The Muppets rock.

What a fantastic movie.

To mark this Thanksgiving, my mom and I went and saw "Fantastic Mr. Fox," the new Wes Anderson movie. I had my doubts because I am not a huge Wes Anderson fan. Sullen Bill Murray amuses me, especially in Groundhog Day (although that wasn't a Wes Anderson movie). I feel the same about "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Rushmore" as I do about Morrissey's music. It's depressing and funny and awful all at the same time and I don't like it.

But "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is wonderful. I liked it much better than the book by Roald Dahl, which is patriarchal, with a too perfect Mr. Fox and a frail Mrs. Fox. In the movie, Mrs. Fox is Mr. Fox's partner in digging. I especially like that Mrs. Fox confronted a menacing rat with a chain. I noticed that Mrs. Fox's style of dress is similar to Michelle Obama's, which made me like her even more. And Mrs. Fox delivered one of the best lines when she said "Am I being flirted with by a psychotic rat?" I may have to use that someday.

Mr. Fox is flawed in the movie and comes to learn how his actions affect everyone. He is tormented by the possibility that he is not a good enough provider for his family, so he resorts to stealing chickens and cider from his neighbors. He has a column in the newspaper, which he doesn't think anybody reads (sort of how I feel about this blog sometimes.) When the neighbors shoot off his tail, his manhood is threatened even more. But in the end, his tail and manhood are restored. So, even though Mrs. Fox is more empowered in the movie than in the book, this is still a guy's movie about guy issues, hence Mr. Fox.

The humor in this movie is really offbeat and random. The scenes often end with flat dialogue, like with someone muttering something, but in an odd way, it kind of works. I think the part I laughed at the hardest was when Mr. Badger and Mr. Fox were quarreling and snarling back and forth. I can't even describe why that scene is funny. It just is.

Mr. Fox's son has a dream of being an athlete and in the end, finally wows his dad and everyone else with his impressive flips, bullet dodging, and karate chops. This reminded me of my dream when I was little, to be like the Olympic Gold Medalist, Mary Lou Retton. I would imagine myself soaring through the air, doing a zillion flips and landing gracefully on my feet. This dream was so tangible when I was five, even though it required that I be some kind of super hero.

I think a lot of kids can relate to that dream of suddenly acquiring impossible skills and saving the day. The part where a flood of apple cider washes all the animals away reminded me of a childhood idea of what it would be like to swim in something other than water, something delicious. Getting locked in a candy store after closing and going on an eating spree was another situation I fantasized about. By watching "Fantastic Mr. Fox," I could live vicariously through the characters, even though as an adult, I'd prefer to be locked in a bookstore or a library.

Dinner is almost ready and I feel I should raise my glass and end this blog entry with a Mr. Fox-like toast. So, here's to being fantastic. Happy Thanksgiving.

Funny books you will love

Yesterday I visited one of my favorite bookstores Annie Blooms, and read some new children's books. My three favorites made me laugh out loud. They were "You?" by Vladimir Radunsky, "The Secret Plan" by Julia Sarcone-Roach, and "I, Trixie who is Dog" by Dean Koontz.

"You?" is about a lonely girl and a lonely dog who meet in the park. They don't realize they are meant to be together until the end and spend most of the book longing for what they don't yet have, she for the perfect dog, and he for the perfect human. The illustrations get more bizarre as you turn the pages. Radunsky's style is primitive, but fresh. Looking at his website, I discovered lots of interesting books by him that I will have to check out.

"I, Trixie who is Dog" is a hilarious, unpredictable book. Koontz breaks the rules of writing for kids in that there's really no conflict, or climax or resolution. Reading this book feels like being dragged by an energetic dog at the end of a leah and not knowing where the dog will take you. There is rhyme, but no reason. I love the reappearing skunk and Trixie's friend dachshund.

And lastly, "The Secret Plan" by Julia Sarcone-Roach is about an elephant named Milo who is friends with three cats. Together, they come up with a plan to keep bedtime at bay and continue playing. Most of the humor is in the illustrations, which are beautiful. I love how the cat and elephant families are neighbors. They make such unlikely and adorable friends and their clever, but unsuccessful attempts to stop bedtime from happening will make kids and adults laugh.

Curious George, created out of courage.

While thinking about human stupidity in a historical context, it's easy for me to wonder why we humans, the most violent species, are still living. But books like "The Journey that Saved Curious George" by Louise Borden, remind me that people do amazing and commendable things. This book tells the true story of the couple that created the Curious George books and how they bicycled from Paris to Portugal in 1940 to escape the Nazis.

Their escape required so much of them. Hans had to build their bicycles himself and they had to rely on the kindness of strangers for shelter and extra food. Louise Borden begins one chapter with, "Margret and Hans were not afraid," but I find that hard to believe. She also plays up the French resistance, which wasn't much of a resistance. Constantly referring to Hans' and Margret's escape as a "journey" and an "adventure," in my opinion, downplays how dangerous their quest for survival was and how lucky they were to have survived.

This book is 70 pages long, so it would be challenging for younger kids to sit through, but it is beautifully illustrated and includes plenty of photos, many of which were taken by Margret. "The Journey that Saved Curious George" is fascinating enough to intrigue even the most reluctant readers. I also don't think kids will need much knowledge of history to appreciate this book.

Margret and Hans Rey are presented as such likable people. I wish I had known them personally. They loved animals and had pet monkeys, which Margret knitted sweaters for. They also had pet turtles, which Margret did not knit sweaters for. That would have been weird.

I loved the part about French police searching Margret's and Hans' home for evidence that they were German spies, but only finding pictures of monkeys, turtles, and penguins. After all their close calls, Margret and Hans made their way to New York, where Curious George was published a year later, in 1941.

I believe anyone who reads this book will be inspired. Hopefully, I will never be in such desperate circumstances where I have to pedal for my life, especially if I have to build my own bicycle. Then I would be out of luck. But I'm grateful that Margret and Hans, and Curious George survived.

In awe of Amelia Earhart

When I laid eyes on Amelia Earhart's first plane, The Canary, at the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, I was maybe 8 years old. Ever since then I've been a huge Amelia Earhart fan. She has been a fascination of mine and an inspiration, helping me aspire to independence and accomplishment of my goals.

Earlier today my mom and I stopped by the Flight Museum in Seattle to check out an Amelia Earhart exhibit and I got chills all over again. I saw Amelia Earhart's flight suits, her silk scarf, even a compact she would take with her so she could gusssy up for reporters.




Same Sized Hands!!!








The exhibit featured an impressive gallery of photos, videos, artifacts, even fashion photos from the women's clothing line Amelia started.

When I was a kid I recognized Amelia as the epitome of independence and I wanted be like just like her. I vowed never to get married as vehemently as Peter Pan vowed never to grow up. This was because Amelia Earhart believed that marriage could compromise a woman's independence. She still got married to George Putnam, but that was okay because contrary to most men at the time, George let Amelia keep her career. Not only that, he helped her launch her career, publishing three books she wrote and organizing public appearances for her.
In the Flight Museum's gift shop I purchased an Amelia Earhart poster. Now I can have the pleasure of seeing her beautiful face and feeling inspired by her bravery every time I glance at it.

As far as kids' books are concerned, I highly recommend "Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride," which is about Amelia Earhart's friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt. It is a beautifully illustrated picture book with charisma on every page.

Also, I highly recommend "Sky Pioneer: A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart." This book is well written, intriguing and respectful to its readers, as I have found all National Geographic kids books to be.

I haven't seen the new movie "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank yet, but I will soon enough. I know Amelia Earhart will continue to inspire people to break the molds society casts for them and to overcome fears of inadequacy and failure.

Amazing talent in Eugene

Wow! I just watched a fabulous episode of Oregon Art Beat that featured an interview with children's book author/illustrator Johanna Wright.

Her artwork is charming, brilliant and evocative. I would proudly hang any of her paintings on my wall or wear a shirt with one of her illustrations on the front. I would even consider getting a tattoo of something she's drawn. Her art work is that beautiful.

Johanna said she studied puppetry and children's books at Evergreen before moving to New York, and then to Eugene, where she currently resides. On this episode of Art Beat, I had the joy of watching her read her book "The Secret Circus" in front of a preschool class. She read in a very funny, French-accented mouse voice, and I noticed a mouse finger puppet peeking over the top of the book, as if he were telling the story.

Watching her work, I was surprised to see how fast her hand moves across the page, like a pianist playing "Flight of the Bumblebee." Once the drawings are done, she transfers the images to canvas and paints them.

Johanna said she wanted to write and illustrate children's books after getting hooked on Reading Rainbow as a kid. It's heart warming to think she and I were probably watching the same shows and planning our careers at the same time.

Here is her website, so you can go admire her work. If you click on her blog, you can watch the episode of Art Beat.

http://johannawright.com/home/