Having a baby can be a daunting experience. Apart from the realization that you are now in charge of keeping a human alive, you soon come to realize that although they are tiny, they are expensive and they require a lot of things.
In an effort to be thrifty, my husband and I decided to use an old cube shelf he had from when he lived with his parents. His parents still had it in their home and they had no use for it, so they were more than happy to pass it on to us.
As a child, I loved pretend play. I loved imagining myself traveling to fantastical worlds that existed in my imagination or in the books I read and movies I saw. There was nothing more magical than having a large cardboard box and turning it into my retreat, where I could conjure up more fantasies. I decided I would share my love of cardboard houses with my son, but adding my own twist to it of course.
When I had my son, Sebastián, over a-year-and-a-half ago now, like many parents, I decided I wanted him to have toys that would stimulate him intellectually. I wanted toys that were imaginative and ideal for a curious baby. While doing research, I stumbled upon these wonderfully inventive toys known as busy boards.
My selection for originality in writing this week was Tomi Ungerer‘s “Otto The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear“. The book tells the story of a little bear that is given as a birthday gift to a young boy. His life starts out great, he spends all of his time with David (the boy who owns him) and his best friend Oskar. Their happiness does not last however, Oskar and his family are taken away in trucks, along with the rest of the Jewish families. David gifts Otto to Oskar. In the process of the war, Oskar loses Otto. Otto is found by an American soldier who uses him as a shield, when a bullet almost strikes his heart. Eventually Otto ends up in America where he miraculously is reunited with Oskar and David.
I decided to select one book this week for originality in illustration and writing – The Mighty Lalouche. The book is written by Matthew Olshan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It tells the story of a postman named Lalouche who loves working as a postman. Unfortunately, one day his boss tells him they are going to have to let him go. Lalouche is devastated, because he loved his job. However, he has to figure out how to make money. He sees a boxing poster advertising the need for people with all the abilities he possesses (he is fast, nimble, and strong). He decides to try his hand at boxing (even though he is very small and thin). He ends up beating some of the biggest and strongest boxers. However, in spite of all his boxing trophies, he misses his old job. Eventually he receives a call from his old boss and he gets his job back as a postman. Once more, Lalouche is happy and feels fulfilled.
Summary – Tells the story of a little girl who feels neglected and lonely. She finds a magic red color and draws a door in her bedroom which leads to a magical world. She takes her crayon along and uses it to draw modes of transportation (a boat, hot air balloon, and a magic carpet). The adventures she goes on are amazing. Eventually it leads her to a new friend and a life that is much less lonely.
Summary – This story tells the origin of how Winnie the Pooh came to be. A veterinarian named Harry Colebourn bought a cub on his way to help take care of horses during World War I. They develop a lifelong friendship. Eventually, Harry realizes that in order to keep Winnie safe, he can’t take her along with him anymore and he decides to take her to the London Zoo. Winnie is visited by Christopher Robin at the zoo and eventually they too become great friends. His father, Alan Alexander Milne, wrote about the adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.
Summary – The book tells the story of the a young boy named Lewis Michaux Jr. and his father, Lewis Michaux Sr. Lewis Michaux Sr. is the owner of the National Memorial African Bookstore. It is a bookstore that he worked hard to make a reality. He started the bookstore in order to get black people to read and talk about things that mattered; however, the bookstore was open to anyone and everyone. Lewis Michaux Sr. wanted to create a space where different people could come together and learn. The bookstore became a place where people from all walks of life came, including celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Malcom X. It is a beautiful story about a father who is passionate about books and about sharing his passion with others. He encourages his son to read, learn, and to ask questions. The story is more touching because it is told from the son’s perspective – the love and respect he has for his father is beautiful.
This week’s selection for originality in writing was Spork by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. The author tells the story of a little spork who, although loved by his mother (a spoon) and his father (a fork), he does not quite fit in with any of the other kitchen utensils. To make matters worse, he is hardly ever used or allowed to participate in the humans’ dining experiences. Although he makes many attempts to change his appearance in order to fit in, he realizes he can’t change the essence of who he is or where he comes from. Eventually, the home where he lives, gets a new family member, who finds great use for a spork.
author, illustrator, Cut-Paper-artist 