Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The fleeting passions of toddlerhood

Umbrella
By Taro Yashima

1958, Viking Press

Paperback by Puffin Books
A Caldecott Honor book


Lately it's been all about the frog boots. They are, of course, very green. Rubber, like all rain boots. With eyes on the toes and loopy handles on both sides with which to pull them on. A bit too big, quite possibly oozing phthalates, but totally cute.

And Rosie LOVES 'em. With a serious, dogged, unjaded, two-foot-tall love. A love so ardent it hints toward an inner geek, waiting to mature and be redirected toward Tolkien, clarinet or videogames. (Please, let it be clarinet.)

If we did not hide them from her, Rosie would wear her frog boots every day. All day. Over elastic-waist pants. Beneath fancy dresses. To the playground. Daycare. Or just around the house. She's been known pull them on a last time at the end of the evening, clomping down the hallway clad only in a diaper and frog boots, en route to her bedtime bath.

So of course we couldn't resist "Umbrella." The wistful little tale, set amid dreamy illustrations, follows the author's daughter as she waits anxiously for an autumn shower to allow the debut of her 3rd birthday gift, red rubber boots and an umbrella. When Momo's wish finally comes true, she treads carefully to and from nursery school, clutching her prized possession.

We read the book four times tonight: First at the neighborhood bookstore, where we found it. Again in the car on the way home. The third time snuggled together in the big brown chair in the living room. And one last time before bed.

And each time I choked up in the final pages, which so beautifully explain why Yashima has chosen to highlight this particular moment of his daughter's life:

Momo is a big girl now,
and this is a story
she does not remember at all
.

Does she remember or not,

it was not only the first day of her life

that she used an umbrella,

it was also the first day in her life
that she walked alone,
without holding either

her mother's or her father's hand...

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The boots. Yes, Ruby is very much a fan of the boots, too. Mary had those frogs, by the way, but we can't find them now. Ruby makes do by wearing her big sister's Spider Man boots, like Rosie, with nothing but a diaper.

Speaking of umbrellas... I discovered this today.

Anonymous said...

I can just picture Rosie in her diaper and frog boots...and it made me laugh out loud. James has had now several pairs of boots, but none so special as his first and only (so far) umbrella...Curious George. He would use it daily if only we would let him. Nate, though, is in love with his UGGS and his Crocs. Looks like I will need to let Santa know that Nate needs bigger UGGS for Christmans