the musicians continued to arrive.

Enjoy.

 

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Tree Beings -- A Book for All Seasons

This is a wonderful book for children with fascinating content and extraordinary illustrations. It incorporates free association of facts and imagination with solid information regarding the wonder and importance of trees. Written with passion by New Zealand educator and talented author, Raymond Huber, and with superb illustrations by an Australian, Sandra Severgnini, Tree Beings succeeds in being entertaining, educational, and fearlessly wide ranging. The 2 page forward is an appreciation and strong endorsement by Jane Goodall.

This book could become a classic.

 

The cover and illustrations are by Sandra Severgnini.

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Truth Exaggerated

The fairy tale survives because it presents experience in vivid symbolic forms; Sometimes we need to have the truth exaggerated and made more dramatic, even fantastic, in order to comprehend it. . .          

 Alison Laurie, Boys and Girls Forever

 

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

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Movies and Animation

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Jingle Jangle

An imaginative, joyous, black musical update of Dicken's Christmas Carol.

Here is the exciting trailer: Jingle Jangle. The film is playing now on Netflix,  directed and created by David E. Talbert. Here is a review excerpt from the  NYTimes Critics:

The magic of “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” a fun seasonal Netflix offering, hinges on belief — in reinvention, imagination and the ability of even the most familiar stories to offer fresh lessons. . . The movie is packed with thrilling sequences, charming songs (by Philip Lawrence, John Legend and others), flashy dance numbers and a delightful cast. Although parts of the film veer on cliché, its intentions are well-meaning and its messages about nurturing curiosity and fostering community are well worth hearing right about now.

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Come Away-- Alas, this Peter Pan "revision" has stumbled. Here is the Critics Consensus from Rotten Tomatoes: "Largely lacking the fairytale magic it seeks to conjure, Come Away is an initially intriguing fantasy that never really takes flight."

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Exceptional Independent Animation
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A Normal Day In the Life of Sassi

An imaginative and charming visit to the future.

Sassi lives and works in a magical future world.

Friendly fantasy.

Perfect for kids and the young at heart.

Made by Choi Keeweso; DayDream Sound

 

Here is the link: Sassi  time 6.42

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Fear of the Deer

A deer who is not like the others.

Darkness in Santa Land.

Awesome. Not for kids.

Happy Holidays from animator Steve Cutts.

Intro music by Admiral Bob.

 

Link: Fear of the Deer time 1.45

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My Favorite War

Poignant, Meaningful, Imaginative trailer for the full length version.

“My Favorite War teaches the global value of freedom and demonstrates how a very personal story can be of universal interest".  A quote from the Annecy Festival where the film won the award for best feature. This is a personal, animated documentary that tells the story of the director growing up in Latvia, part of the Soviet Union, from 1970 to 1990."
Here is a link regarding the film from the program of the Norwegian Film Festival

Created by Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen, Ego Studios,Latvia

Here is the link: My Favorite War 2 minutes

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You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss

 

 

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Little Mole and Honeybear

Jack Zipes new publishing company, Little Mole and Honeybear is publishing exceptional children's books that have been lost because of time, fashion, or the vicissitudes of the publishing business. The range is extensive since Zipes is able to translate books which may have originally appeared in non-English speaking countries. The results are a cascade of fascinating, eye-opening children's books. I have previously written about some of them: Laboulaye's myriad tales; Fearless Ivan and His Faithful Horse, Double Hump; The Giant Ohl and Tiny Tim; and Keedle the Great. Next month, I will write about Emery Kelen and Yussuf the anti-fascist ostrich. From the Little Mole and Honeybear website:

We are cultural excavators. Some of our biggest political and moral challenges have been addressed by voices long lost to history. We will unbury neglected authors and books from the twentieth century, before we are buried.

Mission: Founded in January 2018 by Jack Zipes, Little Mole & Honey Bear publishes unusual books for children and adults largely published during, before, and after World War I and World War II. They celebrate the poetic power of fantasy and illustrate how writers and illustrators have used their art to generate hope in their readers. Though conceived, created, and published in the twentieth century, all these works are still highly relevant today.

The illustration from Yussuf the Ostrich is by the author, Emery Kelen.

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

Mommy Talk and Talk to Me are two delightful complimentary books available to new mothers, in Spanish and English. They are a tangible stimulus for parents and other caregivers who are readng with and talking to very young children ages 0 to 4.

"As of today, the Nancy M. and Douglas M.Yeager Family Foundation has distributed free of charge 94,076 printed copies of our four books. . .We have four titles available:  Mommy Talk, Mi Mama Me Habla, Talk to Me, and Habla Conmigo. . .The books continue to be distributed primarily through nonprofits, government agencies, pediatricians, pediatric clinics and pediatric hospitals and, interestingly enough, about a thousand copies were distributed recently at food banks in New York. We also welcome direct requests submitted to our Foundation at P.O. Box 20622, Estes Park, CO 80511."                                                        Here is a link to the: Yeager Foundation Website.

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Children's Books Ireland for the Poor

All over Ireland there are children who do not own a book. This December, Children’s Books Ireland is gifting a bedtime story to Irish children as they face into a difficult Christmas. With the support of the Arts Council and KPMG, 6,000 Irish books will be given to children and young people in direct-provision centres, hospitals and homeless services nationwide through charity partners. . .All 6,000 books are by Irish artists, many of them Irish-published. 

Link to this article: The Irish Times

The photo is courtesy of Baenados, an Irish Charity

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Hanukkah -- December 22-30

Hanukkah is the Jewish Holiday that takes place over 8 days in December. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Holiday celebrates Jewish strengths, perseverance, and continuity. It has origins dating to 165BCE  when Judea was freed from oppression and conquest of the Seleucid king. Hanukkah is a celebration of freedom and being. 

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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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Winter 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 of Troll is by C.A.Wulff.

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 A Holiday Smile for Dog Lovers

 

 

Here is a link to a festive holiday occasion where you will see 13 well dressed dogs and one cat at a dinner table eating with human hands.

 

 

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Celebrate

 

Thanks to Richard Bradley for the photo. Every year at this time we post a photo from Richard's  Blog, A Rock in My Shoe. The dogs, Darcy and Caboose, have passed on but their holiday spirit remains. 

 

 

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Happy Holidays to all...

And a special greeting to the therapy dog owners and therapy and service dog organizations who make this world a better place.

 I am awed by and grateful to the dog lovers and their therapy dogs who help so many people, of all ages, in so many ways. Dogs have a unique quality that helps people heal, release fear, and find joy. When you think about the blessings that dogs bring to people's lives, especially therapy and service dogs, it boggles the mind.

A Memory of Rose, a Therapy Dog . . . Below is an excerpt from my correspondence with Susan Purser, a retired school teacher, about working with her therapy dog, Rose, for over 15 years -- until Rose passed on.
Susan carries on her therapy dog work as her puppy, Tazi, who also loves to be with people, continues to grow.

"No matter who you are or why you do pet therapy, it is the dog that opens the door…doors that would otherwise be closed to a well meaning human. . . doors that are sometimes closed to family, friends, care givers and staff of facilities. There is something very special about these canine creatures and they have been saving and comforting humans for thousands of years. It is their touch or look that gives people that inner peace when their world is shrinking or spinning so fast they have lost control. When doors begin the final closing, there is that one last smile, nod, a hand that reaches for a dog that allows some of them to say good bye and close their eyes in peace.” 

The photo of Rose visiting a friend was taken by Susan Purser.

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Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale

 

"The Barking Planet series of illustrated kids' books full of mythic fairy tale dog heroes is unabashedly humane, uplifting, and morally improving, which may not be everybody's cup of tea (or bowl of kibble), but it does make for interesting relief in a kid lit world increasingly obsessed with violence, family dysfunction and personal trauma." Barbara Julien for Animal Literature.

"Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale. . .the exciting story of the dogs from Planet Of The Dogs who come to earth to help save Christmas...this book brought me back to my youth, a time when it seemed my imagination was endless, something that gets lost in adulthood. The holidays are just around the corner and this book would make a great stocking stuffer." From the review by Horst Hoefinger on Dogster

To Read Sample Chapters of Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, Click here: Christmas Books

The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

 

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“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner

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November 2020 -- Through a Child's Eyes, Meaning, and Hope

 

 

In the country of fairies, one knows everything in one hour or one day.

"In the happy country of fairies, one leaves it only to find one’s way back. One suffers only to become happy, whereas pain is for us an enigma and life a struggle without end where the better people are the first to fall.
There, in the country of fairies, one does not get old, and one always loves. Here, no sooner does our heart barely recover from those foolish acts of our youth than it turns serious and begins to love an object worthy of our heart. Then, our face becomes wrinkled, and our hair turns white leaving us with the feeling of ridicule. There, in the country of fairies, one knows everything in one hour or one day. Here, we pursue truth at the cost of our lives as it evades us. It flees like the marvelous bird, and when, at last, after 30 years of pain, we feel it near us, when our hand lowers to seize it, another hand more powerful freezes us and carries us off to the country from which nobody has ever returned." -- –Édouard Laboulaye, Contes bleus, 1863

The top illustration from Kenneth Grahame's Wind In The Willows is by Inga Moore.

The illustration of Laboulaye's fairytale, The Castle of Life, is by Edward McCandlish. 

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Growing, Expanding, and Prospering

The USA, in the first part of the 20th century, was growing, expanding, and prospering. Ceaseless immigration. The industrial revolution, trains crossing the country, canals, steamships, and cars for the burgeoning middle class.

Progress was the byword, from Chicago to the coastlands, and cities kept growing. 

Competition and big rewards. Hardship and corruption. Prosperity and poverty.

Mulberry Street, New York City 1900

Opportunities and Problems

"The Industrial Revolution began the transition of the United States from a rural to an urban society. Young people raised on farms saw greater opportunities in the cities and moved there, as did millions of immigrants from Europe. Providing housing for all the new residents of cities was a problem, and many workers found themselves living in urban slums. . ." Library of Congress

 

Life Got Faster and Grueling for Many

"Rapid advances in the creation of steel, chemicals and electricity helped fuel production, including mass-produced consumer goods and weapons. It became far easier to get around on trains, automobiles and bicycles. At the same time, ideas and news spread via newspapers, the radio and telegraph. Life got a whole lot faster.

Factory jobs were grueling. It was an era when industrial growth created a class of wealthy entrepreneurs and a comfortable middle class supported by workers who were made up by immigrants and arrivals from America’s farms and small towns." -- The History Channel

The photo is from Getty Images.

 

Meanwhile in Sandwich, Massachusetts 

During these halcyon days in the crowded cities, Thornton Burgess (1874-1965), who would later become a writer of children's books set in the natural world, was growing up in Sandwich, a small Cape Cod town of 1,448. His father had died in the year he was born (1874). So it was that the boy worked at a variety of jobs to help earn money for the living needs of his widowed mother and himself. From his work in the fields, woodlands, and wetlands, he acquired an intimate knowledge of nature and wildlife. 

According to Wikipedia, his boyhood jobs were many: "He worked tending cows, picking trailing arbutus (mayflowers) or berries, shipping water lilies from local ponds, selling candy, and trapping muskrats." During these formative years he came to know and love nature. 

Later in life, as a father and a widower, he was raising his young son with the help of relatives and working as a reporter for the Springfield Homestead. He began making up stories for the little boy, stories about nature and animals inspired by his own boyhood experiences. He soon began writing them down. This was the beginning of an extraordinary career as a beloved children's book writer. 

The vintage farm scene above is from Antique Maps.

 

Annals of Old Mother Westwind

In 1910, Old Mother Westwind, Burgess first book appeared and became nationally popular. As other books and stories followed, animals and places from Mother Westwind -- Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Grandfather Frog and many others -- reappeared. Sales grew into the millions and were translated into several overseas editions. Over the next 50 years, he wrote 170 books; 16,000 stories, a daily newspaper column (Bedtime Stories), and in 1924, a popular weekly radio show, the Radio Nature League. He also became an active, lifetime, conservationist.

A Beautiful World of Nature for Young Children.

To get a sense of Burgess' writing voice, here is the opening of Old Mother West Wind:

"Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag—a great big bag—and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind's children, the Merry Little Breezes. . . When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened her bag, turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the Purple Hills. . .

When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across the Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to Grandfather Frog who sat on a big lily pad watching for green flies for breakfast.

“Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying good morning.

Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand. . ."

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The illustrations here, above, and all the illustrations for Burgess' books were by his friend, Harrison Cady.

Project Gutenberg's Old Mother West Wind.

Project Gutenberg's Mother West Wind's Animal Friends, by Thornton W. Burgess

The Thornton W. Burgess Society and Greenbriar Nature Center in Sandwich, MA.


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Could a Bear be a Prince ? 

Creating stories with animals behaving like people with human traits, personalities, and behaviors has a long tradition going back to Aesop. Good stories, like Aesop's Fables, capture the imagination and teach. Children's literature is filled with wonderful anthropomorphic animals from Carroll's Mad Hatter and Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit to Milne's Pooh Bear and Grahame's Toad. From Kipling's jungle to powerful bears under a spell, the literature of the young has also become literature for YA and adults.

 

The illustration is by Alice and Martin Provensen.

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Richard Scarry's World

I know from experience that reading a book like Scarry's What Do People Do All Day to a young child is a special experience. Young children have strong responses to Scarry's books. They feel a connection and want to look at them --  and listen to them being read -- for years (and their parents like them, too). They explain things about the world around them. They are fun, for young and old.

In 1963, after thirteen years creating illustrations for other writers, he completed the first book that he both wrote and illustrated :The Best Word Book Ever. The book was brilliant, filled with words and illustrations of more than 1400 objects. Hundreds of animal characters were doing things that people do. The book was an immediate success, selling 7 million copies in twelve years. Scarry had the imagination and talent to make his books a fun way for children to learn. He said, "Everything has an educational value if you look for it. But it's the fun I want to get across."  

 

Scarry married Praticia Murphy, a writer of children's textbooks. He had previously illustrated books for her. Over the years, she collaborated with her husband. He named his son, Huck, after Huckleberry Finn, a favorite book of Scarry's. He later named Huckle Cat -- a character who appears in many of his books, after his son. Scarry died in 1994. His son, Huck, has carried on the tradition and created more wonderful books under the name, Richard Scarry.

Book sales, in many languages, total over 100 million. Toys, puzzles, and animated TV series in abundance have been produced based on Scarry's books and characters.

Here is a link to the Busy World of Richard Scary TV series.

 

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Updating the Busy World 

"His Best Word Book Ever, which first appeared in 1963, was issued in 1980 as a "new revised edition" which altered images and text to remove material which could be perceived as offensive due to gender, racial, or religious misconceptions. . .Moral and religious elements and depictions of gender roles were altered or removed (for instance, a menorah was added into a Christmas scene, and the words "he comes promptly when he is called to breakfast", referring to a father bear, were changed to "he goes to the kitchen to eat his breakfast"). Characters engaged in activities reflecting traditional gender roles were altered so as to make the scenes more gender-neutral (e.g., a male character was added into a kitchen scene, a cowboy was replaced with a female gardener and a female scientist. . ." Wikipedia
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A Busytown Update

There is a Busytown Update from Tom the Dancing Bug, a YA and satirical adult comic strip by Ruben Bolling.

Bolling has changed the image and description of several characters to Include: a swamp drainer; a fake news troll; and a millennial complainer. Here is the Link: Busytown Today.

 

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Children as Silent Witnesses

"Of all the recollections of childhood reading that I have encountered, my favorite comes from an essay by the novelist Penelope Lively entitled 'Essential and Eternal.' Lively makes the point that child readers obliterate the threshold between reality and fantasy as they enter other worlds, But rather than identifying with characters, they become silent witnesses -- observers who see the characters as role models and companions rather than second selves. They participate in the lives of others without liquidating their own identities." -- Excerpted from Enchanted Hunters by Maria Tatar. 

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Movies and Animation

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Anthony Iannuci has directed a film adapted from Charles Dicken's book, David Copperfield.

"To a remarkable extent, the new movie is full of cheer. It feels boisterous, bustling, and, at times, perilously close to a romp. Of the young David’s deep and dawdling loneliness there is no sign; later . . .

 Iannucci’s movie. 'Although it’s set in 1840, for the people in the film it’s the present day,' he said in an interview. 'And it’s an exciting present.' That is a compelling claim, and 'The Personal History of David Copperfield,' despite its shortcomings, is an enterprise full of hope. Like Mr. Micawber, it thrives on the ridiculous belief that something, somewhere, will turn up." ♦ -- Anthony Lane in the New Yorker

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Spirited Away

Netflix is now showing Studio Ghibli Films, including all of the wonderful films by the extraordinary Hayao Miyazaki. Spirited Away is a classic celebration of magic and wonder. This is a film of the imagination that stands alone. 

Full of surprises and extraordinary animation, the film follows the saga of a young girl who must use her wits and find  the courage to survive and prevail in an alternate dimension populated by ghosts and the spirit world.

 

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Independent Animation

Extraordinary independent animation is being created around the world.
The techniques and subject matter vary with the talented creators, giving us many wonderful moments.
Below are three imaginative animated films.

The illustration is from Forget Me Not   by the Animation Workshop.

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Awkward

Brilliant concept and animation

Totally original and very inventive

Created by Nata Metlukh

Music and sound by Daruma Audio

Link: Awkward: time 3.37

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The Turning Point

Darkly powerful and imaginative 

Climate change as you have never seen it

Created by Steve Cutts

Music by the Wantaways

 

Link: The Turningpoint: time 3.21

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Earth Crisis

Remarkable, engaging, moving.

Magic of life, beauty of the natural world.

Produced by Encyclopedia Pictura Productions.

Written/Directed by Isaiah Saxon. Lead animator, Pavel Mishkin.

Music by Dirty Projectors, Dave Longstreth; vocals Kristin Slipp.

Link; Earth Crisis  time 7 minutes

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"Anyone who returns to the original Grimms after their modern saccharinization sees the deep horror in the tales, the gruesomeness, the tragedy, the dark beliefs and practices."

Seth Lerer: Children's Literature, A Reader's History from Harry Potter to Aesop

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Keedle the Great

In 1940, when Keedle the Great was first published, Europe was in turmoil. Civilization was being torn apart.  Poland was defeated and occupied. Norway had surrendered. Relentless Nazi air attacks were destroying British cities. Hundreds of thousands of British children were evacuated from cites. Russia invaded Finland. The Balkan countries, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were overrun. Italy declared war, Fascists had conquered Spain and Hitler's Nazis had entered Paris. Jews were beaten, robbed, and forced into Ghettos. 

In the USA, Deirdre Conselman and her father, writer William
Conselman Jr, were so concerned about the nightmare in Europe, that they wrote Keedle the Great, All You've Ever Wanted To Know About Fascism. It is a children's book, with resonate illustrations by Fred L. Fox, about a nasty kid who looks like Hitler, and grows up to be an evil ruler, before he is destroyed. Remarkably, it is effective today and entirely appropriate for kids.

Keedle is now republished by Jack Zipes' new publishing company, Little Mole And Honey Bear. Their Mission Statement: "History is doomed to repeat itself. We must preserve the things that make us human, and stand up to forces that would tear our society apart."

Here is a link to Zipes' informative new website.

The photo of  British child refugees is courtesy of the Guardian.

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We Salute the United Nations World Food Program

"The World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. . . for its efforts to combat a surge in global hunger amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has swept around the world with devastating impact."

Read more: NY Tmes

Photo of refugee children by Behouz Mehi, AFR Getty Images

 

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Paws for People .. Making the Human Canine Connection

Mission Statement

PAWS lovingly provides elders, children, and persons with disabilities individualized, therapeutic visits with a gentle and affectionate pet.

Programs

From hospitals and skilled care facilities to chemical dependency centers and elementary schools, thousands of people are experiencing the benefits of one-on-one therapeutic visits thanks to hundreds of dedicated volunteers and their loving therapy companions every year.

Here is a link to a video that documents the PAWS for People program with dogs and people in action.

Here is a link to Paws for People.

Photo courtesy of Paws for People.

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Circling the Waggins 

"This book was recommended to me by a friend. Once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down. . . I highly recommend this book to animal lovers. You will definitely laugh and cry. You may even learn a few things about animal care and the treatment of various health issues pet owners often face. I enjoyed this book so much that I am now reading another of this author's pet tales."

This is  an excerpt from a United Kingdom review by BrittdogPub on Amazon. (Link)

 

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Snow Valley Heroes -- A Christmas Tale 

The third book in the Planet of the Dogs series

 Santa Claus and the elves are faced with a disaster in Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale. Dasher and Dancer, two of Santa's reindeer, are missing,  and without the reindeer to pull the sleigh, there can be no Christmas.

The King of the North has taken the reindeer and hidden them in the great Ice Castle.

The only source of hope, the only source of help, for rescuing the missing reindeer comes from the Planet of the Dogs.

This is the true story of how the the dogs saved Christmas.

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Reader copies are available for therapy dogs,  librarians, teachers, bookstores and reviewers...Send your request with a postal address to [email protected]

 

The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

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       “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” – Harry S Truman

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October -- Lords, Ladies, and Peasants, Dark Presences, Faith

 

                                                               A Hard Life . . .  

 

Stories Were Told

"Both the oral and literary forms of the fairy tale are grounded in history: The fairy tale sets out to conquer the concrete terror that emanates from specific struggles to humanize bestial and barbaric forces, which have terrorized our minds and communities in concrete ways, threatening to destroy free will and human compassion. The fairy tail sets out to conquer this concrete terror through metaphors."      Jack Zipes -- Spells of Enchantment

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A Mother Fails Her Daughter and a Fantastic Elf Saves a Life 

 

 

Rumpelstiltskin is many centuries old. As this and other stories were told over time, they evolved, a reflection of both the story tellers and the life they knew. Written tales followed oral tales and in rewriting these tales, writers made them  more relevant to changing times.

The most stunning version of Rumpelstiltskin that I have read was Words Like Pale Stones by Nancy Kress. True naming and the power of words remain very important in this story. The narrator is a courageous and resilient young woman named Ludie. She is the oppressed protagonist, a victim of failed parents and a brutal despot. She lives in a time when lives were controlled by a cruel King.

As in the traditional Grimm's version, the King offers life and marriage to Ludie if she can spin straw into gold. If she fails, he promises a slow and painful death. Kress adds another dimension to the king, one that will run through the entire story.. . ."He only smiled, for of course, he was not mortal.The old blood ran somewhere in his veins, mixed but there. 'Fevered and tainted', some said. Only the glimmerings of magic were there, and glimmerings without mastery were what made the cruelty."

Weaving straw into gold and the magic power of the Old People carry the early part of this legend made fresh. And then comes the chilling revelation that Ludie bears a son who has inherited the dark side from his father, the King. The surprising (to me) resolution was just right. The writing of Nancy Kress creates a dark momentum that flows through all of this outstanding tale.

The top illustration is by Walter Crane.
The bottom illustration is by H.J Ford.

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A Fantastic Witch House of Confection and a Dark Tale of Famine

Amidst eons of uncertainty, tales were passed on that reflected many facets of the world, from the adventures of poor peasants, to the dilemmas of Royal ladies of the Court. They were fueled by imagination. They dealt with poverty, fear, and brutality. They satirized the powerful, amused listeners, and usually gave hope.

Hansel and Gretel is a very dark tale and disturbing tale. The central characters are children who must deal with war, famine, fear, abandonment, cannibalism, a witch, dark forces and death in a rather overwhelming confluence. The story began to evolve with the famines of the late Middle ages (1250-1500); the following centuries that led up to the Grimm's version of the story (1812) were fraught with war, poverty, and chaos.

Warfare, Violence, Everyday Life

"Warfare was a near-constant preoccupation for medieval Europe's governing elites. . . Medieval European society tolerated very high levels of violence as a fact of everyday life. Men (and some women) resorted to force without much compunction in order to achieve their goals, and highly personal motivations could lead up to war.. . . And at all stages in its evolution, medieval European warfare found it easy to accommodate the very personal reasons that lead human beings to inflict pain on each other."
Hywel Williams -- A History of the Middle Ages.

 

Hunger and Chaos

 

The Great Famine: "In some regions of Europe, the Great Famine of 1315-17 killed a tenth of the population, shattering social norms and local economies. Villages were abandoned, religious houses were dispersed, and minor feudal lords pawned their land to whoever could pay. Peasants and the urban poor were left to fend for themselves."  *The Great Famine was followed by other famines (until 1322 ); the Black Death (1347) and the Hundred Years War (1337-1453). Amy-Davidson Sorkin .. The New Yorker

The painting of a peasant woman sitting in her cottage is by Jozef Israels.
The etching of the dancing skeletons is by Michael Wolgenut (1493).

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Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel was rewritten and brought to life by Neil Gaiman. Here is an excerpt:

"The woodcutter's family was never certain who was fighting whom, nor why they were fighting, nor what they were fighting about. But beyond the forest, fields of crops were burned and barley fields became battlefields, and the farmers were killed, or made into soldiers in their turn and marched away. And soon enough the miller had no grain to mill into flour, the butcher had no animals to kill and hang in the window, and they said you could name your own price for a rabbit."   

 

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Here is an excerpt from the excellent review of Gaiman's book by Maria Russo in the NY Times: "Written with a devastating spareness by Neil Gaiman and fearsomely illustrated in shades of black by Lorenzo Mattotti, the newest version of “Hansel and Gretel” astonishes from start to finish. . .Their rendition brings a freshness and even a feeling of majesty to the little tale. Some great, roiling essence of the human condition — our fate of shuttling between the darkness and the light — seems to inhabit its pages. . . In Gaiman’s hands, the humble woodcutter’s decision to abandon his children speaks not just to the cruelty that surfaces during desperate times, but to the needless suffering and waste of war."

The illustrations are by Lorenzo Mattotti.

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“There is something else which has the power to awaken us to the truth. It is the works of writers of genius. They give us, in the guise of fiction, something equivalent to the actual density of the real, that density which life offers us every day but which we are unable to grasp because we are amusing ourselves with lies.”
― Simone Weil

 

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Inspired by the Essence of Beauty and the Beast

Angela Carter wrote, "My intention was not to do "versions". . .but to extract the latent content from the traditional stories and to use it as the beginnings of new stories." To her friend Robert Coover, she wrote, "I really do believe that a fiction absolutely self-conscious of itself as a different form of human experience than reality (that is, not a logbook of events) can help to translate reality itself."

Angela Carter wrote a fresh and compelling  new story, The Courtship of Mr. Lyon, inspired by the 17th century  version of Beauty and the Beast written by Madame Le Prince de Beaumont. Their are many variations in several  languages of this centuries-old tale. It is said that Madame Le Prince de Beaumont wrote this tale as a warning metaphor for young women, preparation for the very real possibility of an arranged and loveless marriage.

Carter's story is fresh from beginning to end. When certain events are recounted --  such as the father stealing the Rose for his daughter -- they have been recreated with great imagination. They come to life. Carter's descriptive powers and woven detail is brilliant. Here is an excerpt, a passage that takes us into another dimension, the dimension of magic realism as we, and Beauty's father, enter the world of Mr. Lyon:

"The door behind him closed as silently as it had opened, yet this time, he felt no fear, although he knew by the pervasive atmosphere of a suspension of reality that he had entered a place of privilege where all the laws of the world he knew need not necessarily apply . . . "

Here is one more excerpt. It is the turning point that takes place when the father leaves the Beast's mansion:

"Great wreaths of snow now precariously curded the rose trees and, when he brushed against a stem on his way to the gate, a chill armful softly thudded to the ground to reveal, as if miraculously preserved beneath it, one last, single, perfect rose that might have been the last rose living in all the white winter, and of so intense yet delicate a fragrance it seemed to ring like a dulcimer on the frozen air.

How could his host, so mysterious, so kind, deny beauty her present?"

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This story was first published in 1979 in The Bloody Chamber, a collection of ten exceptional stories by Angela Carter. They were inspired by ten classic wonder tales, including Bluebeard, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty.

I have read several versions of the Beauty and the Beast story with detachment. In reading them, I didn't relate to the characters or the final transformation. In Carter's story all the character's, even the dog, came alive, and I cared about them. And for the first time, I was moved at the conclusion. Angela Carter was truly a gifted writer. 

The illustration of Beauty and Mr. Lyon is by Hazel Fisher, Deviant Art.
The Rose is from a BBC announcement.
The photo of Angela Carter (1988) is by John Mahler, Toronto Star.

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New Initiatives by Jack Zipes 

Jack Zipes  is still filled with energy, purpose, and commitment to make a positive difference. Here is the opening greeting from his new website: ZIPES

For years I have tried to intervene in politics through critical theory, work with university students and children, storytelling, theater, and artwork. Throughout all my projects, fairy tales have played a major role because they offer a utopian alternative to the deplorable real conditions of our times. Consequently, my website is my endeavor to share my work with readers interested in changing the world, that is, democratizing democracy and fostering social justice. Keywords in everything I have done and continue to do are — truth and hope in keeping with Herbert Marcuse’s concept of the Great Refusal. I believe we must all reject and resist the degradation of humanity, and so I’ll conclude my brief welcome with a call for all power to the imagination and compassion for all living creatures on this earth!

Zipes has a new publishing partner, Little Mole and Honey Bear  (https://www.littlemolehoneybear.com/); and two rediscovered, anti-fascist children's books: Keedle and Yussuf the Ostrich. Both books just launched through Minneapolis Bookstore, Magers and Quinn (https://www.magersandquinn.com/)

The above illustration is from Keedle. Here is an Excerpt about Keedle from Amazon: "In 1940, two young people decided to publish a strange book with the title Keedle to give Americans hope that the world can overcome dictatorships. To them, Keedle represented more than just Hitler. Indeed, Keedle represented all the dictators in the world then and now."

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Imagination

Though I personally will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.

J.K.Rowling Harvard Commencement Speech 2008

The photo of J.K. Rowling is by Deborah Hurford Brown

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Carterhaugh School Retellings.

Brittany and Sara, the imaginative ladies of the on-line Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic have continued to offer innovative workshops and seminars throughout the Corona era. I am on their mailing list and receive ongoing emails that are far-ranging and fascinating. A recent blog featured this headline: Cinnamon Rolls and Crystal Chokers: Six of Our Favorite Fairy -Tale Retellings. Here is the link to this diverse and imaginative blog post.

The photo is of Brittany and Sara.

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Movies and Animation

Netflix is now showing Studio Ghibli Films, including all of the wonderful films by the extraordinary Hayao Miyazaki. My Neighbor Totoro is a celebration of childhood, innocence, and wonder. This is a film of childhood and the imagination that stands alone. 

 

Independent Animation

Extraordinary animation is appearing from around the world. The techniques and subject matter vary with the many talented creators, giving us many wonderful moments. Below are three imaginative animated films.

The illustration is from the animated film Passage Des Oiseaux by Florence Miailhe

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Rhapsodie pour un Pot-au-feu (French beef stew)

A delightful, fun, imaginative, musical treat.

Centered around a crowded eccentric hungry family and a non-stop beef stew preparation

By Charlotte Cambon,  with Soizic Mouton, Stéphanie Mercier and Marion Roussel.

Link to Rhapsodie pour un Pot-au-feu Time 3 minutes

 

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French 79 - The Remedy

A fantasy of design and color

A boy visits an abandoned fairground

Created by Daniel Stanker  Album Joshua Out

Link to French 79 - The Remedy Time 4.20

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Selfish

An Animated Awakening

A Meaningful Surprise

Award Winner by Po Chien Chen

Link to the video: Selfish Time 2.27

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More Movies

Mulan .. War, Destruction, and Disney

The trailer seems to tell the story: Visually excellent, simplified version of an oft-told tale, dating back to the fourth to sixth centuries, with an awareness of today's feminism. Here is an excerpt from Manohla Dargis' review in the NY Times. "Set jointly in the Old World and in that newer mythic realm of happily-ever-after female empowerment, this live-action “Mulan,” directed by Niki Caro, is pretty much what happens when a legend meets Disney’s global bottom-line."

Link to the trailer: Mulan

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Children of the Sea 

Critics Consensus: "An animated adventure perhaps best appreciated as a visual experience, Children of the Sea is strikingly lovely if less than satisfying on a narrative level." -- RottenTomatoes

Link to trailer: Children of the Sea

 

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The Tortoise or the Hare book by Toni Morrison & Slade Morrison

This classic story has been retold many times since the days of Aesop. Toni and Slade Morrison add dimension and twists to the classic story with questions about the meaning of winning and losing. The book is fun to read and the illustrations by Joe Cepeda are wonderful, adding to the overall reading experience: Both of the main characters, Jimi Hare and Jamie Tortoise, are a delight for the reader if not for all their neighbors. Here is an excerpt describing Jamie Tortoise.:
"Everyone in the neighborhood avoided him.
Because he was so smart, they said he had no heart.
They called him 
   stuck-up show-off
   too rough, too soft,
   stupid know-it-all 
   selfish do-it-all. 
   so slick, too quick,
   a trick! A trick! 

  So Jamey studied alone."

The illustration of Jamie Tortoise is by Joe Cepeda.

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If You Go with Your Goat to Vote By Jennifer Altmann

Jan Zauzmer

“I wanted a way for grown-ups to talk about the election with their kids,” says Zauzmer, whose book is aimed at 2- to 5-year-olds. It’s never too early to foster excitement about participating in our democracy.

The book follows 13 animals and their offspring as they head to the polls, stand in line, enter the booth, cast a vote, and watch the returns come in. It also shows a duck casting his vote by mail. Included in the book are stickers that say “I Voted” and cute campaign slogans.

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Guion the Lion

Guion the Lion, by Rebecca Macsovits, is an imaginative, colorful, fun fantasy adventure for young children. It teaches tolerance in perception of others. And, it is a labor of love. The exuberant, playful illustrations are by Milena Kirkova. Here is an excerpt from their website:

"Rebecca Macsovits is a Colorado mother of three, including her oldest son, Guion, who happens to have Down syndrome. He inspired her to create the world of Guion the Lion, which shows readers that understanding those different from us doesn't have to be difficult; it just takes a little curiosity to begin a new adventure."

Rae, the Bushbaby, learns from Guion to use her imagination and see things in different ways as Guin takes them through a world of animals and fantasy.. Additional pages offer ideas for play including Story Questions, Scribble Games, and Spy in the clouds --  all to stimulate thoughts about perceptions and the way we see others.

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This Unicef video of Refugee Kids Gave Me Hope

Profiles of 4 refugee children who are all moving to reading and possibilities.

Unicef supports refugees in multiple ways

Here is the Link: Refugee Children  (2.07 minutes)

 

 

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PGI -- Paws Giving Independence 

PGI’s service dogs benefit individuals with spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, balance problems, and more. PGI is run exclusively on public donations and endowments.

PGI places its dogs free of charge. . . Most of PGI's dogs are rescued dogs. They are trained specifically for an individual's needs. The training process for each individual takes more than a year. The bonus is unconditional love.

PGI. . . Paws Giving Independence has been growing and helping people in need since 2008, over ten years!   
Congratulations to this wonderful non-profit, volunteer therapy service dog organization that began at Bradley College (Peoria, Illinois) with two dog-loving nursing students. The young girl in the photo is going home with her PGI dog, Monty. Here is the website link: PGI

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Saving a Dog...an excerpt from C.A. Wulff's blog, Up On The Woof 

"There is nothing more joyous and grateful than a dog who has been saved. Dogs don’t keep those sorts of feelings to themselves, they want to share them. That dog becomes the most loving, faithful companion you can imagine. He will protect his new family in times of danger and comfort them in times of sadness. He will teach the children in the family to love and respect animals. Maybe knowing him will inspire a child to grow up to be a vet, or a zoologist. The dog will bring hours of laughter and joy to his people. He will keep them healthier in body, mind and spirit..."

 C.A. Wulff is a dog rescuer, advocate, artist and author. Her books range from How To Change the World in Thirty Seconds  to her memoir, Circling the Waggins. She is also the creator of Yelodoggie. 

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Castle in the Mist -- the world of adventure and the human-canine connection.

"Do you think that it is possible for dogs to stop a war. . . I said in my review of McCarty's Planet of the Dogs (Volume I), 'Author Robert J. McCarty has created a charming fantasy-allegory that can be read and understood on at least two different levels. 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.' The same things are true as the story continues in Castle in the Mist. The book is well written and easy to read. It will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next, and, as with Volume I, leads to a satisfying conclusion."  Excerpted from a 5 Star Review Review By Wayne Walker in Stories for Children Magazine.

We have free reader copies of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians, teachers and independent bookstores. Email us with a postal address to [email protected] and we will send you the books. 

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

The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. 

The illustration is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

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"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world. the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog."-

Samuel Coleridge (Table-Talk 1830)

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September -- Alternate Reality, Fantasy, and Wonder Tales

                                                             Fantasy is everywhere

Another Reality

“You know very well you’re not real.”

“I am real!” said Alice, and began to cry.

“You won’t make yourself a bit realler by crying,” Tweedledee remarked: “there’s nothing to cry about.”

“If I wasn’t real,” Alice said—half laughing through her tears, it all seemed so ridiculous—“I shouldn’t be able to cry.”

“I hope you don’t suppose those are real tears?” Tweedledum interrupted in a tone of great contempt.

Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There -- Lewis Carroll

Illustration by John Tenniel

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Crossing Over -- The Threshold Between Reality and Fantasy

Children's books weave spells of enchantment so powerful that readers cross over into fantasy worlds as effortlessly as Lyra and Will vanish from Oxford and emerge in Cittagazze in Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife. Oz. Narnia, Wonderland, and Hogwarts all maintain their narrative coherence and become credible through the uncanny detail with which they are evoked. . .

Maria Tatar  -- Enchanted Hunters 

The illustration for Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is by Peter Bailey for the Folio Society.

 

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Another World

“He dared to do what men and women don't even dare to think. And look what he's done already: he's torn open the sky, he's opened the way to another world. Who else has ever done that? Who else could think of it?” ― Philip Pullman, The Subtle Knife

The illustration is by Dan French, Cosmicstories, Deviant Art

 

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Masters of Crossover Books

I remember the surprise on the part of journalists, publishers, and booksellers at the number of adult book buyers when Harry Potter (and later, Hunger Games) proved to be so very popular.  As Maria Tatar, in the excerpt above, and others over the years have recognized, this was not a new phenomenon. The sheer volume of sales was unprecedented, but not the fact that so many adult readers were involved. Actually, adult readers had been finding and reading wonder tales and fantasy since Gulliver landed in the land of the Lilliputians -- if not before.

The illustration of Hogwarts is by Jim Kay.

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Never Ending Crossover

In addition to Lewis Carroll's Alice as a leader in nineteenth century crossover, there was Tolkien with his alternate world of wizards, elves,and dragons. Consider the strong appeal of Andersen and his many worlds ranging from Frozen and Match Girls to Ugly Ducklings and naked Emperors. And today, this ongoing fascination of adult readers with Wonder tales and fantasy ranges from Ursula Le Guin to Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman. It is an integral part of the world of books and reading.

The excerpt below on YA books, from Publisher's Weekly was part of the book world response that began with the Harry Potter book explosion. It was published in September 2012.

 

The illustration of the Little Match Girl is by Liiga Klavina, Deviant Art.
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Adults Read YA Books

55% of YA (Young Adult) Books Readers are Older than 18: "More than half the consumers of books classified for young adults aren’t all that young. According to a new study, fully 55% of buyers of works that publishers designate for kids aged 12 to 17 -- known as YA books -- are 18 or older, with the largest segment aged 30 to 44, a group that alone accounted for 28% of YA sales. And adults aren’t just purchasing for others -- when asked about the intended recipient, they report that 78% of the time they are purchasing books for their own reading. The insights are courtesy of Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer in the Digital Age, an ongoing biannual study from Bowker Market Research that explores the changing nature of publishing for kids..."

Here's the link to read more of this article: publishersweekly

The illustration from the Philosopher's Stone is by Jim Kay.

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The Power of Love

“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves it's own mark. To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

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Andersen . . . Stories for Children and Adults Alike

 "Andersen combined humor, Christian sentiments, folklore, and original plots to form tales which amused and instructed old and young readers at the same time. More than any other writer of the 19th century, he fulfilled what Perrault had begun: to write tales such as 'The Ugly Duckling', 'The Little Mermaid', and the 'Princess and the Pea' which could be readily grasped by children and adults alike." 

 -- Jack Zipes... Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales

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Dream

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Langston Hughes

Photo by Robert W. Kelly/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Leena Krohn

"Leena Krohn, one of Finland's greatest writers, is the kind of  storyteller who rewires your brain.She forces you to adopt to her pace, her particular and unique ideas of urgency, and of characterization and plot . . .In her fiction, however, this philosophical quest is often entwined with the visceral -- her novels are not abstractions, but alive with details of character, and setting and situation that display a keen eye for observation of the world around her."

Jeff VanderMeer, Introduction to Leena Krohn: Collected Fiction

Photo credit: Kauppalehti.fi.

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Transported Me The Furthest

I also found myself hypnotized by Leena Krohn, a Finnish writer whose collected stories and novels, rendered into English by many different translators, have just been published as a single volume, “Leena Krohn: Collected Fiction.” Broadly speaking, Krohn is a speculative writer; one of the novels in the collection, for example, consists of thirty letters written from an insect city. (“It is summer and one can look at the flowers face to face.”) Krohn writes like a fantastical Lydia Davis, in short chapters the length of prose poems. Her characters often have a noirish toughness; one, explaining her approach to philosophy, says that when she asks an existential question, “life answers. It is generally a long and thorough answer. . . Looking back, I realize that my favorite books this year were those that drew me away from the ordinary social world and into very different spaces. I don’t know why that was the dominant theme, but I know that these books transported me the furthest. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker

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Tainaron

This is the opening paragraph of Leena Krohn's Tainaron. . . . "First letter: 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 photo by Katri Lassila is somewhere in Northern Finland.

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Cracking the Codes of Leena Krohn

This is the title of an insightful and enthusiastic New Yorker article by Peter Berbergal. In addition to reflections on Krohn's work, it contains interviews. Here is an excerpt from his fascinating article

“Leena Krohn: Collected Fiction,” published late last year by Cheeky Frawg Books. . .The collection is the most extensive English translation yet of work by the celebrated Finnish writer, who has been a finalist for the prestigious World Fantasy Award and is a winner of the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most important literary honor. The novels, novellas, excerpts, and short stories included in the Cheeky Frawg collection are not narratives in the traditional sense so much as a series of contextualized impressions. Plot is hard to come by. Instead, Krohn offers up the narrated inner lives of characters trying to make sense of their environments, and of the other people whom they encounter. Many of the works are set in cities, but the worlds that Krohn’s characters inhabit never feel concrete: everything is mediated through particular characters’ perceptions. The reader is left with the sense of having intruded on someone’s dream, in which symbols are revelations of intimate details.

The painting is by Andrea Kowch

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The Pelican's New Clothes -- A Children's Book

 

Leena Krohn writes about an intelligent pelican who wants to be human with all the accoutrements of city life. This is a wonderful children's book for YA and adults.

Adults see him and know him as the very well-dressed, well-spoken, Mr. Hendersen. Children see him as a pelican wearing clothes. His dream is to be human. After some time, he gets a job as a ticket taker and chorus singer at the Opera. He is particularly fond of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. 

His tutor and best friend is a early adolescent boy, Emil, who is also new to city life, his life having been recently uprooted when his parents divorced.

As a reader, following the Pelican's journey, I was seeing humanity and human customs through fresh, naive, eyes. The experiences of this outsider trying to become one of us, ranged from quite poignant to humorous.

Here is an excerpted early conversation on the occasion when Emil and the Pelican first meet and the Pelican asks how Emil ". . .'how you came to discover my' (here he hesitated for a moment) 'my origins?'

"Oh for goodness sake!" The boy was amazed. "There was no discovering about it. It's obvious."

"Not to humans," the bird argued. "Humans have such special eyes that they can't see anything with them except what they think they see. . . " Because I wear human clothes, I am human. That is the general consensus."

The Pelican and Emil have many experinces together and on their own. The Pelican has a thirst for knowledge and he loves the arts, especially, music. He is deeply disturbed, after he learns how to read, when he learns in the newspaper about war and human brutality.

Ultimately, he is discovered to be a bird, a pelican at that, and taken to a cage in the zoo. Emil, his loyal friend, helps him and there is a rather lovely ending.

Above, cover of Finnish edition.

Lower Illustration: The Pelican and Emil say goodbye in the movie by Magda Osinska.

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Movies, Video, and Independent Animation

Netflix and Amazon Plus are now showing Studio Ghibli Films, including all of the wonderful films by the extraordinary Hayao Miyazaki.

The image on the left is from the wonderful Kiki's Delivery Service.  The story and the animation are terrific. Like wonder tales, survival or winning in Miyazaki films depends on endurance, courage, and using your wits. And there is hope at the end. Here is a link to the delightful trailer: Kiki 

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Exceptional Independent Animation: Fantasy lives in many forms. Here are 3 totally different, outstanding, animated videos.

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Marie Curie

Meaningful, Excellent Animation, Important

150 Years Marie Curie's remarkable legacy in 2 minutes

An homage to a great scientist

Link: Marie Curie 2 minutes

 

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A Single Life

 

Pia travels through time through music

Charming and poignant multiple prize winner

Created by Job, Joris, and Marieke

Link to A Single Life 2.18 minutes

 

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Meanwhile

4 People trapped in memories

Brilliant and ominous 

Many Prizes, presented by Royal College of Art with support by Blinkink

Directed by Stephen McNally, Score by Adam Cullen

Link to Meanwhile 5.13 minutes

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The New Secret Garden Movie -- Mixed Reception

Disney releases the new movie on the Internet. Audiences rate it highly. Critics are mixed. 

I have read several mixed reviews of The Secret Garden after first being delighted by the promise of the trailer. There are several questions from reviewers about story revisions. However, there is great praise for Itxaso Moreno, who plays and reinvents the leading character, Mary Lennox. And the lush visuals of the land, the house, and the garden are well received and sometimes praised.. 

My own feeling is for a new young audience, seeing the film for the first time, plot and character digressions from the book that disturbed several critics are missing the point. Here are conclusions that do make sense to me, from a review by  Tomris Laffly writing in Roger Ebert : "The Secret Garden", as it always has, aims to open a gate for kids, a passage to a rejuvenating place that both validates and soothes adolescent fears too scary to handle unaccompanied. This essential version does exactly that when big minds trapped in little bodies might need it the most." 

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Niroz Is Remarkable

Niroz is a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who lives with her surviving family members in Domeez refugee camp in Kurdistan. Niroz appears in this 5 minute UNICEF video after one minute. She is unvanquished, articulate, very intelligent, and engaging. She likes her friends, school, and playing chess. Her dream is to become a cardiac surgeon. She is your guide to life in the camp. She is quite wonderful. This is an exceptional video.

Here is the YouTube video Link:  Niroz

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Compassion

“We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.” 
Albert Schweitzer,The Philosophy of Civilization, Quoted in Real Cool Dogs

 

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Ariel Wulff Update

Ariel Wulff is a dog enthusiast, dog owner and advocate, artist, and author of several dog books. She has also been illustrating a variety of delightful children's books for Tamira Ci Thayne, founder of Who Chains You Publishing. Here are excerpts from Wulff's blog, Up On The Woof, with information about this humane endeavor:

Tamira Ci Thane is the founder and former CEO of the humane organization Dogs Deserve Better. . . When she left DDB, Tami founded Who Chains You Publishing in order to publish books for and about animal lovers, activists and rescuers—in all genres from children’s to fiction to autobiographies. The mission of Who Chains You is to amplify the voices of the animals through the empowerment of animal lovers, activists, and rescuers who write books elevating the status of animals in society . . . At the deepest level, WCY books explore which chains humans must break within ourselves in order to free the animals. Here is a link to: Who Chains You Publishing  Cover by Ariel Wulff.

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 Fences for Fido - Unchained - One Dog at a Time - All Volunteer

"Fences for Fido is an award-winning, non-profit organization that builds donor-funded fences free of charge for families who keep their dogs on chains, tethers and in small enclosures. We also provide: A warm, insulated dog house; Spay/neuter services; Critical vet care."

During Corona Virus, a modified Fences for Fido carries on their work.

"We were able to work with all of our Client Outreach team members to list our highest-need cases. Using the smallest possible crew with safety measures in place, we were able to visit those dogs and: Set up temporary panel fences if needed; Schedule urgent veterinary care as needed; Deliver dog houses or food as needed.

AND MOST OF ALL, We're protecting OUR VOLUNTEERS: the most valuable part of this amazing, life-saving, kindness-spreading, hard-working machine we've created together.

Here is a link to a terrific video montage of Joyous Dogs after a visit from Fences for Fido.

The photo is of Fences For Fido Central Oregon Volunteers, taken before the Corona Virus.

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Planet of the Dogs Book Series

"Our story begins long, long ago, before there were dogs on Planet Earth.

There was plenty of space in those days for people to settle and grow things. . .There were clear lakes and cool streams with lots of fish. There were fields and woods with game to hunt. . . Many people settled in these places of abundance and prospered. . .

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. . .Their numbers began to grow and soon they were taking the homes, land, and farms where peaceful people lived. . . 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."

We have free reader copies of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians, teachers and independent bookstores. Email us with a postal address to [email protected] and we will send you the books. 

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

The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. 

The illustration of the Black Hawk Castle is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.

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Dogs

“Their lives are balancing acts between a humanized being and an older, wilder nature. Dogs are interstitial beings, not yet human, but no longer wolves. That is the unresolved paradox of doghood.” Leena Krohn

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