After finishing The Giver, I had to read this book. Once again, Lowery's ability to pull the reader into the story and not let go kept me up late and gave me too much to think about. The story is of a boy who lives in Village with an old man who is blind named Seer. The name a person has reflects his position in the community and young Matty is very anxious to recieve the name Messesnger soon. But something is happening in Village. Something bad. People are changing and so is Forest - the woods around Village through which all who come must travel. Matty must get through Forest one more time to spread important news and bring back Seer's daughter.
As I read this book, so many thoughts were swimming through my head - things on the periphery of my consciousness. I knew that Forest symbolized something, as did Village. I was just too caught up in the story to figure out what they all meant. Today I am trying to work through my thoughts.
Village had always been a welcoming safehaven for those coming from other places where they had suffered. Everyone was committed to guiding newcomers through their past experiences and fears and helping them find an honorable place in Village. I hope everyone has a place or memory of a place like Village. Where you are safe and welcome and wanted. Where your success is celebrated and respected. That is what Village was. Forest was the buffer between Village and all of the other places people came from. Forest offered paths to and from Village, but it did not let everyone through at all times. Some were "chewed up and spit out" by her. In Forest, those like Matty were comfortable and confident while others were overtaken by fear and doubt. Once doubt crept into the mind, everything in the woods appeared to be reaching for you. Fear changed the gentle woods into a dark, frightening place. This is so true in life. We go into a situation we are unsure of and our approach makes it what it will be. If we chose to go in confident, there is nothing we can't do. But if even a hint of doubt is present, the whole expectation is changed. In Forest, as in life, one small doubt is a breeding ground for dozens more. It doesn't take long for us to feel "chewed up and spit out".
There is so much more to this story, but for now, my musings must end here. I highly recommend this story to anyone else who liked The Giver. I am off to get the last in the trilogy!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
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Piggy Monday A Tale About Manners written and illustrated by Suzanne Bloom
Suzanne Bloom is fabulous. My preschoolers are big fans of her Is This the Bus For Us, Gus?. My family just got Piggy Monday A Tale About Manners and we love it! When I first looked at the cover, I thought it would scare my chidlren, 4 and 6. That they would be afraid of turning into pigs themselves. Quite the contrary.
The book begins with a class of children who are teasing, being rude, talking in class, etc. As their behavior deteriorates throughout the day, they begin growing pig snouts, hooves, and tails, until they are all little pigs. The Pig Lady comes to the rescue and reminds them of their manners. As they begin to use manners, their pig parts disappear and they become polite young children. By the end, they are all complementing each other, reminding each other of the proper way to say things and do things, and saying please and thank you.
The illustrations are fabulous inspiring fits of laughter from my children as the students tear apart the classroom and acquire one pig part at a time. The story is in verse which always attracts the attention of young listeners and the dedication, "to that sparkling class who inspired this tale" was a great topic of conversation afterwards - "Did this really happen?" "Are there really kids who don't have any manners?" "Kids can't turn into pigs!"
A few days after reading this book my children were arguing over some precious toy they both desperately needed at the same time and I looked in the doorway and said, "I see a pig tail ... and an ear!" My children stopped arguing immediately and started looking at each other for their pig parts. They rolled in a fit of laughter and actually apologized to each other without being told to!!!! It was terrific! Later that night my husband forgot to say please and my son was quick to say, "Be careful Daddy, you're going to get a pig tail." Humor is such a great way to remind children to make good choices, rather than getting angry or frustrated. The kids catch each other and because of the fabulous imagery from the illustrations, they can't help but laugh at the thought.
I'm so glad I did not judge this book by its cover.
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