What can I say? When I was 2—long, long ago, back in the time of caves, when dinosaurs ruled the earth and parents left children in cars—my sister (a fresh plumpy newborn) and I were left in the back of our Humber car while our parents popped out—just for a second. When they left us, […]
Is It Words?
Recently, James Witmer included a wonderful post from his wife, Julie, in the Story Warren drafts and I was delighted to publish it. Today, it’s my own very beautiful wife’s turn. You may think I’m just posting it because I turn out to be the hero in the end. Maybe. Who’s denying it? Or maybe […]
Cowardly Clyde
I have often heard that stories affect us more like experience than fact, working their way down into our unconscious beliefs. This held true in my childhood reading, and Bill Peet’s picturebook, Cowardly Clyde, is a great example of how. Allow me first a quick outline of the story, why I still love it, then a few […]
Mice that speak and the language of imagination
Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle was one of my most memorable reading experiences of my young life. It stuck out to me, I think, because it was the first time I was aware of suspending disbelief. And I was glad to. Here’s why: The Mouse and the Motorcycle features a mouse named Ralph. Ralph lives […]
Light for the Lost Wingfeathers
This week is the Story Warren’s first appreciation/thankfulness week, where we take an entire week to celebrate a person whose imaginative work we feel is a gift to parents and children. This week we celebrate Andrew Peterson: singer, songwriter, and novelist. That’s right, novelist! We talk a lot about Peterson’s music, but the week wouldn’t […]