I grew up singing to trees. My mother and I would hug their big trunks and press our ears against their rough bark. “Do you hear them?” my mom would ask? “Do you hear them singing to you?” Not only did this teach me to have an out-of-control imagination (and paranoia at times….helllo? if trees can talk to you then you better believe that they can hear and see what your mischief ass is up to!), but it taught me the lesson it was intended to. Everything is alive and pulsing. If only we would listen.
When I saw The Goat Lady in a local shop, I bought two copies. One for my mom (whom some people to refer to as The Goat Lady) and one for my closest friend, Laya. This beautiful children’s book is full of stunning portraits of the main character with her goat. If I could get my hands on these prints, I would fill my whole house with them…they are that lovely. The silver-haired old woman that you see in these paintings raises goats and heals people with their raw milk. This amazing Earth Mama was once feared by the neighborhood children, but once the kids realize that she only embodies love, they begin to listen. If ever I have children, I will read them this book to sleep every night. How refreshing to see a children’s book that actually aims to teach our children compassion and how to have an open mind and gargantuous heart.
I grew up reading Grandfather Twilight, the most heavenly book to drift off to sleep listening to. Every evening, Grandfather Twilight removes one pearl from a strand that he keeps and walks through the forest. As he walks, he brings peace and quiet to everything in his path. Eventually he comes to the ocean, where he releases the growing pearl into the sky so that it may take its place as the moon. Again, the illustrations in this book are exquisite. You can practically feel the fairy dust dripping from Grandfather Twilights’s whole being. Oh my, how I wish I had a copy to read right now!
What was your favorite book as a kid?! tell me tell me!
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