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Rev. Joey N. Welsh: on The Runaway Rabbit ANOTHER ANGLE: the occasional musings of a Kentucky pastor From The Hart County News-Herald, May 22, 2005 By The Rev. Joey N. Welsh SMALL BOOK, BRIEF LIFE, BIG MEANING When my boys were young I read a lot of books to them. Most of them I dont even remember. One book for small children does stand out in my memory, though. I remember it not because I read it to my oldest son, I recall it because it was the first book he read to me from cover to cover in those early days when he was just becoming fascinated with his ability to decipher the printed word. The book was Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown. Published in 1942 and reprinted many times, the story tells in word and picture about a little bunny who says he wants to run away from home. To make his journey successful he imagines transforming himself into any number of objects or creatures, but his mother always matches his vision by telling how she will transform herself into anything necessary to stay right with him. For you are my little bunny, she says. It is a wonderful and consoling story of the persistence of parental love. And, perhaps, it can be seen as much more than that. Margaret Wise Brown also wrote Goodnight Moon (my choice for the best ever bedtime story for children), The Little Island (a Caldecott Medal winner), and about 100 other books for children. Tuesday, May 24, marks 95 years since Brown was born, in 1910, in Brooklyn, New York. Her talent burned brightly but for too short a time. She died at just 42 years of age following complications from minor surgery. Her life, her works, and her insights are worth remembering. The 1999 Pulitzer Prize for drama went to Margaret Edson for Wit, a play about a professor of 17th century English poetry and expert on John Donne who struggles with cancer. Edson herself is a teacher who loves nurturing kindergartners, and she kept teaching in Atlanta even after she became successful as a playwright. Edson found a striking way to work Margaret Wise Browns book into her play. The play shows us how, toward the end of her struggle,professor Vivian Bearing receives a visit in her hospital room as her life is ebbing away. The visitor, Dr. Ashford, has been Vivians teaching and literary mentor. Dr. Ashford offers to recite some classical literature to Vivian, but the dying woman finds no more comfort in English literature and declines the offer. Dr. Ashford then draws close and reads to Vivian a book she has just bought for her grandchild - Runaway Bunny. As Dr. Ashford reads about the mother who wont let her little bunny get away from her, the professor comments on the book, calling it a little allegory of the soul. Suddenly, a sweet little childrens book becomes for us a description of Gods willingness to stay intently, lovingly and gracefully with us no matter what, even when we become restless and want to stray. This is a big message for such a delicate book, but Runaway Bunny is quite sturdy enough to bear another such layer of interpretation. During this week ahead say a word of thanks for Margaret Wise Brown and for all of the authors who practice the fragile art of writing for children. Visit the childrens section at your local library. Pick a book or two to read to a child who is special to you, then do it. Not only will you be doing something wonderful for a child, but you might, like Dr. Ashford in the play Wit, receive an insight for yourself that is more valuable to you than anything you are giving to the child. Happy reading! To read other Another Angle: the Occasional Musings of a Kentucky Pastor enter "Rev. Joey N. Welsh" in the searchbox. This story was posted on 2007-06-24 08:00:28
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Books:
Summer reading: LWC professors share lists of books they will read New books for summer time 2007 reading at AC Library Rev. Joey N. Welsh: Guthrie and Knifley, Warren and Giles Author Bobbie Ann Mason at LWC, 4pm, Today, March 22, 2007 Author Bobbie Ann Mason at LWC March 22, 2007 New Mid-Winter Events added at Library Christmas Party on 20th instead of Story Hour Adair County Library Honor & Memorial Book Program Kentucky author Kay Gill gives election night reading at LWC State Librarian James A. Nelson retires after 26 years of service View even more articles in topic Books |
 
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