He's Here!

Isn't he cute?

Angus MacMouse has arrived at my house!


I searched the internet to find a puppet that looked like Angus.  I found this one from Folkmanis on eBay.  My plan is to bring him along as my special, surprise "guest" when I do school and library visits to talk about Angus MacMouse Brings Down The House.  I might even coax him to conduct a selection from CARMEN!

Now I have to make him a tuxedo.  I hope my meager sewing skills are up to the task.  

I think he's quite the handsome little fellow, don't you?

A Little Late, But...

Happy day after Christmas!  I hope everyone had a joyous holiday.

I wanted to talk about one of my favorite Christmas books–– which I should have done before Christmas–– but I got a little behind in the wrapping, and the baking, and the mailing, and all the little details that needed to be done.

Anyway, if you love picture books, as I do, you can keep this one in mind for next year's 'wish list.'

The Mole Family's Christmas, by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, was given to my daughter when she was little, and I'm sorry to say that it's out of print.  (But, of course, you can still get it on Amazon.)  It is SO delightful.


The Washington Post said, "An endearing family of moles who spend their time tunneling in the dark and know nothing of Christmas discover that it is not just for people, but can also bring happiness to nearsighted little moles if they show ingenuity and courage."

The Mole family works hard tunneling under the ground every day.  But one night the Moles' son, Delver, digs his way to the surface where he meets two extremely helpful mice.  The lady mouse tells Delver about the stars.  She says, "It's almost like singing, you might say, the way they glimmer and shine, isn't it?"  But, of course, being very nearsighted, Delver can't see the stars.

The other mouse tells Delver about Christmas, and "the fat man in the red suit" who "comes puffing and wheezing down the chimney, puts knicknacks and candy in stockings, leaves all kinds of packages around, says 'Ho, ho, ho,' and goes huffing and puffing up the chimney again.  It's quite an odd thing really, but he does it only once a year, and nobody seems to mind."

So, Delver, a very clever little mole, figures out a way for the 'fat man in the red suit' to help the Mole family finally be able to see the stars.

Lillian Hoban's illustrations bring the characters to life with charm and a touch of humor.

I love this book, and if you love picture books, I hope you can find a copy to add to your collection.

To Neverland And Back

This past weekend I received an early Christmas present from my wonderful daughter, and we went to see the utterly fantastic production of Peter Pan which is playing in Boston at City Hall Plaza.

Truly, I don't think words can describe such a magical experience, so I encourage everyone to go and see it for yourselves.  You won't regret it, no matter how old (or young) you are. The show taps into that secret place in all of us which, like Peter, delights in the wonder and joy of being a child.

It was the coldest December day we have had so far, and the wind blowing across City Hall Plaza was fierce, but it was warm inside the huge white pavilion.  And by the end of the show, our hearts were warmed as well.

The production is 'in the round' so every person in the audience feels they have an intimate connection with the performance.  The actors are all excellent in their roles, but there is also puppetry, acrobatics, dancing, singing, sword fighting…  and of course, flying! 

The flying is breathtaking.

  

The theater was conceived as the world's first 360 degree projected movie for live theater, which creates illusions that are absolutely dazzling.  Please don't misunderstand!  The actors really do fly around the stage and soar to the top of the pavilion, but it is the combination of the aerial choreography and the 360º projections that creates the amazing illusions of flying over London, up into the stars, and "straight on till morning."   

I was listening to the comments as we were leaving, and I think the grown-ups enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than the children.  We all wanted to fly off to Neverland with Peter and Wendy.

(If you live near Boston, hurry! Go! You only have until Dec. 31st to see it.)

Amazing Grace

I'm so excited!

It looks like I'll be celebrating Chinese New Year this January by going to Grace Lin's book launch for her new novel, Dumpling Days.

Usually, I hate January.  It's my least favorite month of the year.  (Isn't it everyone's?) The weather is terrible, the hours of daylight are short and dismal.  It's just such a long and dreary month.  But, this year I'm happy I have something to look forward to.

Grace Lin is quickly becoming my heroine.  She does it ALL and she does it all beautifully.  She is a fabulous illustrator, and a wonderful and prolific writer, she has an amazing blog, she makes lots of appearances, has won all sorts of awards–– plus, she's adorable.


I'd like to be able to do everything she does, but even if I could, I know I'd never have the energy!

Anyway, it will be wonderful to see her again and celebrate her new book.

Can't wait for January!

This Year's 'Jingle Bell Walk'

I don't know if they do this everywhere, but around here all the small towns have a day when Santa "comes to town," and of course, children love it.

They are all given bells to jingle as he arrives, and then, like the pied piper, he leads a merry 'parade' of mommies and daddies and children all around town.  (I'm sure the idea is to draw attention to local businesses, too.)

Since we live on the North Shore, Santa usually arrives by boat.  But, this year was a little different, thanks to the new popularity of stand-up surf boards.  To the great joy of all the children (and adults), Santa was accompanied by a flotilla of elves and reindeer on their stand-up boards!  It was a great idea and lots of fun.

On My Night Table…

I'm reading Kate DiCamillo's wonderful book, The Magician's Elephant, for the second time.  It's one of my favorites, and it's an ideal book for the holidays because it glows with a magical quality that, in the end, makes you feel as though you have been witness to something marvelous… even miraculous.

I have read all of Kate diCamillo's books, and I think this one may be her finest yet.

The jacket flap reads:

"'What if?  Why not?  Could it be?'

When a fortune teller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, 

orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the question that he needs to ask:  

Does his sister still live?  And if so, how can he find her?

The fortune teller's mysterious answer (An elephant!  An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that Peter can hardly dare to believe it.

But it is –– all of it–– true."  

The city of Baltese is in the throes of its coldest, darkest winter.  In this bleak setting, a magician's attempt to perform his greatest trick goes horribly wrong, and an elephant crashes through the ceiling of the Bliffendorf Opera House. This incredible event brings together an unlikely cast of characters: an orphan, an old soldier, a policeman, a countess, the magician, and the Sisters of Perpetual Light.  The author weaves their stories together with a magical touch, and the soft, atmospheric illustrations of Yoko Tanaka evoke a lovely dream-like quality.

Then, as a beautiful, pure, white snow falls on the buildings and boulevards of Baltese, everything miraculously changes.  The impossible happens again!

This seems like the perfect time of year to be asking the hopeful questions:

"What if?  Why not?  Could it be?"