MAKE WAY FOR THESE SPRINGTIME DUCKLINGS!

When talk of Springtime and Easter Eggs comes up, children usually think of bunnies and baby chicks.  (Or, if you've read any of my recommended Ukrainian Pysanka books, a goose might come to mind.)  But let's not leave out the ducklings - here are three timeless tales...

The Golden Egg Book, by Margaret Wise Brown, with illustrations by Leonard Weisgard. (ages 2-6)

Once there was a little bunny. He was all alone. One day he found an egg. He could hear something moving inside the egg. What was it?

This "golden oldie" (1947) is a perfect read aloud for little ones, who will have fun trying to guess "what's inside":  An elephant? A mouse?  It ends up being a friend for the bunny: a little duck!

The charming vintage illustrations are a perfect pair with Margaret Wise Brown's classic and simple story.

Another classic springtime "duck tale" is The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875). Look for this adaptation, with old fashioned, warm watercolors by author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney (ages 4-8).  William Kilpatrick (Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories) says, "...to admit that it takes time for a child to grow into his or her true identity is far from cruel.  All children instinctively know that, before true maturity can be achieved, they must undergo some kind of rite of passage.  That is why most fairy tales deal with the theme of transformation and suffering...the ugly duckling must endure loneliness and rejection before he can grow up to be a beautiful white swan.  That is why the great child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim has called fairy tales 'wishes in disguise'."

Another endearing story (1941) is Make Way for Ducklings, written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey (for ages 4-8). This gently told tale of a father and mother duck, searching for a safe home (in the big city of Boston) to bring up their Mallard ducklings, is bound to connect with your child. I remember my own kids repeating all the ducklings' names with me:  "Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack".

Lots of landmarks in Boston are shown, often from a flying duck's-eye view. When we traveled with our children to Boston years ago, we went to Boston's Public Gardens and saw bronze statues of Mother Mallard and the 8 ducklings, as well as the Swan Boats mentioned in the book! (yes, you can still ride in them.)

What about baby geese?  You can read about all the "Gossie" books, by Olivier Dunrea, in my past post HERE. "Gossie is a gosling. A small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots. Every day."  Fun for Springtime reading as well!

LAUREN CHILD, POST #3

her book collaborations with photographer Polly Borland...

Austrailian born Polly Borland, an award winning and widely acclaimed photographer, is one of the few people to have been allowed into Buckingham Palace to photograph the Queen.  Her beautiful work is a perfect compliment to Lauren Child's unique artwork and storytelling.

The finished product of their first collaboration was a stunningly original and fresh interpretation of a classic Hans Christian Anderson tale,  THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA (2006)

...REAL Princesses do not grow on trees.  You have to WAIT for one to come to you.  And if one DOES, you have to discover if she is a REAL Princess.

The queen having the servants ready the bed ready with 12 feather mattresses...
and one "small pea-green garden pea".

The photographs are of Child's miniature modeled scenes, which look like diorama theatre sets.  It's like stepping into a world of paper dolls dressed in intricately patterned costumes, positioned in delightfully furnished rooms of a royal dollhouse mansion! Girls of all ages (and maybe their aspiring Princes-to-be sibling brothers) will love this book.

The prince: "a nice boy and not unpleasant to look at--in fact, handsome--not TOO
handsome, just handsome enough."  

The Prince tells his parents,  "She must be more mesmerizing than the moon and I must find her more
fascinating than all the stars in the sky. And there must be a certain…something about her."

Child's and Borland's second team effort was GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS (2009).  

When you open this book you enter an enchanting forest with a charming cottage, captured beautifully by Polly Borland's photography. Emily Jenkins was the set designer...The sets for the book took over a year to make. The doll-sized cottage, complete with winding staircase, is in reality about a metre tall. Real turf was grown for the roof. Special wallpaper and fabrics were designed and printed, featuring woodland motifs. Exquisite miniature furniture, including the three bears' beds, chairs and porridge bowls, were carved, crafted and painted by Emily and her team of designers. Tiny slippers were sewn, cushions stuffed and bed linen edged and folded. The tiny spoons were carved specially – even the porridge is real!

And there's a twist to Lauren Child's retelling.  It has to do with red shoes. Goldilocks' mother tells her:

"Remember these three things.Do not stray from the path

Be back in time for breakfast

and whatever you do - make sure you look after your little red shoes"

Isn't the BABY BEAR cute???

The Goldilocks doll, Mother and Father Bear, and Baby Bear were created by world-famous doll maker, R. Joan Wright .