Tonight, I read to Seamus a book called On The Day You Were Born, which was a Christmas present to him from his great-grandmother, Toni.
This is a great book for Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins fans -- while sweet and whimsical, as one would expect a children's book to be, it also celebrates the beauty of what some call "the natural world" (which would better be described as "the universe, from which a small group of sentient beings on a small planet somehow imagine themselves to be separate"), and the joy of understanding it. There's even a five-page appendix explaining, in simple terms, some of the concepts mentioned in the book, such as tides and animal migrations.
Many thanks to "Mimi" for this excellent present ... and for understanding us so well. We are so looking forward to the first time she can hold Seamus, look into his eyes, and show him the love that she already feels for him ...
5 comments:
OH NO!!!! I bought this book for Seamus (at Toad Hall Bookstore in Rockport, of course, which automatically confers good ju ju) a few weeks ago...but was waiting for his arrival. That book always makes me cry (not with sadness of course). I would try to read it aloud to Wes or Tris when they were babies, and I could barely make it halfway through without choking up.
But I defer to Mimi. I would like to be a grandma when I grow up, but if I am REALLY blessed, I would also like to be a great-grandma!
PS I forgot to sign that post. It's Auntie Teri of course.
PPS I also have so say, Granny Franny beat me to "Santa Mouse" books this year too. I hereby grant myself a wee harrumph!
PPPS I know! I'll be the first person to send Seamus ... a gardening book?!
Love & a wee harrumph,
Auntie Teri
Sorry, Auntie Trees!
There are so many other classics you can provide, though ... we don't have Where The Wild Things Are, or that book with the ghost and the owl named Miss Oliver ...
I like the term "wee harrumph". I'm going to use that as a nickname for Seamus when he's mad.
Oh, Jimma: I'm so glad you remember Miss Oiiver! And do you remember "Marty, Miss Oliver" -- your very own Owl? (I still recall Leenie making him fly through the air, singing "Talkin' 'bout the Midnight Rambler" ....)
Miss Oliver was a good friend of Georgie the Ghost, who lived in the Whittaker's attic. They had two other pals, Herman the cat and the Harmless Cow (who, of necessity, lived outdoors). I have ALL of these...and some, sadly, out of print. So to wee Seamus and all his relatives, I say: the Georgie books will be AUNT TERI'S DOMAIN! (wee harrumph)
Stay tuned!
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