SOME GRINCH TRIVIA...

Like Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, it's the ending of this story that brings us back to it every Christmas season.  The Grinch realizes - after stealing all the Who's decorations, presents, and feasting food - that he can't stop Christmas from coming...

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...?

Well...in Who-ville they say

That the Grinch's small heart

Grew three sizes that day!

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS was written and illustrated by Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as "Dr. Seuss", in 1957.   The animated musical television version, directed by Chuck Jones, was first televised in December of 1966, with narration done by Boris Karloff.  The original "book" Grinch appears white and black (like everything else in the book), with occasional pink and red splotches.  In the animated cartoon, he is green.

Karloff was the voice of the Grinch, but the song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was sung by Thur Ravenscroft, who also lent his vocal talents to Disney, including for "Fritz" (the German parrot in the Tiki Room), the original narration for the Disneyland Railroad (which was changed in 2001), and for many Disney feature films. Another of Thur's claims to fame was as the well-known voice of Tony the Tiger. 

Although the character of Max the dog was minor in the book, Jones made him a major character in the cartoon, partly because "he represented the audience, including me…. He was the one you wanted to rescue."

I didn't particularly like the live-action feature film adaptation of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, starring Jim Carrey.  But I do find it interesting that Carrey brilliantly portrayed and voiced Scrooge in the CGI animated Disney movie (directed by Robert Zemeckis) A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  And now I'm back to where I began in this post!

To read my other posts about Dr. Seuss, click here.

N.C. WYETH'S PILGRIMS

N.C. Wyeth is renowned for his illustrations of children's classics like Treasure Island, Robin Hood, and Robinson Crusoe. The paintings used to illustrate PILGRIMS are from a series of brilliantly sumptuous murals commissioned by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in the late 1940's, which bring to life the carefully researched text by well known children's book author Robert San Souci. (ages 8-12)

Another beautifully illustrated book about Thanksgiving:
THE THANKSGIVING STORY by Alice Dalgliesh, pictures by Helen Sewell.  Five illustrated chapters for ages 6 and up.  The story follows three Pilgrim children--Giles, Constance, and Damaris Hopkins--as they experience a trip on the Mayflower, settling in New Plymouth, being afraid of but then befriending some Indians, and finally sharing a feast together, each thanking God in their own way.


As the Thanksgiving holiday draws closer, the anticipation of getting our homes ready to welcome family seems to pre-occupy all of us. At our house, even our kids got involved with scrubbing, cleaning, and polishing.  In my Christmas book recommendation for today, the same thing is happening with some animals who are waiting for "someone" (Mary and Joseph)...WHO IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE?  by Joseph Slate, illustrations by Ashley Wolfe, is a sweet book for 3-6 year olds.  I love the black-line borders around the illustrations.

Happy Birthday, Dear Frances

Yesterday marked the 50th birthday for Russell Hoban's little badger, Frances. Carol Baicker-McKee, an author/illustrator that I've written about, wrote a special tribute to Frances that you can read from her blog, DOODLES AND NOODLES, here.

Carol Baicker-McKee has lent her fun 3-dimensional art photographs to several children's books, one of which I have on my Christmas Book List. It's MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS!, by Julie Steigemeyer. I love Carol's style. Click here to see her other books and read my past blog post.

Frances was in the broom closet, singing:

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday, dear Alice,

Happy Thursday to you.

"Who is Alice?" asked Mother.

"Alice is somebody that nobody can see," said Frances. "And that is why she does not have a birthday. So I am singing Happy Birthday to her."

"Today is Friday," said Mother.

"It is Thursday for Alice," said Frances...

"I am sure Alice will have cake and candy on her birthday," said Mother.

"But Alice does not have a birthday," said Frances.

"Yes, she does," said Mother. "Even if nobody can see her, Alice has one birthday every year, and so do you. Your birthday is two months from now. Then you will be the birthday girl. But tomorrow is Gloria's birthday, and she will be the birthday girl."

"That's how it is, Alice," said Frances. "Your birthday is always the one that is not now."
From A BIRTHDAY FOR FRANCES, by Russell Hoban, with charcoal illustrations by his wife Lillian Hoban

Three Legends from Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola, born to Irish and Italian parents in 1934 in Meriden, Conneticut, arrived in this world near the end of the Great Depression and grew up during World War II, before television became a substitute for radio in American homes.  He recounts how his family appreciated books and creativity...

"Growing up before television," dePaola once commented, "I had what I can only consider the good fortune to be exposed to radio and I never missed that wonderful Saturday morning show, 'Let's Pretend'. I have always felt that that particular program, plus the fact that my mother was in love with books and spent many long hours reading aloud to my brother and me, were the prime factors that caused me to announce to my first grade teacher that when I grew up I was going to make books with pictures." 

I think the main reason Tomie dePaola's picture books are so popular is that his simple illustrations, with their bright colors and a folk art style, appeal to the child in all of us.   All for ages 4-8.

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. This vivid retelling of an old Texas legend reveals how the Indian paintbrush, the state flower of Wyoming, first bloomed, and how a young brave (Little Gopher) dreams of creating a painting that will capture the beauty of a sunset.



The Legend of the Poinsettia. Distressed because she has no other gift to offer Baby Jesus, Lucida carries into the church an armful of weeds, each of which suddenly becomes "tipped with a flaming red star"-marking the miraculous blooming of the first poinsettias.  Based on a Mexican folktale.

The Legend of Old Befana This is a delightful reading of a favorite Italian Christmas story about an eccentric old woman (like Russia's "Babushka") and her never-ending search for the Baby King.




TOMIE DEPAOLA BOOKS FROM MY  "Forty Books For Forty Days" LIST:
My First Christmas This cute board book for babies and toddlers shows the joys and traditions of Christmas.


The Friendly Beasts (an Old English Christmas carol) I remember fondly this familiar carol from my childhood.  And I'm sure more than one children's Nativity play has been based on it! You can click here to see Tomie's illustrations, accompanied by the carol that is performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

GOD GAVE US...

With Thanksgiving approaching, it's important to remember all the good things God has given us.  Author, Lisa Tawn Bergren does just that in her cute GOD GAVE US picture books.  Any of these books would make wonderful gifts for a new baby, a baptism, birthday, Valentine's Day, or Christmas.  The first one I ever came across was God Gave Us You, with illustrations by Laura J. Bryant.  This book gently answers a little bear cub's question of, "Where did I come from?"  The answer is simply explained without adult details.  I tear up every time I read:

"When we found out you were growing inside me, 

we were so happy!  

Even the angels were celebrating for us!"

"Because of me?" asked Little Cub.

"Yes, my darling child.  Because God gave us you." 

The book I choose first for my Christmas book list, "FORTY BOOKS FOR FORTY DAYS", is just as sweet and tender.  Click here to read an excellent and detailed review.  I think you'll want this book in your child's personal library!   God Gave Us Christmas, illustrated by David Hohn.


Other books by Lisa Tawn Bergren:
GOD GAVE US TWO, GOD GAVE US LOVE, GOD FOUND US YOU (for adoptive families).