A New Hope

Matt is growing up faster than Jack's beanstalk and time is flying faster than HP playing Quidditch. We have had school taster days, hairs on legs (one of us finds this exciting, one of us is used to this phenomenon), complex mathematical questions (9 plus 9 plus 9) and some not so complex questions (is a chicken a vegetable?). Oh yes, we are nearly five. As such, Matt's interests are developing, his needs are changing, and our lives are continually evolving in response. 

There are three new invasions in our lives. Lego, Foo Fighters ('Food Fighters' to the boy), and Star Wars have taken over. Big time. Sometimes we have combinations of these to contend with. Obvs we have Star Wars Lego to incorporate two of the said interests. I always get asked to be Chewbacca. No idea why. But we do also have other interesting cross-overs too. 

For example, Rock Concert Lego:
Please admire my handiwork - how many of you have been asked to create Foo Fighters out of Lego? Taylor is actually sitting at a drum kit. Unfortunately my creative skills did not stretch to guitars but Matt posed their arms in position. 

Spot the Star Wars Super Foo Fan

How about Star Wars football? Yup, even our usual hobbies have had to accommodate the new regime. If you have played football with Luke Skywalker you will know exactly where I am coming from. If you haven't, do come over one afternoon. (This is a whimsical invitation. Do not come over.) 

The agility of a Jedi

So, I am embracing these obsessions. To be fair, I have embraced all the others too: diggers, tractors, horses, How to train your dragon, peter pan, etc. When this boy likes something he really goes for it.

I have no problem with Lego being his favourite toy. Except for the prices. I also have no problem with Foo Fighters being his fave band. Although it would be nice to be allowed to listen to something else. Just once. And, I would have preferred his music tastes to be less sweary. (Panic ye not- Matt does not have a concept of taboo words yet. And, I do try to insert my own safe words here and there- For the record (what a pun) Monkey Wrench definitely sounds like this:'I still remember every single word you said, And all the ships that somehow came along with it.' Please sing this version if you are lucky enough to rock out with the boy at some point!

It would also be nice if he liked films with less fighting. But that instinct has always been there- Star Wars just gives Matt a way to frame and channel it. I have no real problem with Star Wars. I like the films but I wouldn't say I was an uber fan. The Goonies was more my thing. But everyone else seems to be riding the Star Wars wave so the boy wanted in. One problem I do have is that this obsession has arrived sooner than expected. Matt's cousins and older friends are hooked but Matt had decided to wait until he was 8 to watch them. Instead he picked up the story lines through watching Lego star wars clips. But in a moment of bravery and maturity he decided he was ready to watch the real deal. Obvs in the real order as dictated by cousin Jake of 4,5,6,1,2,3, and 7! I went along with this plan as I was more than prepared for Matt to change his mind. This is a boy who will not watch Peter Rabbit, describes the first fifteen of minutes of Finding Nemo like a scene from Jaws, and had nightmares after Zootropolis. But no, he loved the films. What can you do? It has all been at Matt's choosing. On reflection, I do actually consider it all pretty healthy (in a chocolate raisin kind of way). As it goes the Star Wars obsession makes sense. The epic tale of good versus evil, clear loyalties, and great fight scenes all completely satisfy his needs at the  moment. 

Here comes the inevitable but. The main problem is that all of this means that unless we are building, rocking, or lightsabering, then it just isn't on the cards for Matt. Nothing seems to be really grabbing him as much as these interests. This is the issue. How do you encourage your Jedi in training to sit and enjoy a book when their adrenaline is pumping and they just need to fight, run, and be physical?

Well, I bide my time. Run himself tired, he will. (Please supply own Yoda voice. I have been informed that mine is the worst Matt has ever heard.) And then the further issue is that even on the occasions when Matt is feeling receptive (broken, defeated, exhausted, or ill) we need a bloomin good book to captivate him. 

Do I look like I want to cuddle and read?

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that Matt is four and three very big quarters. The picture books and stories we have are now very familiar and do not compete with the thrills of Star Wars. It is hard to go from this adrenaline fuelled stuff to tales of tractors and fables of forgetful cats. Furthermore, at this point, I suspect, Matt is ready for the next challenge. He would probably do well to learn to read the books himself but he is not interested in that yet. Matt likes to recognise letters and guess at words but he has no plans to read for himself and potentially oust me out of the bedtime routine. Fine by me. We can wait until he is ready. (I don't need him reading my endless lists before his birthday and Christmas. Although, to be fair,this may never be a real problem as he is already acutely aware of how bad my handwriting is.)

I was discussing these problems with my pal KTW (not the handwriting problem- she is already familiar with my work) who comes from a family of Star Wars obsessives when she mentioned a series of Star Wars books by Little Golden Books that may do the trick. What a wise woman.

So, taking Mrs W's advice, I ordered what we call SW 4, 5, and 6 - you may know them as Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Or what I used to call (you know, before I was trained in all these matters by my master) The Real Star Wars, The One Without a Happy Ending, and The One with the Ewoks.

I was really impressed when the books arrived. Moreover (ooh essay mode) Matt was beyond excited about these books. It was the best reaction he had had about books in a long while.

YES YES YES. They are perfect. Look at him! Need I say more? Has that ever stopped me before?

These books heralded something new not least because on the day the books arrived we actually had to move bedtime earlier because he was so keen to read all three. Matt was engaged, interested, and satisfied. No sooner had I dispatched him off to the land of nod I had to order 1,2,3, and 7. Do you need me to fill you in on the real titles or have you cracked the cunning code? Just in case- 1 is the rubbish one, 2 is the one I did not bother watching, 3 is the one where Darth Vader is created (and I was surprised to love it so much), and 7 is the new one.

Anyhoo back to the books. Films, you can stand down now.

This one is Matt's fave

These books are immediately inviting. They are so well designed. The illustrations are retro and I love the muted colours. It took the boy a moment or two to get to grips with the people looking like cartoons and not real people but the wee pedant soon got over it.

Who wouldn't love these graphics and sound effects?

Most of all I love that these interpretations of the films are age appropriate. There has been very careful consideration shown towards how they deal with the darker parts of Star Wars. Death and killing are just not in the vocabulary. Terms such as when 'Yoda was at one with the force' break sad news in a cotton wool way. Also, when Anakin's mother pops her clogs the book breaks this to the young reader with 'he finds her just in time to say goodbye.' Also:  

I do know that you deserve better than this photo but the point is the text, people!

I feel safe and comfortable reading them to the almost five year old. These books are really easy to read and not too long or wordy. Well, depending on the kind of day you may have had.

This set of books has given us both a new hope (too easy that one) about Matt's relationship to books. Matt loves that he doesn't have to forget Star Wars at bedtime despite the dvds being locked away and the lightsabers being put out of reach. These books fulfil his need to understand, reconstruct, imagine, anticipate, and be entertained all within the confines of his new weltenshauung. (Matthew is a fan of the German language. Mummy I wish we used German numbers in England because then we'd have more numbers. Hmmm you do the math.)

So, I stand by something I said in an earlier blog- your little person may not always choose books that will win literary awards or to show off on your bookshelf but it is much more rewarding and worthwhile to allow the child to choose the books that win their hearts.

It is more than healthy to feed an obsession if it means you are nurturing a relationship, building trust, and sharing a common interest. Through the new hobbies, especially Star Wars, we have created a dialogue and a storyboard through which to explore the world. Does it matter if I have to answer questions about how old Yoda is and why Kylo Ren turned to the dark side? Is it really such a problem that I find myself lying awake at night trying to work out Finn's parentage and Poe's potential significance? Actually yes it does, she yawns. But, it is a small price to pay for feeding the apprentice's imagination.

At bed time, I have very little choice in what to read and in the daytime there is very little scope in terms of deciding what we play or do. I am not sure how much more I can take of lightsabers etc but I can't see it petering out any time soon. The force is strong in this one and it is my duty to steer him away from the darkside. It is for this reason that these books are special. This series of books are playing an important role in my battle for reading and may their force be with you too.

Can SuperMatt Save The Library?

After we returned home from a protest at our local library in reaction to proposed council cuts Matt announced to his Dad 'I have done something important today. I have saved Newport library.' If only it were that simple. If only it were true. As it stands we are currently living in a Choose Your Own Adventure story here. (My sister loved her CYOA books. I felt under too much pressure to make the decisions.) In reality the council will be deciding the ending for this story. So, the fight is just beginning for Super Matt and his short, pin-headed sidekick Iron(ing) Mam.

This post was always going to happen. I had been thinking about writing a celebration of all things library for quite some time. Now it is more of a necessity rather than an indulgence. Unfortunately our regular library visits had dwindled with the festive season upon us. So this new year I planned to get us back into the saddle. And then visit the library more. Where better to spend an hour on a cold winter's day? Hmmm good question. One we may need to ask ourselves more and more in the near future because the reading journey we take for granted is about to take a turn for the worse. When I read about the Council proposals to cut six of the local libraries, the mobile library service, and many other crucial services, I felt like someone had ripped out the back page of my book. This is not how I thought it would all turn out. Yes, the good folk of the Shire will still have some libraries left including the all singing all dancing flagship library at Southwater but many of us still use, and rely on the regional libraries.  I feel obliged as one of these citizens to present the case as to why our libraries should be saved. And it is my duty as Matt's side kick to come up with some sort of cunning plan for how we might defend them.

SuperMatt and IronMam first leapt into action by completing the Council's online survey. We gave our two penneth on the importance of the libraries as much as we could within the structure of survey. The consultation process wants feedback on how the changes to the library, parks and other services may affect you and your household. Well, dear survey, thanks for asking but this is is not really the point. I will indeed tell you what the library and such mean to me but I would also like to make clear that the real issue is that these services affect us all. The potential loss of such services do not need to directly affect me for me to be able to recognise their value and to leap to their defence. Some of the proposed changes will have an affect on my household, some cuts will have a profound impact on other households. Either way the cuts will be felt within our community and society as we know it will be doomed. Doomed I tells ya.

The second phase of our battle plan was to borrow as many books from Newport library as would my card would allow. We went one better when we found ourselves at the right place at the right time. We had chosen coats and woollies instead of tights and capes but as we stood outside Newport library with an angry mob we felt pretty powerful all the same. We stood united on a cold and dreary day all holding a library book to show our support. The boy never complained despite the cold and lack of snacks. The Lego book he chose to use to promote his librarylove probably would not win the CILIP but it did keep him entertained. Isn't that the point? 

This is why

Matt took it all in his stride. I, however, felt at a loss as to how we have come to this. How could I explain why the institution we cherish is undervalued to the point of potential closure and how do I convince Matt of the need to stop this machine in its tracks?

Neil Gaiman eloquently puts it: We have an obligation to support libraries. To use libraries, to encourage others to use libraries, to protest the closure of libraries. If you do not value libraries then you do not value information or culture or wisdom. You are silencing the voices of the past and you are damaging the future.

I went with 'Matt, we need to fight to keep the libraries open so we can keep coming and borrowing books'. At the word 'fight' Matt went into 'put 'em up' mode and was ready to do battle. Whilst my four year old son may not need much persuasion to fight, other people may need convincing. So, here are some of my reasons for using the local libraries and why we all need to fight for them.

A Sense of Belonging
My earliest library memories are of the mobile library van that used to visit my estate. I loved how it creaked and rocked and smelled. The children's books were all at one end in low down shelves so that I could browse for myself. I also loved it when the chip van visited at the same time. I was pretty excited when the new town library opened in the late 80s and it did not disappoint. This was something else. The children's section was more than a tub in the corner. It was an actual dedicated area of a multitude of books for me to wade through. Oh the possibilities. I spent a great deal of time in that library over the years. This was not because it was the biggest, which it was. It was not because it was the best, which it seemed. It was because I could walk there from my house. It was local. Had it been a bus journey away things could have turned out rather differently. I used it for GCSE revision, A Level revision, and degree research. Because it was there. It was familiar and it felt like mine. Until I left home and found other libraries. I also discovered that chips taste different up north.

Libraries still provide me with this sense of belonging. I got hit by a ball and my glasses fell off on the terraces of a football match; my specs used to steam up in the pub; I never know all the songs at a gig; but in the library I feel at home. In the library I am the queen of the jungle. Hear me roar (though very quietly obvs.) I am not sure if my young cub feels the same way as me yet but he certainly knows his way around the book jungles that we visit. It can't just be me who feels this way. Help me out, Roald:

So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world likes ships into the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopefully and comforting message: You are not alone.

A Way of Life
We read therefore we library. It is that simple. Also the books are free. Need I go on? OK then. Libraries have fed my reading addiction for many years but these days it is not just about me. My library trips have changed somewhat since the boy came along. We have made our home in the childrens' sections of the various libraries in our town although I do try and grab something for me from the quick picks shelf as I am hauled past. (It is a risky reading strategy.)   Visiting the different libraries is just part of the routine for us. Which library depends on our schedule but it still features in our week. We sometimes visit Newport library when shopping. We used to visit Wellington when we had Tumble Tots or had been swimming. We visit Southwater when we visit the town park or Town Centre. We used to use HLC library a lot when Matt had football class. Dawley library is a nice option after the park. And sometimes we go because it is just something that we do. J K Rowling gets it: “...why’s she got to go to the library?” “Because that’s what Hermione does”.
 
Despite the notion that the library is becoming outdated I have found we are using it more than ever. As a mother I rely on the library to offer an endless supply of books. We need this free and constant supply of books to continue in order to preserve our way of life - please don't cut us off, gov.

Educational Experience
Having researched three degrees, the library, for me, has always been an important educational institution. As a mother, the library has taken on a further educational role. The responsibility to nurture  Matt's social, emotional, and intellectual development rests on these here shoulders. Any activities and experiences that help us to learn, bond, and understand the world a little more, are most valuable. Visiting the library ticks all of these boxes. It is my duty to put in place the building blocks of learning, literacy and a general love of books but we also learn much more at the library. The library is a different environment and Matt has learned how to adapt. He understands that libraries are places we read, we bond, we borrow, and we respect other people and we respect the shared property and space. He understands that these are places where we follow the rules. It is not somewhere we climb, run, eat, or shout. That is soft play or the park. Some parents may do well to learn that. The library also teaches responsibility. Responsibility for the books, for borrowing books, for our behaviour, and also for his own reading preferences and experiences. The act of choosing, sitting, and reading together makes a visit to the library a positive nurturing experience which will hopefully mean that Matt will find reading and literacy a natural and familiar activity in future. 

The need to preserve the act of reading in a library is about creating a positive educational experience. It is also crucial for developmental purposes that children to have access to a variety of books.  Children need real tangible books to explore and discover for themselves. They like flaps, pop ups, things to touch, and pages to turn. The print market is superior to the ebook market for children's literature. When TV, YouTube, and e-readers are competing to tell stories to your children it is important to hold onto these active story telling experiences and prioritise them above the more passive narratives of the former.

Visiting the library is an enriching experience in so many ways. We always leave the library knowing more than when we went in.

Libraries Fire the Imagination 

When you go to the library you never know where it will take you. I often imagine the two of us sitting cuddled up on a sofa reading a wonderfully uplifting and amusing tale. Sometimes this happens- we find books such as The Midnight Library (lovely book and most relevant). Sometimes our trips involve Matt wanting me to read a Tween book because it has a pony on the cover or begging me to read a story in Hindi because there is a lion on the front. We read a far wider range of books because of the library than we would if we were restricted to our home collection built on gifts and my whims. 

The library inspires the imagination beyond the reading material too. Matt's imaginative play can take me to wondrous worlds and usually ends with a battle of some sort. Some is from TV, some is from books, and some is from real life. When he asks to play libraries I feel my heart could burst with pride. He was two when this first happened:

Matt: Mummy can we play libraries? Me: Sure. Matt: Shhhh I am reading!

More recently Matt has incorporated my glasses and his till into the game. It looks pretty serious but also way more fun than how I used to improvise with a date stamp and an After Eight Mints box.

 

Children play at real life. This is what he knows. These are the moments when I know I have got some of this parenting schizzle right. 

A Place of Inspiration
A library does not need to have a stunning vista or a high arched ceiling or classic columns to be able to inspire. Any library can guide, encourage, motivate, or surprise a visitor. Whatever the question the library has the answer. 

Since starting this blog I have relied upon the library to offer an endless supply of books. I found books that I would not have necessarily found through online bookshops. It is also a good place to identify trends. It is here that we discover new books, new authors, new characters, new worlds, new words. It is essential for broadening our book collection and for keeping the reading momentum up.

The library also inspires and serves some of Matt's obsessions: dinosaurs, dragons, machines, guinea pigs, and our bones. Fact or fiction I am always interested to see which books Matt will select and those he discards. The libraries have served up a good range of horse books which has kept him informed and entertained. 

Another way the library inspires me is with ideas for cooking. Cook books are really pricey and often I get them home to discover I only like one or two recipes from the entire book. So when I decided to return to a meat free diet last year the library was my first port of call. My problem with a lot of vegetarian cookbooks is that I am not interested in dessert section. I am capable of making a meat free pud without a cookbook. Anyhoo, this is a much more cost effective way of trying out new recipes. 

The library broadens our horizons. There is a world of opportunity and possibility within a library. The things I could learn, the places I could go, the things I could do although, to be honest, I am usually too busy reading. And learning Hindi.

As Sanctuary
Another vital reason that I need the library is that it is essentially a place of peace and quiet. Surely this is something we all value? Maybe not all of us. In typical Matt style this happened:
Matt: Why are we going to the library- it is just books?
Me: Exactly

This is precisely why I need the library and why I teach him that we act differently in the library. That it is good to have peace and quiet. Life is not all about swings and roundabouts (particularly if the proposed cuts to our parks go ahead.) You know my need to slow down and pause...The library, for me, is a place of refuge. From the weather. From Cbeebies. From putting Lego Evel Kneivel on his motorbike every other minute. Seeking a soundbite for this here blog post I asked Matt what he thought people would do without the library. He answered succinctly with a wisdom beyond his years and with a tinge of general apathy worthy of his exact age: 'I just don't know. Do you want to see me do a cartwheel?' See what I mean? I need a place where wrestling and roly-polies are just not tennis; a place to give our minds a work out (or a rest) rather than our bodies.

The library is also a safe haven for other people, some in much more serious need than us. The library is for people needing somewhere to go, somewhere to be. We used to visit HLC library after football class each Saturday and there would often be some school children doing their homework on the computers. For what ever reason (internet access, safety, peace) they were there. The library was safe and accessible and presumably was chosen rather than being at home. Where would they go if it closes? The local library keeps people safe and keeps me sane.

A Community Lifeline

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Shire a visit to the nearest library is one way that we feel connected to the larger community. For some it is the only way. The proposed cuts will go deeper for these people. We need to stand up for those people whose voices may well get lost in this debate. For these very people, the library needs to be safeguarded.

As aforementioned (I really am in essay mode now) the library is crucial for children. According to one article the community aspect of libraries, including storytimes/rhymetimes and free picture books is especially important for parents and children alike. This article claims that children can easily read five books per week and all but the most wealthy parents could not easily afford this. 

The library is also an essential bastion of independence and socialisation for older readers. Not everyone has a kindle, internet access, or transportation. So the threatened mobile library provides a crucial service. This library bus serves parts of the community who may not be able to access the town libraries. It provides regular social contact for people.  If this service was to be cut people would suffer. If it is cut in conjunction with the other libraries we are at risk of isolating some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.  

Visiting the library is not just a middle class past-time. It is important to keep the libraries available in the more deprived areas of the town too. The local libraries serve the young, the old, and everyone in between. Job seekers, new members of the community, etc. all rely upon access to the information freely available at the library. In many ways the library keeps disadvantaged people on an even footing. So even if the scores on the doors are lower for some libraries it does not mean that they are failing. You cannot measure their service or quality in footfall. How can we quantify something that is invaluable? We need to protect the library for the people who may not use it as a regular hobby but use it when necessary. We certainly need to bear in mind that those who may not be able to complete the consultation survey could be those who need the library most of all.

A Crucial Public Institution

A further reason to protect the library is that it gives so much to individuals, communities, and society but asks very little in return (apart from returning your books.) What other public institutions operate on trust and allow you unlimited access and possession of their collections? We need to protect it for the very reason that it gives us a freedom that other places do not. It serves as a democratic institution that is for everyone. All people are equal within the library. Unless you have fines. Should we mention the query on your card, Mrs Y?

A public institution needs to serve its public's needs. It does not have to stand as a shiny symbol of a town's success. Even the older and more jaded libraries can stand proud on the high street as our well worn servants. They serve the people. They preserve our literary heritage and will guide our future endeavours. Yet we are told that the library is becoming obsolete. The public library is going through tough times in general in this fast developing world. This is why we need to help our libraries to weather the storm. Our councils and working groups should be looking for ways to develop the library to serve our changing needs in this new era. As modern life demands so much of us our need for answers, direction, education, contact, and peace, will need to be met. So far from being defunct the libraries are more important than ever.

As Philip Pullman puts it: I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child and as a student and as an adult. I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism, things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight...Leave the libraries alone. You don’t know the value of what you’re looking after. It is too precious to destroy.

If a library can provide all of the above to this library user then imagine how it is serving the community as a whole. If it can continue to serve the needs of our community then it is doing its job. By fighting for the libraries I feel I am doing mine. 

From this experience I have taught Matt some essential life lessons: reminded him that books are captivating; proven to him that libraries are important to many people; taught him that words are great weapons; acquiesced to him that his feet are powerful (not just for kicking). And finally, schooled him in a crucial rule: you keep playing to the whistle (even when the ball hits you in the face).

So is this as far as it goes for SuperMatt and IronMam? 
Can they really help save the library? 
How can they get a happy ending?  

Well, kind citizen, since you asked, here's the plan:
 

1.If you are a local you can fill in this online survey or visit a library and ask for a paper copy. You may not even agree with me but your opinion matters. Ish. It really depends on how far you intend to disagree with me. You have until Feb 7th.

2. Support your local library and borrow an armful of books. Check them out correctly though or it will prove counter productive. (She even notches up a library pun. Quiet cheers and soft high fives).

3. See the library as the information hub. My friend makes a real effort to say let's go to the library rather than use a search engine to find stuff out. 
Neil Gaiman claims that Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one. So surely that is effective time management?

4. READ. 
I am most concerned that we are being dragged into a numbers game but libraries are about words.
So my solution is to read books. Particularly, if you are in a position of influence or part of the decision making machine. I cannot think of a more convincing case for the local library than that found in one of my favourite children's books and with one of the most wonderful characters ever created. Read Matilda.  It won't take long and you can do your sums tomorrow. Read it to yourself. Read it to your children, or your grandchildren. Think about how good that book is. Think about how great the books are that Matilda reads. Think about the role of the library in her life. Consider how the book would have turned out had her library been shut or the librarian untrained. (She may have ended up needing one of the other services the council are considering cutting.) But just read it. You don't even need to buy it- go find it in your library. But be quick we don't have much time.

No Such Thing As A Gruffalo

During the snatched chinwags I get to have with my friends regarding reading to our little dahlings (what a top book pun) one name keeps coming up. It would seem that a children's book blog is incomplete without a reference to Julia Donaldson. So let's get started. 

Let me declare my position from the outset. I am, like most of you out there, a fan of Julia Donaldson's books. The former Children's Laureate deserves her huge popularity. Her many books are probably lining your shelves right now. You can find them in any bookshop or supermarket for that matter. Whilst JD's books retain their high standards we are happy for her to keep churning them out. 

I was first introduced to JD when I bought Room on the Broom for my niece and nephew. We all loved it straight away. I gave the narrator a Scottish accent for no reason at all and whoosh we were gone.  This book, like most of JD's stories as I was to discover, reads like a timeless tale and is delivered in her trademark tight rhymes. Where my favourite author Aggie C was the Queen of Crime so JD should be crowned the Queen of Rhyme. Few can maintain her quality of rhyme and interesting storyline so well in one book nevermind in so many books. We could discuss our growing collection of JD books for hours: from the delights of lifting the flaps in the glorious Tales from Acorn Wood to the lovely climax in Monkey Puzzle to feeling Christmassy in Stick Man. And we cannot avoid The Gruffalo. Although, actually, we very much do.

There's No Such Thing as The Gruffalo in Our House.

Allow me to defend our controversial position. The Gruffalo, why didn't you know?  He started as a creature with terrible teeth in terrible jaws and now is a much loved beast with his own website. Again, I first met The Gruffalo as a fun auntie. I thought that the rhyming, the illustrations, the tale, and the twist, all created a masterpiece. But the master will not have a piece of it, reading wise. Matt has the slippers, the pyjamas, and the proverbial cuddly toy. But he will not read the book! He is on board with the paraphernalia attached to the Gruffalo but he also feels that way about Spiderman and other popular characters.  I know we are very much swimming against the tide with this but that is pretty much the story of our life together so far.

Wish they did these for grown ups

If you have had the huge pleasure to meet Matt you will know that he is a character. He walks his own path. He likes to cut the dash in cords and flat cap. He is intent on riding a shire horse in the Grand National. He is his own mini man and knows his own mini mind. So, try as I might, the book stays on the shelf. The world famous tale of the mouse walking through the woods has not made it into his heart. It could be that my impeccable acting skills have gone too far again and I have made the story too frightening! But I think it all went to pot when we tried to make The Gruffalo more real. Too real. In the context of a journey through the real woods it all became a little too frightening for this little boy with a big imagination and a formative understanding of what is fact and fiction. The Gruffalo Trail became our Gruffalo trial.

                           One of these boys is hugging The Gruffalo. The other one is not so much.

Despite his excitement at spending the afternoon in the woods with Jack, Matt constantly had to check that it was still cardboard cut outs we were searching for and not real beasts. He never really relaxed into it. Since that day Matt has not wanted to read the book. His fear of The Gruffalo has developed in conjunction with his need for a stick sword every time we enter the woods. So what appears to be a rather boisterous little boy roaring through the trees is actually a very brave boy trying to protect us all. Matt is too distracted by the Gruffalo and the deep dark woods to follow the story and the boy certainly does not appreciate the mouse's trick at the core of the book. I think it is a book that we will revisit in the future. So, whilst I like the book it is not big on our list. And that is ok. JD and The Gruffalo will not suffer from our opting out and neither will Matt. Maybe if my pal (don't worry I won't name you, Elyse) can write a spin off based on her dad's invention of a wife for the Gruffalo we will get back into it. I am sure that 'The Muffalo' would fly off the shelves!

The reverse effect of The Gruffalo trail was experienced after watching a performance of The Scarecrow's wedding at the Lyceum Theatre by Scamp. We were invited along to see this show with our good pals. I was worried how Matt would cope for three reasons: he had not read the book very much; he does not like the dark; and he does not like people in costume (oversized cartoon costumes. He loves a Victorian as much as the next person.)  The book had the potential to win Matt over as it is set on a farm but for some reason it had failed to hold his attention. It is the tale of two scarecrows planning a wedding and Harry does his all to get everything they (Betty) want for their big day. I think Matt was initially disappointed with the equine absence in the book. Only today (as I type- who knows when you will read this) he showed his disdain for a rendition of Old MacDonald (Old MatDonald as he calls it) in the library because there was no horse.(Sorry about all the brackets. I will try to stop with the asides). I personally like The Scarecrow's Wedding- except for the ending. I find the resolution a little too bridezilla! Betty is saved from a fire and her reaction is phew we have everything on our list now let's marry. Surely a nicer and wiser ending would have been for the long sought after flowers to get ruined and for Betty to realise that the list wasn't important after all and only her love for Harry matters? Just a suggestion. Back to the show.

Ooh the excitement

                The boys were excited in the stalls. As were the fuzzy people in the background.

Matt looked a wee bit perplexed when the lights went out but the stage lit up, a banjo played and all was fine. He did not need my hand to hold although did take up my offer of a knee when a big head got in his way. The play was performed by three people and there were no hideous costumes. Phew. The humanization of the scarecrows as a love struck, giggly couple worked well. The boys were enthralled. The youngest of our posse, Eli, got so far into it he kept heckling the stage. The show gave a risky interpretation (depending on your definition of risk. Sorry more brackets). They used an armchair for a tractor, bells to represent cows, and the geese were portrayed with glove puppets. The one actor played a variety of roles as well as narrating. The shock of the day was that the boys were neither confused or disappointed by this approach. They accepted it and embraced it. Although Matt did cover his eyes at the kissing parts. They clapped along at the end and were both disappointed when it was over. Mrs S was relieved as Noah had been doing a wee dance for about twenty minutes. Over cake at an M&S cafe (the theatre cafe had closed after the performance- shame on you) we all agreed that it was a successful trip and that the show gave a great rendition of the book. Since then Matt has acted out a wedding with his Bruder figures and has showed a greater interest in the book. So a great result- that's culture for you, innit? 

The time has come to lay our cards on the table and declare our favourite JD books.  Drum roll please.  This has been a difficult task but we kept going for you, dear pals. First, our honourable mentions go to The Smartest Giant in Town, Tyrannosaurus Drip and The Troll as these are frequently chosen to be read at bedtime. However, the following are the JD books that most appeal to us.

One book that doesn't need bells or a banjo to win over Matt is The Highway Rat. It is his favourite JD book.

The Highway Matt

It is the tale of a greedy rat who steals food from other animals. He even 'once stole his own horse's hay'. Trying saying that fast. Most of the book flows in a lovely rhythm but I do cut some of the repetition of 'I am the rat of the highway' if it has been a long day. I am not sure Matt wholly gets the crux of the story when a clever duck leads the rat to a cave and he is enticed in by an echo. This is also a difficult piece of writing to read aloud. It is also hard to teach Matt the moral of the story when the naughty rat ends up working a cake shop which most three year olds would agree is a huge career success! However Matt loves a horse (if you didn't know) and the campfire picnic scene really holds his interest. It is food based so it is not one to read on an empty stomach or a full one. But, all in all it is a winner. 

My favourite JD book and Matt's second favourite after the above is Zog. This book is the tale of a dragon attending school and the progress he makes each year. Matt is three (possibly four when you read this) and he loves dragons and knights on horseback. Throw in a Princess and this book has it all. I don't want to spoil it for you so it is suffice to say that it is a modern fairytale that will appeal to all. It has a great twist of an ending.(Ignore that- The Other Parent spent the whole of The Usual Suspects telling me to wait for the massive twist so that when it came it was completely underwhelming!) For the reader, the book follows a simple structure with consistent rhythm so it is an effortless read. The little person has much to gain from this book too. Aside from the great characters there is a moral to the tale so maybe this should be the one JD book to demand our attention. This should be the one that girls and boys want to read. This should be the one we give as gifts and make a classic in our time. I urge you to read this to your children. Have I made my point?  

Ooooh look a baby dragon

And a knight. Wahoo.
And wait oh no- there's a cameo from The Gruffalo

Finally, the one that got away. There is one more JD book that should be on this list. Sugarlump and the Unicorn is the story of a horse who yearns for a different life and so follows a tale of his different horse world adventures. PERFECT. This book could have been Matt's forever book.  In fact, it is the story I would have loved to have written for Matt but with one small change: the cover. The issue we have with this book is that it had all the potential to win our hearts and minds but it fell at the first fence. If the unicorn could grant my wish it would be that the book had not been sparklified in the design/production process. There is a proud sticker on the cover of the book to celebrate that there is glitter on every page!? Why, WHy, WHY? The glitter is completely unnecessary and it's presence is detrimental to Matt's relationship to this book.

Son refused to be in photo

We practice sex equality at every opportunity. Matt has baby dolls and a pink buggy for them and in many ways he is open minded but more often than not he exhibits traditional masculine tendencies. And that is fine too. He is a little man boy trying to make sense of the world; to understand the codes and plot where he fits and what his role is. Matt does not identify with the book cover or the glitter and having the lead jockey in pink sparkly silks further alienates him from interacting with the story.

Should have been our winner

I have tried to explain that the glitter represents the Unicorn's magic but he cannot connect with it. Teaching Matt that glitter is for boys and girls is like telling him that vegetables are good for him. He hears it and he sort of understands it but he just doesn't feel it.

I am well aware we may be on our own with this but the point is that Matt sees himself as horse trainer, stable lad, cowboy, and jockey on any given day and he incorporates this into most play activities. It is no coincidence that the two JD books he has taken on as his faves feature horses. It is regrettable that the one story that would truly entertain him and engage his imagination is inaccessible because of a stylistic decision. I know boys and girls who would love the glittery book. I know boys and girls who would not even notice it. But, I do not know any other child who loves horses as much as Matt and who yearns for such a story. So, can we also use this opportunity to clarify that horse books, clothes, and toys do not have to be pink,purple or glittery? Thanks for that. I feel lighter now. Anyway, this could have been Matt's mostest favouritest book ever but he judged it by it's cover and is missing out on a wonderful story about his favourite animals. Maybe he will grow out of it and discover the delights of Sugarlump at some future point. I hope so- it is a lovely read. If you have a child who is not deterred by glitter then give this book a whirl. Actually, you can borrow our's!

For us there is no such thing as The Gruffalo, and Sugarlump is stuck in the starting gate, but we have a rat, dragons, a troll and a giant to inspire Matt's imagination and adventures. Now we just need some Zog slippers and some cake from The Highway Rat and we will be all set.

Few authors know their audience so well. Few authors write so broadly, wittily, softly, sweetly, or scarily as JD. The stories entertain parents and children alike. Read them, treasure them, share them, for Julia Donaldson's books are, without a doubt, the safe bet in children's literature. But, sometimes, Matt and I also like to take a punt on an outsider and that can pay dividends too.