Amazing amount of excitement, anticipation, and i expect resentment and suppressed fear right now around the obama inauguration… i will try to avoid getting too deeply into politics in this blog despite my fascination with it — i’ve learned the hard way over the years that there is actually some wisdom to the old warning about talking about politics and religion across the dinner table.
so my final irony here is that my son ian, a blond, blue-eyed two-year-old living in the hills above 21st century los angeles, can respond so fully to the tale of a black kid walking in the snow, almost five decades ago, in a city my kid has never visited and a season he has never really experienced. the book gives ian a glimpse into a world he’s never seen before. through his enthusiasm, he’s taken me there too.
Jess says
Interesting post. Now I’ll be keenly aware of trying to find other depictions of quiet-thought-in-action in kids books we have. Reminds me, I need to James a copy of “The Snowy Day” — especially since he’s been getting to know snowy New York lately.
Scott Timberg says
yes so many kids books, like kids lives, are about physical action…. keats makes snow about as poetic as i’ve ever seen it… makes me almost regret it did not snow on the inauguration yesterday….