It has taken me a while to get back to blogging. But as promised, here is a review of a book from my private library collection.
At age 7, I received my first real book (no pictures) as a Christmas gift from my parents-- Old Mother West Wind by Thornton Burgess. It was a blue book--it did not have cover art or a dust cover (1959) and it had small print.
I felt very grown up when I read and actually could finish a chapter. I guarded that book with my life. (I dont remember losing the book--but somehow we became separated and after years of searching, I was pleasantly surprised to find the entire series at Powell Books in Portland, Oregon.)Thornton Burgess was born in 1875 in Massachusetts where he spent his childhood close to nature, exploring unspoiled Cape Cod. He published the first book in 1910, dedicating it to his son, the inspiration behind the creation of Old Mother West Wind, her children and her neighbors.
Basically, The Old Mother West Wind series of three books cheerfully explains the wonders of nature in a way that small children relish. And--after re-reading the series as an adult--I realized that these books highlight the differences among creatures in nature--concluding that despite differences--all live together quite well in the whole scheme of things.Old Mother West Wind personifies the virtual wisdom of all the natural events in creation and her "merry little breezes" gently repeat her wisdom over and over.
So as a first grader--with my Christmas book, I learned why skunks are dressed in stripes, why old frogs don't have tails, why brooks "laugh", why a warm breeze is so comforting, why minks have screechy-sounding voices--never meant to sing, and why foxes don't eat fish (their coats are not waterproof and so they just do not go fishing!!).If I had to choose my favorite chapter in the Old Mother West Wind series, it would be the chapter when all the animals were competing to define the best thing in the world. Each animal had a different idea--most of them annoyingly self-serving, and materialistic.
Old Mother West Wind rewarded the woodchuck for coming up with the most naturally joyful answer--his own little home, warm sunshine and a beautiful blue sky. It is being happy with the things you have. . .its called "contentment".
Now if you would like to know what the most naturally beautiful thing in the world is. . .you will have to read the series for yourself. Old Mother West Wind reveals it in the third book.I am reading and recording the Old Mother West Wind series to preserve for my grandchildren--(who may be born someday).
Or on nights when my sons are unable to sleep due to burdens of adult life, they may just want to be reminded why brooks laugh, why mice tails are so short, why rabbits wear white patches, and buzzards have bald heads, why the turtle always wins the race and of course, the most beautiful thing in the world.And they will have it, right where they first heard it--in their darling mother's voice!!
Old Mother West Wind by Thornton Burgess--check it out.
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What's in a name: How I ended up with the name SUSAN.
