One of my favorite books from Triss’ toddlerhood is _Happy Birthday, Moon_ by Frank Asch. It is about a little bear who tries to talk to the moon. He climbs the tallest tree on the highest mountain and yells hello. His voice echoes back. He gets very excited to be “talking to the moon.” (I used to tear up at this point in the book. Triss says she never noticed.)
After visiting awhile, the ‘moon’ always answering back in echoes, the little bear decides to ask the moon a question:
“When is your birthday?” he cries.
The echoing “moon” replies, “When is your birthday?”
“My birthday is tomorrow!” says the delighted bear.
“My birthday is tomorrow!” answers the echo.
So the bear decides to get the moon a birthday present. (Isn’t this the sweetest story?)
He figures a hat is just the thing, then realizes he has no way to get the hat to the moon! So he climbs the tallest tree on the tallest hill and sets the hat on the highest limb. And waits. The moon rises slowly through the branches and “tries on” the hat. The bear is delighted.
His innocence is never betrayed by cold, hard fact. He has been allowed to feel the joy, undisturbed by rationality, of connecting with something bigger than himself and his world. I love it. Later is soon enough to discuss whether moons talk or have birthdays or try on hats.
The protected wonder of this little book is contrasted with the hard reality portrayed in another child’s storybook, _The Carrot Seed_, written by Ruth Krauss. In this story, an inspired and determined little boy finds a carrot seed and decides to plant it. He gets the tools he needs, prepares the ground, plants the seed and cares for it, awaiting the growth he is sure will occur.
His parents, older siblings and other adults in his life inform him in turn that, “It will never come up.”
(They remind me of Job’s miserable comforters.)
He waits and waits. It doesn’t come up.
Undeterred, he continues caring for the seed, and continues to wait.
And then it comes up, and is such a large carrot that he needs a wheelbarrow to harvest it!
Although he has been confronted by harsh reality all along, he perseveres in his faith and receives this beautiful vegetable. Sometimes hard fact is not the sum total of reality.
These contrasting stories have the same outcome– the reward of belief and faith– and have their place in the child’s world. Our kids’ minds are full of possibilities because they haven’t lived on earth long enough to realize what can’t be done. Because of this, they are able to look at the world with fresh eyes. Let us cherish this vision in our children.
The man who misses all the fun
Is he who says, “It can’t be done.”
In solemn pride he stands aloof
And greets each venture with reproof.
Had he the power he’d efface
The history of the human race.
We’d have no radio or motor cars,
No street lit by electric stars;
No telegraph nor telephone,
We’d linger in the age of stone.
The world would sleep if things were run
By men who say, “It can’t be done.”
Author Unknown
