...cooking soup of course. Why not?...
Felix's room is filled with books. Almost beyond capacity for the little shelves. My MIL saved a massive collection of books from her own childhood and that of her own children. We have copies of Make Way for Ducklings and Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel that are 3 generations old with the names of Felix's Grandparents or Great Aunts and Uncles scribbled in child handwriting on the inside of the front cover. He carries them around as if he understands how precious they are. Entering into his room you might think that we spend a ton of money on books (which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing) but instead you are walking into a veritable collection of heirlooms. I love it.
One of our most adored hand-me-downs is an original set of Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library from 1962. The little books are the perfect size for tiny hands. Felix loves to carry all four books around the house, stopping to enjoy one every once in awhile. He shoves them under his pillow at night. He reads them in the stroller on the way to the garderie. He frequently changes which book (or which page) is his favorite amongst the four, asking me to read it over and over again.
When we first started reading them a few months ago (my MIL wisely doles out the heirlooms slowly), it hit me that that I knew all of these stories but in a musical version. I realized that these are the stories featured in Really Rosie (1975) - a musical collaboration between Maurice Sendak and Carole King. Carole King composed music for all four books and they were put together under the guise of animated TV special about a young girl named Rosie, living in Brooklyn and entertaining her friends with the exaggerated and absurd adventures of her life. King did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life with her music and her compelling voice is pleasing for both adults and children. I think the Sendak-King combination works marvelously and it blows anything made by Disney out of the water.
And again, The Nutshell Library acts as a sort of reminder - of my husband's childhood, of my own, of the importance of sharing and preserving the past, and the long term impact of creativity and absurdity. I mean, seriously, a whole song about Chicken Soup with Rice? (And it's a really good song too!)
oh wow. we used to have those little maurice sendak books, too, but they are long gone. the wave of nostalgia at seeing them above is very overwhelming...
books as heirlooms are very important to me as well. not very many of books from my childhood survived. with 3 other siblings, and active imaginations, they did not all make it. i have salvaged a few. some of my favorites i have purchased as an adult. one big favorite: a hole is to dig, which is illustrated by mr. sendak. i can still hear my grampa reading it to us. i have the copy from his home.
felix is a lucky little guy!
Posted by: jen | March 26, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Oh jen - I'm so happy to bring back memories! Books can be so powerful - I too get overwhelmed sometimes when I come across books from my childhood, the memories just flood in. And unfortunately we have very few books from my childhood too. My MIL is one wise woman.
I definitely want to look for A Hole is to Dig - sounds like something Felix might be interested in!
Posted by: Sarah | March 26, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Those books are so great, I'm having a bit of book envy. I feel I should explain... I go to bookstores in order to feel peaceful. Something like this in my life would be such treasure, and I am happy to see others in the world feel the same. Now I have to go watch those video links.... Have a good one!
Posted by: amy | March 26, 2008 at 04:21 PM
carole king is so awesome, thanks for posting these great videos!
Posted by: Barbara | March 26, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Oh man, I loved Harold and the Purple Crayon when I was younger. I haven't read it for years, maybe next time I'm in the states I'll grab it at the library or something.
Posted by: kim | March 26, 2008 at 05:55 PM
I can't wait to watch the videos - I share your nostalgia for Sendak and Chicken Soup with Rice. One of the first plays I was in at summer camp, I was a tree in the forest for Where the Wild Things Are. Such treasures your MIL hung onto -- this is why I can never kill the sentimental pack rat in my soul. Lovely post!
Posted by: MamaBird | March 26, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Oh gorgeous! I love preloved books, they seem that much more special! Wonderful.
Posted by: Hay | March 27, 2008 at 01:51 AM
My sister had the Maurice Sendak little books and I had a set of little Christmas books. Somehow they got mixed up so, now we have the actual Nutshell Library box for the Sendak books but it is filled with my set of Christmas books. They are the perfect size. All of my kids loved these!
Posted by: Kristen | March 27, 2008 at 03:36 AM
Wow what a great hand me down! We love the videos. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: misschrisc | March 27, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Wow what a great hand me down! We love the videos. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: misschrisc | March 27, 2008 at 05:39 PM
i can't resist tiny books!
Posted by: Lori | March 27, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Fabulous. Seth and I watched the videos together. We actually have the chicken soup one on a CD my sister made for Seth. It was fun to see him connect the two. As for the books, way to go MIL!
Posted by: Anna | March 28, 2008 at 04:17 AM
I love heirlooms. I have a small cabinet purchased along a country road. It has a little glass door with the sweetest little latch, inside I have propped and stacked books from my grandfather. I can duck my head inside the cabinet and be instantly transported back to his pal, or my grandmother/s. I can hear their voices reading me Pooh or Girl of the Limberlost. Such a treasure to give your little one!
Posted by: amanda | March 28, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Truly wonderful heirlooms! I love that the books are written in by family from the past:) The Nutshell books are so lovely. I like that he carries them around with him everywhere:)
Posted by: Gypsy | March 29, 2008 at 02:24 AM
My parents have been great about stocking my girls shelves with books that I hope they'll keep and cherish like you have.
Posted by: meredith | March 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Oh what lovely photos of books - the Man-Cub has quite a few beloved heirlooms as well and Mike Mulligan was one of his favorites too! I miss a lot of his children's books now that he's moved on to chapter books...
Posted by: Teresa | March 29, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Harold is a family favorite. We also have the Nutshell library. I have fond memories of the Really Rosie series and searched high and low for the Carole King masterpiece. My dear friend pleasantly surprised me with the soundtrack. Wonderful!
Posted by: mrs. french | April 05, 2008 at 03:48 AM