Happy Father's Day

As as become my special tradition, I'd like to send out into the interwebs a special Father's Day blessing for all the men in my life.  And a special one on this blog to a dear old friend, who is no longer with us, and who I miss terribly.  I hope that you know how much I miss you, OF.

The Children's Library Tall Tales series

One of the benefits of this summer reading challenge is that it encourages me to check out books that I would never have stumbled upon before.  And that certainly was the case wtih this cute little series of tall tales by The Child's World.  I was just getting settled into my routine following Kilbronson's departure when Ahmed burst into the library and dumped this stack onto my desk.  I didn't realize it at the time, but he had brought me a series of little treasures.

Each book features a different "larger than life" figure from the tall tales, some who were real (although exaggerated) and some who were not.  As far as I can tell, the series contains eight volumes:

• Alfred Bulltop Stormalong
• Calamity Jane
• Casey Jones
• John Henry
• Johnny Appleseed
• Molly Pitcher
• Paul Bunyan
• Pecos Bill

And I read them all in one or two afternoons.  I had heard of all these characters before (with the exception of Molly Pitcher who was completely new to me).  I had also heard of Casey Jones and Calamity Jane, but I couldn't tell you a thing about them (until I read their books, that is!)  All in all, the series was delightful, and I think they are a great introduction for children.  

The Hodgepodge Book (Duncan Emerich)

Like Flapdoodle, this is one of my all-time favorite childhood reads!  I have read The Hodgepodge Book so many times!  As a child, I thought I had found a real goldmine--a book that not only had a ton of fun games, riddles, pranks, and jokes, but also "real world" advice, such as how to send secret messages to your sweetheart (using postage stamps), how to cure a stye (with the tail of a black cat), or even how to get rid of warts (by leaving them at the crossroads).  I suppose it's a good thing that I never had the opportunity to test some of these things out!

I was thrilled to pieces when Ahmed pulled this title out of my shelves.  With Kilbronson on to bigger and better adventures, it was nice to have a comforting read to keep my mind off things.  It also helped that this was a book that I hadn't read in years, even though I had bought it less than a decade ago.

I get the impression that children today would not appreciate a book like this.  With the internet putting a world's worth of knowledge at our fingertips, what use have we for an almanac of sorts?  Still, I can't help but smile whenever I read this, and I think in the hands of the right child, this book could be a real boon.

I mean, look at me.  I might not have had a smartphone or been glued to my computer screen (not like today, anyway), but I was absolutely flabbergasted by the wealth of knowledge and folklore found here.  It's just a darn fun book.

The Camping Trip that Changed America (Barb Rosenstock)

As Kilbronson and Ahmed gathered books for me to read for this year's summer reading selection, we had decided that we'd go on an adventure together, out into the American wilds, looking for new books to read.  But, I got sick, coming down with an early summer cold, and was confined to my rooms until further notice.

As Kilbronson and Ahmed brought me my latest book, a truly enjoyable picture book featuring the real-life meeting between Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, they offered their suggested plan: Since I was unable to go out, Kilbronson, who always fancied himself something of an explorer, would go in my stead, sending back books for me until I was well enough to join him.  Meanwhile, Ahmed would stay behind, as both my librarian and nursemaid, digging into my extensive personal collection for anything that might fit into the theme while I rested.  It seemed like a lovely idea.  And so, Kilbronson met up with a fur trader named DéFago and went off into the wilderness alone.

Ahmed and I, meanwhile, enjoyed Barb Rosenstock's wonderful book together.

Now, I've always been a fan of Theodore Roosevelt.  The man was larger than life and always looks so happy.  If I could meet any president and shake his hand, it would have been Teddy.  And reading about his love of the outdoors and how he created the national parks system only makes me love him more.

I've actually read this book before (this was my third time) and each reading has been a treat.  The story is that Roosevelt read a book by naturalist John Muir, and was so stirred by Muir's call to action that he wrote to him and asked for a camping excursion together.  The two had a wonderful time, and Muir taught Roosevelt (who was already an outdoorsman) all he needed to know about the beautiful wilderness that was currently in danger.  So, they established the national parks system.  It's a really cool read, beautifully illustrated, and a lot of fun.  My favorite part is when Roosevelt and Muir enjoy a campfire conversation before bed, and Muir shares how he attempted to scare off a bear.  No one gets hurt, but someone is certainly embarrassed.  It was a fun anecdote.

I'm asking Ahmed to find me some more books by John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt while we wait to see what Kilbronson will send back on his travels.

Tall Tales from Texas Cow Camps (Mody Coggin Boatright)

 

The best part about my Summer Reading Challenge is that it introduces me to titles that I would never have picked up otherwise.  Case in point, this little book: Tall Tales from Texas Cow Camps by Mody C. Boatright.  I found this by chance, searching for "tall tales" on Project Gutenberg.

The book is actually a collection of short stories. Each follows a team of cowhands, Joe, Red, Hank, and their greenhorn companion, Lanky.  Each night, as the group settles in for a well-deserved rest, Joe, Red, or Hank will start in with some sort of anecdote or interesting story, and the other two will attempt to outdo him with increasingly outlandish tales, all presented as though they were God's own truth.  Lanky, probably not much more than a boy himself, is a perfect stand-in for the reader, and we're all drawn deeper and deeper into crazy fun tales, like what happened to a man who had a rattlesnake bite his wooden leg, and of course, the wild tales of Pecos Bill.  

If you're looking for these sorts of stories (tall tales, really) or something featuring cowboys, the west, and good masculine fun, then this is a book that I'd certainly recommend.  It was a real quick read, too, and a lot of fun to sink my teeth into.  

Flapdoodle: Pure Nonsense From American Folklore (Alvin Schwartz)

We're starting our summer reading at the start of May this year, instead of waiting until Memorial Day, and I'm excited to announce our first read: Flapdoodle: Pure Nonsense from American Folklore by Alvin Schwartz.  This charming little book is one of my all-time favorites and has been since I was a little kid.

As a child, the folklore section of my local library was always my favorite place to be, and Flapdoodle was one of a handful of books that would check out again, and again, and again.  In fact, I used to fantasize that the librarian would stop me one day and say "You've checked this book out so many times.  You must love it!  Why don't you keep it?  It deserves a good home."  I'll be honest, I sometimes think that I was the only one keeping that book in circulation after a while.   But, it worked out well for me in the end.  I bought a copy online and not only was it in excellent condition, but it was signed by the author--something that was not communicated to me when I purchased it!  Imagine my surprise and delight when I first cracked open those covers and found Mr. Schwartz's John Hancock on the cover page!

Flapdoodle is a genuinely fun book full of poems, riddles, games, and funny stories.  And while I understand that modern children might not find it quite as clever as I did (considering that it doesn't have fart and butt jokes and TikTok trends), I still think it's well-worth a read.  I still recall showing it to a couple of my classmates that I ran into at the library, and the strange looks they gave me.  It was at that moment that I realized that while this book was certainly a hidden gem that I was very lucky to have found, it wasn't the sort of book that the average 6th grader was going to be chomping at the bit to read.  Which is a pity, since it's hilarious!

Announcing Summer Reading 2024!

"We have an idea for your summer reading theme!" Ahmed and Kilbronson say, nearly tripping over each other in their attempt to get to me first.  I look up from my Murdle game with what I can only describe as mild apprehension.

"You do."

They nod enthusiastically, and Ahmed spreads his hands, palms out, like he's drawing a rainbow: "Americana!"

"Americana?"

"Yes!" adds Kilbronson.  "Specifically the wild, untamed Americana!  The open plains!"

"Cowboys!"

"Teddy Roosevelt!"

"Bigfoot!"

"Little House on the Prairie!"

I close my laptop with a sigh.  I'm not going to finish my Murdle anytime soon.  "Well, it certainly sounds like you put a lot of thought into this," I say, slowly.  "And I'll be honest, I've been wanting to read more about Teddy Roosevelt..."

They nod in tandem.  Their smiles could not have been broader.

"Well, okay then," I say.  "Let's do it.  We have just over a month.  Let's get some books!"