#brundibar

I buy a lot of things online, basically because of the convenience.  It’s so much easier to research a product, read the customer reviews, and then find the best price and have it delivered to my door than to go out shopping with three young kids all by myself.

However, it does have some drawbacks.  For instance, you can’t actually pick up and see what you’re buying.  You’re relying on photographs and comments from others to make your decision.  This Christmas I bought some books for the kids.  I purchased some I knew they’d like (Thomas the Tank Engine for Thomas and Angelina the Ballerina for Rebecca), along with some favorites.  I also browsed some of the best sellers, to see what I could find.

I discovered a book by Mrs. Cheney (you know, the wife of our current Vice President) that had the ABC’s of America.  It took us on an alphabetical journey through the United States.  I also bought another book she wrote that featured historical women (A is for Abigail Adams, B is for Betsy Ross, etc.).  It was full of great pictures.

Oops… I got off track there.  I’m supposed to be writing about a purchase I made online.  While I was searching for books I found a new one entitled Brundibar.  Not much was written about the book, but the drawings were by Maurice Sendak.  He’s either written or done the illustrations for hundreds of books, and most things he touches turns to gold.  Apparently the reviewer went on this alone and never opened the book because it was horrible!

After getting it in the mail I was reading it and wondering  how it became a best seller?  Brundibar is a picture book about two kids who have a mom that’s sick so they go out looking for milk for her. The story line isn’t bad, it was the words that were used.  I think it was a German book that was translated (poorly) into English.  Apparently it was modeled after a popular play in the 1930s…

It uses phrases that do not belong in a children’s book:  “He put his cold, red ear on mommy’s breast and she looked a the ceiling and “HMMMMMMM” the doctor said.  Run, run to town!  You must bring your mommy milk fresh milk is the thing for someone who is sick”.  The next line begins “Oh, our daddy died when we were babies…”

Everyone they talk to is mean to them, and the pictures are dramatic.  Negative words abound, and although the story line is positive (work together to get something done), it happens in a roundabout way.  The verse doesn’t flow.  I was really upset with this book, mainly because it was supposed to be wonderful.  I had a hard time finishing it:  I kept wanting it to end.

I did however get a good book while searching online.  This one’s entitled Who Needs Donuts?  And was both written and illustrated by Mark Alan Stamaty. This book was written in the 1970s and is absolutely hilarious.  It was all about a boy who collects donuts, and in true 1970s fashion revolves around the phrase “Who needs donuts if you’ve got love?”