The Twiddlebugs' Dream House

The Twiddlebugs' Dream House

Story by Pat Tornborg

Photographs by Alan Gelman

Miniatures by Pat Tornborg and Alan Gelman

1983

The most magical thing about Sesame Street are the Muppets! Sure, that's fairly obvious, but just once in awhile Jim Henson takes it a step further. The world of the Twiddlebugs is a great example of taking "an ordinary Muppet" to the next level by creating an already imaginary world and putting another within it! Every Muppet has it's own unique story, but none more fantastical than Ernie's resident insects, the Twiddlebugs.

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats

Peter in The Snowy Day

Written and Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

1962

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats is the first major exhibition in this country to pay homage to Award Winning Author and Illustrator, Ezra Jack Keats. Coincidentally, The Snowy Day featured the first modern African-American protagonist to be illustrated in a full-color picture book. At the date of it's publication, in 1962, America was experiencing the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the book was a catalyst for change in the Children's Picture Book Industry. Needless to say, Peter has become an inspiration for generations of readers, The Boog being one of them.

The inspiration for Peter goes much deeper than the writer/illustrator is credited for. The Ethnicity of Peter takes a back seat as Keats literally paints a modern community right before your eyes. Growing up in the inner city myself, I have always related to the work of Keats in a very visceral way. His books touch upon life through the eyes of a child; a child that lives in uncertainty, but views their surroundings with conviction. His use of urban settings is not surprising, as he himself grew up in Brooklyn.

Being one of our favorites, I have written about Peter before (here). Gladly, he remains a constant bedtime staple in our story book circulation.

The Exhibit, curated by The Jewish Museum, is currently at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. and runs June 26 - October 14th 2012.

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats Preview here.

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Are You A Country Mouse Or A City Mouse?

The Hubby and I are definitely City Mice.... but this past week we decided to surround ourselves with country-like surroundings at a local farm. . . . .

 

We took a trip to Lamb's Farm this past week and schmoozed with the animals, visited their antique market and rode the carousel about a million and one times! Great fun was had by all, but mommy was happy to be home after such a long hot day spent in the sun.

As a tribute to our fun on the farm, I'd like to share a past post from the GooGooGallery's Archives:

Best Stories Ever
The Country Mouse and The City Mouse
Richard Scarry
1971
 

Earlier in the year I picked up a Little Golden book copy of The Country Mouse and The City Mouse along with two other short tales which include The Fox and The Crow and The Dog and His Bone. All three stories happen to be in the Best Story Book Ever as told by Patricia Scarry (who is not credited in the Best Story Book version) and of course illustrated by the wonderful Richard Scarry. Unfortunately, I don't think its in print any longer. I may be wrong, but after a quick look on Amazon I didn't see any new copies available. Anyhoo, we all know the story so I'll spare you the details and go straight to the illustrations, my favorite of which involves a cat!






Enjoy your Weekend Kiddos!

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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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If You Were Born a Kitten

If You Were Born a Kitten
By Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by JoEllen McAllister Stammen
1997

A very quaint book for a nature loving child. The Boog loves nature and science books at the moment so I thought I'd take advantage of the sunny weather and post from outside today. Don't let the cover fool you, this features several mommy and baby pairings.... Enjoy!

The End

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