This picture book has long been in our reading rotation. Great premise. A little boy looks for reassurance from his mother that she would still love him even if he were an alien, or if he had a repellent smell or an iron lung. It's an excellent way of illustrating unconditional love. Got it.
The scenarios escalate in absurd detail and he wonders aloud if he were a sea creature who couldn't leave the water or he'd die would his mother stay with him forever. You do start to think, well that'd be a drag, but you are the love of my life, so, I suppose, yes.
But soon he goes over the top..."but mama, but mama, what if I'm an alligator who east the neighborhood kids and I blame it on you? Would you still love me then?" Or, "but mama, but mama, what if I have agoraphobia and never leave the house so you have to care for me till you die? Would you still love me?" That's when you start thinking, good question.
So, you turn the tables. You ask the kid, "What if I had elephantiatis of (pick your body part?) Would I still be welcome on parents' night?" Or, "what if mommy and daddy dressed and spoke like frontiersmen and we talked about our ox and plow to everyone? Could we still come to your ball games?" I don't know either.
Of course, we do love this book and every iteration of it. We have them all, but when you read it so many times this is where your mind goes. Well, now it certainly will, but you'll appreciate it on a whole new level!
No comments:
Post a Comment