She-Ra The Princess of Power

She-Ra, the Princess of Power
Mattel
1985

She-Ra Princess of Power is an animated spin-off of He-Man Masters of the Universe. It's based on the toyline produced by Mattel, who decided that He-Man was such a hit, why not create Princess of Power to counterbalance the show's popularity among young boys. Aimed at young girls, Princess of Power spawned a line of "fashion action figures." It's ingenious really. Meshing a "boys" action figure with the likes of Barbie seems like a formula for success, right? Well, yes and no. The action figures, as was the case for He-Man Masters of the Universe as well, outlasted the animated series.

She-Ra was first introduced in The Secret of the Sword, which eventually went on to become the first 5 episodes in the She-Ra series.

Known for her incredible strength, She-Ra was able to lift not only grown men and robots, but mountain like-rocks and buildings! She was the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of Adam (A.K.A He-Man) Having been stolen by the evil Hordak when she was a baby, Adora had no idea of her true identity until presented with the sword of Protection. Together, with the help of her newly found twin Adam, she aims to defend her home planet of Eternia from Hordak's evil grasp.

As a kid I was partial to Jem but I did sneak in a few episodes of She-Ra here and there. My brother had the Castle Greyskull and I used to use my Jem doll and pretend it was She-Ra. Good times!

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My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola

Happy Turkey Day Kiddos! What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year? The Husband, The Boog and I decided to celebrate Thanksgiving as a trio this year, forgoing all of the hustle and bustle that ensues for most families. So far so good! On that note, I thought I would share a Thanksgiving book from Mr. Tomie dePaola.



My First Thanksgiving Board Book
Written and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
1992

"This is the first Thanksgiving."

"The Pilgrims had a feast to thank God for their being together in their new home."



"Their friends came with food for the feast."

"We celebrate Thanksgiving every November.

We will eat turkey with stuffing,

cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes,

pumpkin pie, and mince pie for dinner."

"Just like the Pilgrims,

we give thanks for our food

and for our being together

on Thanksgiving."



Whatever it is you do for Thanksgiving, I hope it's spent with those you love best!

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Helga's Dowry: A Troll Love Story

Helga's Dowry: A Troll Love Story

Story and Pictures by Tomie dePaola

1977

Hey Kiddos! My last Tomie dePaola post was Strega Nona, which is about a magic pasta pot and the mayhem that ensues when it falls into the wrong hands. I have several Tomie dePaola books but none more charming than Strega Nona, that is, until I added Helga's Dowry to my collection. Helga, in particular, has charmed it's way from mommy's bookshelf onto the Boog's. Admittedly, I will pretty much buy anything with his name attached to it, making Mr. dePaola one of my most fave illustrators. (Number one on my list being the late Maurice Sendak) I have gotten quite good at spotting them on my thrifting excursions. Although, after laying eyes on one of his illustrations you will pretty much agree that his work is quite unmistakable.  

Helga is the loveliest troll in three parishes but, after being orphaned as a troll child, she was also the poorest. This became a problem for her when handsome Lars asks for her hand in marriage, for it is troll law that Helga must posess a dowry. With moonstruck eyes, Lars tells Helga he will go ask old Rich Sven for some advice.

Sven's Advice? Why, marry his daughter Plain Inge. With 30 Cows, 3 Chests of Gold and a mountain pasture, Plain Inge would make him the richest troll in the land! (with the exception of the troll king of course)

Upon hearing this news, Helga decides to take maters into her own hands! She writes Lars a note asking him to wait for her and she decides to go make her own fortune to supply herself with a suitable dowry.

"SOME PEOPLE ARE ARE LAZY, SOME PEOPLE VAIN,

SOME PEOPLE ARE GREEDY;

IT'S ALL HELGA'S GAIN!"

She goes into the Land of People and bargains her way into a dowry of 35 Cows, in exchange for laundry, 4 Chests of Gold in exchange for everlasting beauty and, after clearing out the timber, a Pasture of her very own!



Upon learning that Lars was not going to wait for her and had intentions of marrying Plain Inge in her stead, she dismisses him.....

Only to receive a purposal from the Troll King himself, who is no need of riches and certainly in need of a hard working Troll wife!

What is really funny about this story, is that the Troll King has been interested in Helga all along! You can see him hiding within most of the illustrations watching Helga hard at work.



Also By:
Strega Nona

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Obscure Scan Sunday

Sticks and Stones and Ice Cream Cones
By Phylis Fiarotta
1973

What are you all doing this weekend? This weekend we are getting Crafty! I have to say that the most craftiest person I know is my Mother (whom The Boog affectionately refers to as Oma) She inspired my siblings and I to be creative using any means possible. She inspired me to write, my two younger brothers to work with stage make up and play music and now she inspires The Boog to paint. These days I keep the tradition alive by exploring art in unconventional ways to get Boog's creative juices flowing.

This Obscure Scan Sunday is dedicated to creativity and my crafty mother :)









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The Sesame Street Storybook: The Magic Apple

The Sesame Street Storybook
The Magic Apple
Verse Adaptation by Albert G. Miller
Illustrated by Kelly Oechsli
1971

There was once a simple far boy, poor but honest as the dickens, and he worked from dawn to midnight, pitching hay and feeding chickens.

"I am poor and I am honest," said the farm boy, "but it's rough working every day till midnight pitching hay and other stuff."

Thought the poor but honest farm boy, as he leaned upon his rake,

"if I had one wish to wish for, There is only one I'd make. I would wish the trade this barnyard and this yucchy farm-boy life, for a dandy golden palace and a princess for a wife."

He was sound asleep one  morning underneath an apple tree, when he heard a great explosion that was loud as it could be. BOOM! A lady stood beside him, saying,

"Hello there, young fella. I'm your handy fairy god-ma, like the one in Cinderella."

Pointing upward in the tree, the fairy answered,

"If you pick that magic apple what you wish will come to be."

Then there came a loud explosion, and before her godson spoke, she had vanished very quickly in a cloud of purple smoke.

"I can't reach that magic apple," said the farm boy. "Not at all."

So he grabbed the tree ans shook it, but the apple wouldn't fall.

Then he got so tired from shaking that he tumbled in a heap underneath the magic apple, where he promptly fell asleep

Then his snoring shook the tree trunk from he bottom to the top and the rosy magic apple fell into his mouth- KER-PLOP!

"Glugga-mugga," said the farm boy."Argha-bargha, google-gapple."

But you couldn't understand him 'cause his mouth was full of apple.

To make a long story short, a king shows up and, as luck would have it, he had been looking fro a farm boy since the spring who possessed a magic apple. He invites the farm boy to move into his palace and marry his daughter. He even sweetens the pot by offering him his own apartment with a stove and running water! Well, how can the farm boy resist an offer like that?

The princess didn't look exactly like the princess of his dreams, but a small oversight compared to a life full of banana milkshakes and rubber duckies.

This was the first in the in a series of larger format anthologies known as The Sesame Street Storybooks.

Also By:

The Sesame Street 1,2,3 Storybook

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These Are Your Kids On Books Poster

Denver, Colorado non-for-profit literacy group, Burning Through Pages, has introduced a series of well designed posters designed to get parents and kids excited about reading. The poster, shown above, has received 10,710 likes and 9,389 shares on Facebook, since it's launch on April 24th.

"Burning Through Pages Inc. has one goal and one goal only:

To inspire a love of reading in today's youth by recommending, donating, and discussing books."

Reading time with The Boog is something that is extremely important to me. When I was a little girl, reading wasn't a priority in my household. It wasn't until my most favorite aunt enrolled me in an I Can Read Program that I became infatuated with books. I took my little tote full of books with me everywhere the entire summer! Television has all the components laid out for you, on the other hand, a book challenges you to make the story your own. These posters reflect that philosophy. :)

The posters can be purchase here.

Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More To Life

 

Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More To Life

Stories and Pictures by Maurice Sendak

1967

I watched a documentary, directed by Spike Jonze, entitled "Tell Them Anything You Want" in which Sendak divulges an obsession with death stemming from early experiences with the Holocaust, the Depression and his exposure to images of the Lindberg baby. The latter of which inspired the writing of this book and features his actual Sealyham Terrier, Jennie. It was made into a Motion Picture starring Meryl Streep as the voice of Jennie.

The beginning of this book opens on the life of Jennie. Jennie is no ordinary dog. She is destined for greater things. She just doesn't know what she seeks.....

The images above are essentially the first part of the story. As you can see the Baby meets a terrible demise by the hands of the lion..... Jennie travels on and stars in a play loosely based on her exploits... I don't want to give too much away, you'll have to dig up a copy and experience the story first hand. All I can say for certain is this, this book is on the existential side.

THE END

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