Lazying (Is that a word? Whatever! I like it.) in bed this morning I finished my NYT games and turned toward today’s headlines. Aren’t they a treat lately? A president who sees himself as a monarch. A Supreme Court who feel beholden to him somehow. A Health and Human Services Secretary who despises science and medicine. A Secretary of Defense who shows continuing contempt for the rule of law.
I can only take so much of that so I moved on to other news. I perused the headlines and found an article about the death of Sophie Kinella, the author who pinned the ‘Shopaholic’ books. A brain tumor took her from her family at the very young age of 55. Way too young. But, by her own admission, she had a good life, and fortunately for us, left us a legacy of wit and humor.
Then I spied the names George and Martha in a headline. How I love George and Martha! A series of stories by the author/illustrator, James Marshall, featuring two hippos, many scenarios, lots of silliness, and an enduring and endearing friendship. I will still pick up a George and Martha book if I spy one I don’t already own at a used book store.
I don’t buy them for kids! I buy them for myself. Just like all of the Maurice Sendak illustrated books I own. They are mine. Leave them alone.
Picture George on the high diving board hesitating after having voiced a clear declaration of intent to jump. Martha below encouraging him. A few images later she, herself, jumps in an act of camaraderie. He then remarks from the ground, “I just didn’t feel like it today.” “Martha didn’t say a word.”
Friendship.
Like all good illustrated works of art neither the words nor the pictures can tell the whole story on their own. One needs both to get full gist of the meaning. Two superb examples among many are: “Two Bad Ants” by Chris Van Allsburg, and the great “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak.
Do kids always get that? Probably not at first. The drawings of two big hippos doing absurd things is probably what get their immediate attention. But kids who are read to can ask questions and adults who are doing the reading can point out the subtle nuances. Little early lessons in comprehension that will further their reading abilities as much as any sounding out of words.
I digress. But seriously read, read, read, read to your children.
Back to George and Martha. The themes are of sacrifice, holding a grudge and then letting it go, being true to yourself even when it is hard or might cause hurt. “Friends should always tell the truth.” Martha tells George in the Split Pea episode.
All of the ideas we can and should carry into adulthood, including honesty and forgiveness.
That it is comradery we all need in our lives.
To sit companionably together.
To look at ourselves, our faults and our foibles honestly.
To enjoy some silliness and a good laugh. Even at ourselves.
To recognize that a friend’s friendship is worth more than our own ego.
To be as good a friend as we expect to have.
Those seem good lessons at any age. Thank you Mr. Marshall!
Frank Marshall died of aides in 1992, but he left 75 books for all of us to learn from and enjoy.