Me Too!

By Stella Williams Nathan

Illustrated by Jessica Zemsky

1962

This is a sweet little picture book about Annie, who is not quite two, and big sister Rhoda who is a whole three years old.  Annie wants to do everything big sister Rhoda does.  When Rhoda drinks milk from her very own cup, Annie wants to do it too.  But poor Annie ends up with milk all over herself and the table.  When Rhoda dances and twirls to some pretty music, Annie tries it too.  But alas, poor Annie ends up sprawled on the floor.  Fortunately, Rhoda is a helpful big sister, and when Annie can’t reach the pedals on the tricycle, she gets a nice gentle push from her sister.

I loved this book as a very young child.  I know this because when I was recently reunited with it after about forty years, I still remembered the illustrations clearly.  

I don’t recall ever feeling like Annie.  Perhaps I either didn’t care if I kept up with my older siblings, or I was too overwhelmed by their skills and abilities to try! 

What this book reminds me of is when my friend Karen and I were in grade school and one of our favorite after-school games was playing high school.  Basically, what playing high school consisted of was carrying stacks of heavy books around while pretending to move from one class to another.  Something told us that high school was going to be better than grade school, so we couldn’t wait to get there.  

Lesson for today:  Don’t try to grow up too fast – or don’t let your children grow up too fast.  Enjoy today for the gift that it is.  Tomorrow will come soon enough.

Pride and Prejudice

A Novel by Jane Austen

1813

Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorite books.  The copy I own is quite new, as it pictures Kiera Knightley on the cover.  I actually didn’t fall for this book until after watching the movie in which she plays Elizabeth Bennett.  When I was in my teens, I tried reading Jane Austen, but for some reason, just couldn’t get in to her.  After enjoying the Pride and Prejudice movie when it came out in 2005, I decided to give her a second chance, and I’m so glad I did!

The book was written over 200 years ago, which shows in the customs depicted.  Fortunately, today’s women have choices and opportunities that would be unthinkable in Jane Austen’s time.  Despite the culture change, so much about Pride and Prejudice is valid today, and lessons can still be learned from the relationships in the story.

 

One lesson I take from this book is to realize that another person cannot be expected to guess what I am feeling.  The relationship between Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley almost never happened because neither of them spoke up about their feelings for each other.  One can never assume that their feelings are understood unless they make an attempt to voice them. 

 

But the main lesson I take from it now is don’t judge too quickly – allow for a second chance.  If I had stuck with my original feelings of Austen’s writing and not given this book a second chance, I would have missed out on one of my favorite books!

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes

By Du Bose Heyward

Pictures by Marjorie Hack

Copyright 1939

Happy Easter!  Today many young children will be searching the grass for Easter Eggs, or finding baskets full of goodies in their homes.  They may think that one Easter Bunny has traveled the world delivering the baskets, but The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes teaches otherwise.

This book was ahead of its time.  It is a surprisingly feminist tale of a little brown girl bunny from the country who aspires to become one of the five Easter Bunnies that deliver eggs to children all around the world on Easter Day.  She shares her aspirations with other rabbits and is laughed at.  The big white bunnies with fine houses and fancy clothes and the jack rabbits with long legs try to set her in her place and tell her to go back to the country and eat a carrot.

Our little Country Bunny grows up, marries, and has 21 children.  Imagine how busy that rabbit was with 21 babies to take care of!  Her children are raised to be kind, responsible young rabbits who love and respect their mother.  They are taught to use their natural talents and abilities to help run the busy household and are quite self-sufficient.

One day, all rabbits are called to gather at the Palace of the Easter Eggs.  One of the Easter Rabbits is growing too old and slow so a replacement is needed.  The Country Bunny gathered her clan, thinking that she was just an old mother bunny now and wouldn’t be considered for the coveted job.  Wise Old Grandfather Bunny tested all those gathered, and in the end, is most impressed with the mother bunny’s qualities.  To the surprise of the other rabbits, the Country Bunny is chosen for the coveted position.

The rest of the book details the adventures and trials the Bunny faces as she delivers her first Easter Eggs.  It is not an easy job, but her strength and courage get her through the night.

A person’s worth is not based on wealth, social status, race, or gender.  You don’t have to be the biggest or the fastest.  You don’t have to be popular or charismatic.  You don’t have to be a man and you don’t have to be white.  Those who work hard and persevere and treat others with kindness will one day be rewarded.  Those are big lessons from a little children’s book!

Watership Down

A novel by Richard Adams

Copyright 1972

Watership Down is supposedly a children’s book, but it is one that contains lessons that adults, particularly those in leadership roles, should hear and take to heart.  I never read this book as a child, and I think I would have found it difficult to get through.  Sure, it’s about a band of rabbits looking for a new home.  That makes it sound like the premise of a children’s book.  The journey that this band of rabbits takes, though, is more difficult and dangerous than any of them expected.  It is the type of journey that brings out the best and the worst in everyone.  Leaders are formed, loyalties are tested, lives are lost, and friendships are formed.  

Although the rabbits take on some human traits, they remain mostly wild.  Unlike some literary animals, they don’t wear clothing, eat at tables, or bake pies.  They dig burrows, eat grass, and fear predators.

Fiver is small in stature, but is blessed (or is it cursed) with a second sight.  When he foresees the destruction of his warren and shares that information with Hazel, the two of them convince a small band of rabbits to leave in search of a safer home.  Hazel is not the biggest or strongest of rabbits and does not set out to lead, but along the way, he becomes their trusted guide.  The journey is rough and every step of the way, you see a team forming with each member looking out for the others.  They learn each others strengths and weaknesses, and with Hazel’s guidance, contribute all they can for the common good.  Some battles they face seem doomed to failure, yet each gives his all to the fight.  

The depth of this book makes it difficult to decide on one most important lesson, so if you haven’t read the book, or haven’t read it in years, I suggest giving it another read.  It is the type of book that will affect the reader in a different way with each reading.  

If I force myself to choose just one lesson from Watership Down, it is this:  Openness to new things and experiences is what keeps Hazel’s group alive.  Sometimes, you have to try an idea that is completely new and different, even though it sparks fear in your heart.