Talk Back

[shaw]

We are getting into border territory - children's book. We all agree that a harry potter novel "counts" and that Goodnight Moon or Babar does not. So I'm going to be conservative here - but as I said in the beginning ... there ARE standards in this group, it is just that Jeff and I aren't going to impose ours on other people... We each decide for ourselves what counts, and we know deep down what is and isn't a book.

So I read this in fifth grade, and forgot the title and author. Fast forward decades. Then this "internet" thing came around (this is before the web, btw) and I posted a plea on USENET. I described everything I could remember about it, and someone told me the title, and I got it used.

Now, of course, it's been reprinted and I got a copy for Francie. This is the second Long book I've read aloud to her. She never wanted me to stop. "One more page!" "One more page!" "PLEASE!" It was great fun reading it aloud.

This is reviewed on Amazon as a "girls book" which of course pisses me off, because it is not a "girls book" - it is a book. Yes, all the characters are female. But so freaking what? I hate the compartmentalization of children's literature. One of Francie's favorite picture books (the snowy day) is hard to find in some bookstores unless you know to look where the "african american" books are, or the "multicultural" or whatever - it is a book about a little boy playing in the snow.

But I digress.

Gloria is a little doggie six inches high who does over 100 distinct tricks, and asks this stodgy old lady if she could move in. The old lady is delighted, because she can show the dog off to her society friends - one catch.. the dog comes with a 5 year old girl who she (the dog) takes care of. And so Annabel (whose name I pronounced Anbil in 5th grade) come to live with the old lady. And there is something ... unique about Annabel.

Don't read the back cover - it gives Annabel's secret away. The edition I read in 5th grade had no spoilers on the back cover. This is from memory, and I close with it: "It was Gloria's job to protect Annabel... and to keep her secret, no matter WHAT!"

[Samurailynn]

Kid's books are so much fun.