C is for Chicken (Soup with Rice)

Today is an easy pick. It is something wonderfully cheesy (or soupy) from my childhood. Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak, is a book of months in verse. Maurice also wrote Where the Wild Things Are and many other books, even a musical.

I loved this book growing up and am pretty sure I read it close to a million times. I remember reading it myself or having one of my parents read it to me. And I swear, this is the truth, it gets faster with each month's verse, even when you try to not rush it. It's a weird word magic!

What' even weirder is that Chicken Soup with Rice was turned into a song. It is also magical because it is sung by Carole King. The song version was included in  a musical, Really Rosie, written by Maurice Sendak and with music by Carole King in 1980. Before that it was an animated children's special that aired on CBS in 1975. You can find it on YouTube. Later it went onto Off-Broadway in 1980 and revived in 2017. The story is about the sassiest kid in Brooklyn, Rosie and how she tells and acts out her stories with her her friends, the Nutshell Kids t keep the boredom away during summer vacation. Rosie is the bossy star of the show, but it features several character from other books Pierre (Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in 5 Chapters and a Prologue), Alligator (Alligators All Around), and Chicken Soup (Chicken Soup with Rice).

There is something special in the worlds of Maurice Sendak, whether and island of Wild Things or Alligator acting out the alphabet or having adventures with your favourite soup. I know that's why I love Chicken Soup with Rice and Where the Wild Things Are.

What is your favourite Maurice Sendak book growing up? What was you favourite book from another children's author, like Dr. Seuss or William Steig (for example)?

And now for the pantoum. This will likely get silly. Just warning you, in case you are squeamish about all things silly. Enjoy! (Note: this one was rather fun to write, BTW)

Hot Soup Praises

When singing praises of hot soup today,

remember not to blow too hard

or upon your floor your soup will grace

and a frown  upon your face will cast.

Remember not to blow too hard

for soup is better warmed than ice cold

and a frown upon your face will cast

if to taste of soup so frigid cold.

For soup is better warmed than ice cold

for who would want some chilly soup today?

If to taste of soup so frigid cold--

a soupicle upon a stick.

For who would want some chilly soup today?

But rather penguins might deem to like

a soupsicle upon a stick,

that you are now forced to lick.

But rather penguins might deem to like

your soup on a stick, indeed

that you are now forced to lick.

So, maybe for a trade now is time?

Your soup on a stick, indeed

or upon your floor your soup will grace.

So, maybe for a trade now is time,

when singing praises of hot soup today.

Top 10 Children's Stories

It's the "Day of the Doctor" and what am I choosing to blog about? Children stories! Yes, I am crazy. While I know I should put to paper (or put to word document) my thoughts about the 50th Anniversay of Dr. Who, I can't really see doing that until after I have watched "Adventures in Time and Space" and "The Day of the Doctor." Expect some new blogs in the coming week.

Today I am featuring my top 10 favourite stories from my childhood. These are stories that I grew up reading, or being read to at bedtime. In a conversation with my Dad this morning, we were discussing how I have taken taken care of my books, which turned into stories and my collection of storybooks. Now over the years my quite stellar and awesome book collection has changed and sometimes books in the said collection some tomes ended up going to new homes; but I have always kept those near and dear to my heart. Today I want to share the stories that are close to my heart. And...

In honour of the current Doctor's penchant for been a child and often acts like a regular Peter Pan, I present my top 10 Children's Books.

10. The Sweet and Sweet Gang books: These are a series of books written about the adventures of Sweet and Sweet gang. Not very complex story lines, but they are cute and the art that goes with them really makes the story. I had 6 of the original 8 books. They are oddly hard to find now-a-days.







9.  Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni: A simple story about a Fish and his wish to see

what the other side is like. Best line, "You were right. Fish is Fish."

8. Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak: This one was always fun to recite, with the rhyming and the diction that would be required. Also a great way to learn the months of the year. "In June, I saw a charming group of roses droop. I peppered them with Chicken Soup..."







7. Corduroy by Don Freeman: What's more adorable than a Teddy Bear. A

teddy bear looking for his lost button. Enough said. Give you a nice perceptive of the toys. Like a early Toy Story.

6. The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt: This version of this story is the one I am most familiar with. What happens when a Mouse finds a Lost Mitten!









5. Round Robin by Jack Kent: Have you ever wondered what happens to the

birds on the travels south? You do now! Best line, "Hippity, Hoppety, Boppety, Bump!"

4. Tom and Jerry's Party by Steffi Fletcher: I think I read this book out as a child. The story of Tom and Jerry and their friends all having a party after hours. As a fan of the cartoon, I loved seeing duo actually having fun together.

3. Roland the Minstrel Pig by William Steig: A minstrel pig and his journey.

2. The Frances Books (Bread and Jam/Best Friends for Frances) by Russell and Lillian Hoban: The writer's of the popular story Emmet Otter's Jug Band. The stories of a young badger and her love of jam defies all logic!

1. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber (and House on East 88th Street): A crocodile living in NYC! Do I need to say more? Best Line, "Swish, Swash, Splash Swoosh!"