A Quirky Fable by Aldous Huxley

Today I'd like to share with you the book The Crows of Pearblossom by Aldous Huxley, who died on this day in 1963 (July 26, 1894 - November 22, 1963).  Yes, the famous English essayist, critic, and novelist - author of Brave New World - wrote a children's book!
  

Illustrations by Sophie Blackall

Huxley, born in England and educated at Balliol College, relocated to Southern California with his family in 1937.  He wrote The Crows of Pearblossom for his niece, Olivia, in 1944 as a Christmas gift.  In 1967 it was published in a small-format edition chapter book (now of of print) illustrated by Barbara Cooney.

The quirky tale is about how two silly crows - with the help of a wise owl - outsmart a sneaky snake who's been devouring their eggs.  This is a story about cleverness triumphing over greed.

I recently ordered the 2011 edition because I was so intrigued that Huxley wrote a children's book - and because I couldn't resist Sophie Blackall's (Ruby's Wish) wonderful illustrations!  Happily, I was not disappointed.

You can read a great overview and history of this chapter book transformed to picture book, HERE.

Red Envelopes - and a Wish - for Chinese New Year!

"Gung hei fat choi!"

That’s the traditional Mandarin greeting many will say today - "wishing you prosperity" - to mark the beginning of Chinese New Year.  This important Chinese festival, also known as "Spring Festival", marks the start of new life and the season of ploughing and sowing. The holiday is traditionally linked to honoring the household, heavenly gods, and ancestors.

Today I have a fun book about how a little girl's wish conflicts with traditional Chinese customs and culture:  Ruby's Wish, by Shirin Yim Bridges. The story was inspired by the author's grandmother!

Ruby is a determined little girl who loves the color red.  She also loves to learn, and wants to go to the university like her brothers.  Finally one New Year's Day, Ruby gets something very special in a red envelope from her grandfather. You'll love Sophie Blackall's bright illustrations (like the Ruby in the book, her favorite color is red).

In Ruby's Wish, we learn about the Lantern Festival that is held at the end of the Chinese New Year celebration (traditional Chinese New Year is a two-week holiday divided into two parts. The first week is designated time to spend with family and friends. The second week involves traditions designed to bring good luck. The festivities end with a Lantern Festival.)  Click HERE for a wonderful Chinese New Year craft source, which includes the paper lanterns pictured below.

source

Before the holiday begins, families tend to clean their homes, but throughout the holiday, dust brushes and brooms are hidden so that good luck won't be swept away. Typically, the holiday begins on New Year’s Eve, when families gather for a large traditional meal in which regional foods are served. At midnight, fireworks are set off to “frighten” evil spirits. Red is a common color for the holiday because it symbolizes fire, which wards off evil.

The holiday itself is usually spent with relatives, shopping, watching fireworks and, in some cases, a religious ceremony honoring heaven, earth, and other deities. Other traditions include stuffing red envelopes (like the one Ruby gets) with money and candy and placing them under children's pillows, to open on New Year’s Day. [source]

You can read my past posts about Chinese New Year (with more book recommendations!) here.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2014 is the "Year of the Horse".  For my posts about horse books your kids will love, go here.

ARE YOU READY FOR FALL?

"Autumn has caught us in our summer wear." 
- Philip Larkin, British poet (1922-1986)

Here in sunny Southern California, there are not yet many signs of the coming fall, but I have seen a growing number of black crows, getting ready for the pecans to fall from my backyard neighbor's huge tree.  And of course, Halloween merchandise is showing up everywhere.

Cover illustration for by Randolph Caldecott's Sing a Song for Sixpence (1880) - public domain.

This Saturday, September 22, marks the First Day of Autumn.  I noticed this shocking fact when I opened my pocket datebook yesterday, with the approaching equinox staring me in the face (equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator.)

When our kids were growing up, we liked to celebrate fall and fun on Halloween, without too much fright.  I've heard many families express the same desire, so I'm constantly on the look-out for fun versus frightening Halloween ideas for my blog (click HERE to see some of my past pumpkin posts).  This year, I'm really liking black birds, versus bats (stay tuned for a fun party idea coming up in October!)

Birds on a wire? Find these cute paper clips HERE.
(Comes with 8 blackbird clips on a 36" cord)

Here's a cute product I recently came across...a teacher used it on a bulletin board with fun photos, literary quotes, and fall poetry.

Reminds me of the well-known English nursery rhyme, Sing A Song Of Sixpence:

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

My book recommendation for today?  A "haunting" quirky fable about crows and a snake:
The Crows of Pearblossom, by Aldous Huxley (yes, the author of Brave New World wrote a children's book)...how two silly crows - with the help of a wise owl - solve the problem of a hungry snake devouring their eggs is a tale of cleverness triumphing over greed.

Born in England and educated at Balliol College, Huxley relocated to Southern California with his family in 1937.  He wrote The Crows of Pearblossom for his niece, Olivia, in 1944 as a Christmas gift.  In 1967 it was published in a small-format edition (now out of print), illustrated by Barbara Cooney.

I ordered the new 2011 edition because I couldn't resist Sophie Blackall's wonderful illustrations!  Read a great overview/history of this picture book, HERE, and the NYTimes review "Aldous Huxley's Brave New Storybook", HERE.