"Gert leaned back on her
branch and picked up a
soft green maple key.
"Who can think about
winter on such a fine day?"
Alice harrumphed. But as
she returned to work,
she found herself humming
Gert's tune."
Helaine Becker dedicates this book 'In memory of Alice B. Toklas, Gertrude Stein, and Sheila Barry. Great ladies all.' Dena Seiferling adds her own nod 'For my parents, who raised me to value creativity, hard work, and kindness.' Together, the two create a story that will resonate with readers of the ant and grasshopper fable.
If you know this story, you will already know that the two come from separate sides of the benefits that come from hard work. Gert is often preoccupied with the warmth of summer sunshine, and the beauty to be found in nature. She spends much of her time trying to distract Alice from her hardworking ways. Alice is preparing for the coming winter when food will be scarce. Gert hears what she is saying, but isn't really listening. She prefers to spend her time composing music and creating a dramatic performance.
When winter rears its ugly head, Gert finally recognizes what she has done by ignoring the signs. How will she survive the long, cold winter? Where will she food buried under ice and snow? Luckily, Alice recognizes that Gert has played an important role in making her work a touch easier. She offers food and a place to stay.
"But," Alice continued, "your work
lightened my load, and now it's time
for me to repay your kindness. I've
collected enough food to last the
winter ..."
" ... for both of us."
Filled with wonderful narration, and accompanied by appealing and distinctive artwork, this is a tale that is sure to be requested numerous times. There is a softness to the illustrations that beg careful consideration. It's a soothing tale for bedtime, a fable to be shared at any time during the day, and offers a memorable twist on a story often told.
No comments:
Post a Comment