Every so often, I post short reviews of children’s books – not so much the classics and tried-and-true, but new titles, because I’m all about the new.
(Tonight Joseph announced that he would not be eating any of the pork tenderloin we had for dinner because he no longer liked it. Just like last week he decided he no longer liked carrots. He just looked at me and said, "Things change." I suppose they do)
Four this week:
Joseph picked this one out at his school book fair (and yes I wrote to them about that Catholic stuff, and heard back, and need to get them a list of suggested titles and publishers. Thanks for reminding me!), and here’s the thing I like about it. The text rhymes. Honestly, when you have to read stories over and over again the only way to get through it with your sanity is to have a text that rhymes. It’s charming rhyming too, as we follow the mammoths on their migratory treck south, facing predators, blizzards and so on – wild and woolly mammoths! Particularly love the illustration of the mama mammoths circling their babies to protect them.
A charming, amusing story about a boy who helps out in his father’s rug shop in Morocco. His father insists that he must learn other languages in order to help out their customers – mostly tourists. Bored with the lessons, the boy runs out with a flawed rug he’s been given draped around him, a rug that for some reason (hint – look at the colors) attracts the attention of a rooster. Which then attracts the attention of various tourists in the market who all discuss what a rooster says in each of their languages. The story ends happily, as the boy, who started his day out rather badly, returns in victory, followed, as he is, by a slew of tourists destined for his father’s shop.
Not a new title, published as it was in 1995, but new to me. Very simple. Three mice discover three jars of paint. Each one jumps in a jar, and then they walk through the puddles they’ve made – a very cute and effective way to teach about primary colors and their combinations.
Finally, let’s get some religion.
Yes, that Rosemary Wells, author of the Max and Ruby books, among many others.
(Even at the age of 14, Katie is still bothered by one element of the Max and Ruby scene. If it’s on television while she’s walking through the room, she just shakes her head and worries, "Where are their parents?")
This is a lovely book – in her brief introduction, Wells notes the inspiration – the small town of Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer in southern France. The legend associated with the town is as follows:
The history of the town is closely liked with Provengal religious beliefs, according to which a frail craft from the Holy Land was shipwrecked here shortly after the death of Christ (ca. 44-45 AD), probably on the site of the Roman fort: the oppidum Rb. The ancient town was later engulfed by the sea.
During the persecution of the Christians fomented by Herod Agrippa, some of Jesus’ disciples were set adrift on a boat without sails or oars, as punishment for their faith in Christ. The persecuted included: Mary Salomi, mother of James the son of Zebedee, Mary Jacobi, the sister or cousin of the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdelene, Lazarus and his sister Martha, Maximus and Sidonius the blind man from Jericho
Mary Jacobi and Mary Salomi, who were already elderly, were the only ones to remain at this spot, accompanied by Sarah. Their companions dispersed to spread the gospel throughout Gaul. Saint Martha went to Tarasconwhere, by showing it the sign of the cross, she is said to have appeased the fabulous monster, Tarasque, that used to rise out of the waters of the Rhtne to devour children and livestock. She spent the rest of her life evangelising the town, where she finally died and is buried. Mary Magdalene headed for the mountain of Sainte Baume. Here she is supposed to have lived in an inaccessible damp cave (the angels apparently carried her there) having as her only clothing her remarkably long, thick hair. For fourty years she expiated her sins, and on her death was buried at Saint Maximin, where later a basilica was built. Lazarus went as far as Marseille and Maximinus to Aix to preach the gospel. The evangelisation of Gaul thus started in the first century AD from this foothold in Provence, often considered the cradle of Christianity.
Mary Jacobi and Mary Salomi also remained to preach the good word. The two women were listened to. Had they not seen Jesus on the cross and been witness to the Resurection?
Their word were reinforced by miracles, such as the gushing forth of a freshwater spring which supplies the well in the present-day church. They died within a few months of one another, soon to be followed by Sarah. THey were given the last sacrament by Saint Trophine, who came specially from Arles and probably officiated at their burial. All three saintly women were buried close to a small oratory which they had built.
(Some of you might recognize parts of this legend – the Martha and Mary Magdalene business made its way into the Golden Legend and other contemporary hagiographies, and the figure of "Sarah" has been turned by some moderns into MM and JC’s child.)
Anyway, Wells weaves her own story, of the two Maries, making them two friends who do something foolish, and are lost at sea because of it. God gives them another chance to do good on earth, which they do, effecting miracles on behalf of their friends and relations in their town. Yes, it strays from the original legendary material, but it has its own charm and is actually rather moving. Recommended!
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