Nobody Listens to Andrew

By Elizabeth Guilfoile

Illustrated by Mary Stevens

Several weeks ago, as I was lying in bed during the very early morning hours, unable to sleep, the memory of this book popped into my head.  I hadn’t laid eyes on the book in many years, yet I still remembered some of the illustrations and a few of the lines.  Once the sun started to rise, I finally got up and fortunately a quick internet search led me to a copy of Nobody Listens to Andrew on Amazon Used Books. 

 

We probably had this book around the house when I was growing up because one of my brother’s names is Andrew.  My mother, a life-long bibliophile, liked to find books with main characters that shared a name with one of her children.  (It wasn’t until I was in high school that she found The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole!)

Nobody Listens to Andrew is a beginning reader with a short, simple text.  A little boy is desperately trying to tell his family and neighbors something very important, but everyone is too busy to listen.  Daddy needs to cut the grass, Ruthy wants to go roller skating before dark, Bobby says, “Don’t bother me, Andrew”, because he’s too busy looking for his bat and ball.  

Eventually, Andrew becomes louder and more insistent.  When the others finally stop to listen, they discover that Andrew did have something very important to say.  There was a bear in his bed!  

After resolving the bear situation, Daddy says, “Next time, we will listen to Andrew.”

A modern version of this book would have Daddy working at his computer, Ruthy texting her friends, and Bobby playing video games.  Mother would be too busy on Facebook and Mr. Neighbor wouldn’t hear him because he would be listening to his Ipod.  

Often, I’ve noticed that parents out in public are paying attention to their cell phones rather than the conversation and cries of their young children.  How often could the phone calls or texts have waited until another time?  

Just like all of us, children want to be heard.  To acknowledge a child with the gift of attentive conversation is a gift that will last their lifetime. 

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

First published in Holland in 1947

Few people have not heard of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who kept a diary that chronicles her experiences and emotions while hiding from the Nazis.  We know that she and those she was hiding with were eventually found and almost all, including Anne, died in the concentration camps.  Anne’s father survived, returned to the building where they had been hiding, and found Anne’s diary among the debris on the floor.

Anne is known for her positive attitude in the face of fear.  She wrote of her belief in the fundamental goodness of man and the triumph of the human spirit.  It is difficult to comprehend the strength and bravery of such a young person confronted with the atrocities of war.

How can we ever understand the impact of war on children?

This book came to mind when I read a news story of a 14 year old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafza, who was recently shot by the Taliban because she spoke out against them.  This young girl was on their hit list.  Since the age of 11, when the Taliban shut the girls' schools in her region and began imposing harsh laws, Malala has written for the BBC, speaking out for peace.  As I’m writing this, she is fighting for her life.  

Reading about Anne Frank and what happened in the past is upsetting, but even more upsetting is the fact that these horrors are still happening and children are still living them.

I find inspiration and some comfort in Anne’s words.  If she could find the beauty in life, surely we all can.

Abel’s Island

By William Steig

Copyright 1976

A Newbery Honor Book

Abel lives a life of leisure, never having worked a day in his life.  He and his wife Amanda drink champagne and eat caviar and dress luxuriously in their fine home all thanks to Abel’s mother’s money.

Oh, and Abel is a mouse. 

One fine morning, Abel and Amanda decide to have a picnic in the park.  Unfortunately, the weather makes a quick turn for the worse.  Valiantly, when his wife’s silk scarf blows away in a terrible storm, Abel tries to rescue it.  His efforts lead him to be stranded on a deserted island, with no way to contact his friends or family.  

The trials and challenges Abel faces are numerous.  He needs to find and store food, build shelter, fight off an owl, keep warm, and try to find a way off his island.  

Adversity and independence have a way of strengthening a person (or mouse) beyond his imagination.  Faced with the challenge of survival, Abel somehow finds the courage and resourcefulness to carry on.  In the process, he discovers skills and talents he never would have had he remained in his leisurely life.  

To find out if Abel ever sees his dear wife again, check out Abel’s Island at your local library!

The Food Garden

Written by Edna Blair and illustrated by Laurence Blair

Copyright 1943

You might think it’s too early to start planning for next year’s garden, but I am already arranging our future crops in my mind and on paper.  For various reasons, we decided not to have much of a vegetable garden this year.  At the same time, I’ve come to a greater realization of the health and amazing taste of fresh from the earth produce. 

Previously, I’ve purchased peaches from the store and tried to serve them to my daughters.  Neither of them cared for the taste or texture.  Then, early this August while in West Virginia, they were able to enjoy peaches straight from the tree.  I think it was weeks before my youngest daughter stopped talking about and dreaming of peaches.  In fact, when she reads this post, she’ll probably start salivating over the warm, juicy, fresh from the tree peach she first tasted recently. 

Personally, I can’t bear to eat a tomato that is purchased at the grocery store – especially in the winter.  Only a tomato that has been vine-ripened and recently picked actually tastes like a tomato.  The rest must be made from some sort of plastic.

This book, published in 1943, details the basics of growing your own food in a clear and concise way.  Black and white illustrations throughout detail methods of transplanting, staking, and composting and also depict the pests that may attack your harvest. 

The original purpose of this book was for those inexperienced citizens who wanted to aid the war effort by growing their own Victory Garden.  Some quotes from the foreword, though, are still so true today.

“Authorities in the field of nutrition and experts in the United States 

Department of Agriculture tell us that for years the people of this country,

 notwithstanding its wealth and resources, have not been getting 

enough of the right kinds of food.”

“Finally, to many who have not had a food garden before, will come

 the real delight of eating fruits and vegetables as they are picked 

– fresh, crisp and delectable, instead of bruised by many handlings,

 wilted by the sun during long journeys to market, and with much of their

 natural goodness lost before they finally reach the family table.”

 There is nothing like enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the earth.  I can’t wait until next year!

A garden at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia