We are snug together for the holiday weekend, reading and cooking and tending to other holiday joys like last-minute gifting and wrapping and visiting... and reading poetry, of course!
In that spirit I wanted to share with you DO RABBITS HAVE CHRISTMAS? by Aileen Fisher, illus. by Sarah Fox Davies.
Confession: I am not all that familiar with Aileen Fisher's work, and it was Charles Waters who said I must watch the video about her done by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Renee LaTulippe over at No Water River... so I did! I learned Aileen loved nature and did NOT love any sort of public life. I was happy to find her book DO RABBITS HAVE CHRISTMAS at my library, and I've got to say: she had me at that wonderful wonder-ing question of a title! The poem with the same title closes the book -- I will leave you to discover it. Meanwhile I'd like to share these two favorites, both of which (interestingly) have some sewing/garment analogies:
December
I like days
with a snow-white collar,
and nights when the moon
is a silver dollar,
and hills are filled
with eiderdown stuffing
and your breath makes smoke
like an engine puffing.
I like days
when feathers are snowing,
and all the eaves
have petticoats showing,
and the air is cold
and the wires are humming,
but you feel all warm . . .
with Christmas coming.
- Aileen Fisher
Snow Stitches
Who's the one
in winter's house
who likes to stitch and sew?
Around the meadow's
new white blouse
some dainty footprints go.
No, not a hare.
No not a grouse.
But just a plucky little Mouse. . .
That's the one
whose footprints show
like stitches in the new white snow.
- Aileen Fisher
Happy Holidays to all! Wishing each a rabbit-y winter. xo
A rabbit-y winter to you, too! Thanks for the lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI love Aileen Fisher's stuff. When it was "poetry time" I often shared her poems with the class. They had an easy rhythm and rhyme to them. I always read "Mice Are Rather Nice" in December, and then we made salt dough mice and designed and created mouse houses! So much fun. Maybe it's time for the grandchildren to do that!
ReplyDelete"Mice Are Nice" is Aileen's...
Delete"Mice" (are rather nice) is Fyleman's...confusing!
Oh, these are wonderful! Thank you for the reminder--I'll have to find more of her work!
ReplyDeleteShe writes things so fresh, and they are wonderful, Irene. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThese two are a rabbity-delight (or should I say mousey.) I thought I had an Aileen Fisher book on my shelf saved from my kids' younger days, but now I can't find it. Will have to look more later--thanks for sharing this one.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I have missed this book. I'm going to add it to my reading list. Thank you, Irene. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love the "December" poem you shared, all the petticoats and stuffing–it's lovely and I want to take a closer look at this book, thanks for sharing it! I'll make my way over to Renée and Lee's video too. BTW I have a cottontail that has been living in my backyard since the spring, and she's still there now. She huddles in a few different spots–if I'm very quiet in looking for her she doesn't dash off. I just posted a small pic of her on my FB page yesterday. Merry Christmas to you and your Family Irene!
ReplyDeleteYep, Aileen Fisher rules ... and so do you! #lathampower
ReplyDeleteWhat great rythym and rhyme. Happy Holidays to you and yours...I am going over the river and to the wood to see that video.
ReplyDeleteBoth absolutely charming and lovely! Seems to feel reminiscent of Beatrix Potter in a way, with a charming vintage feeling.
ReplyDeleteJane, I thought immediately of Beatrix Potter, too! Probably because I watched the film Miss Potter the other night. She definitely thought rabbits have Christmas. Thanks, Irene, for these delightful poems. I'll look for more of Aileen's work and see the video!
DeleteLove Aileen Fisher! So buoyant and fresh. I want to read the rest of this book -- thanks for letting us know about it!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read more of her work! Such comfy cozy words. Thanks for sharing, Irene!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to have two winter poems with sewing metaphors! These will be perfect to share with my students!
ReplyDeleteThese are charming!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these poems are delightful. I look forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a delightful book! I had to give away so many poetry books when we downsized, but not this one:>)
ReplyDeleteI love these sewing references too, Irene--but I'm finding that most of my 2nd graders don't know what needles are, or thread vs. yarn, or embroidery, and the only stitches they know about are the kind you get at the emergency room!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, let's make a book of basic poems about sewing...
Happy, merry and bright to you and yours, Irene!
So so lovely...and for a sewer like you, even more so (sew)! Much Christmas and New Year love to you and to your family! xxxx
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem Irene. Please follow my blog too. I'm an author
ReplyDelete