The books that made The Cuters laugh four decades ago are the backbone of the books I choose to read to today's Prince kindergarten kids. Possibly my favorite picture book is this one:
Marvin is bemused and amused. We are never told where he is or why he must go now!
There is only this finger, this emphatic, insistent finger, which no kid can resist imitating.
The finger is not unreasonable. It offers Seussian alternatives, from the ridiculous cow
to the sublime Krunk Car.
My favorite is stamp yourself and go by mail.
The transfer of a pretend stamp from your palm to your forehead makes it seem just a bit more real, for a moment or two, before more suggestions and more bemusement and then the time had come, so Marvin went.
Why am I telling you a children's story? I'll tell you.
This book was published in 1972, when Richard M Nixon was President. He was not well loved, for those of you too young to remember. Dr. Seuss was asked to write on the subject and instead of penning something new he used his pen and replaced Marvin K Mooney with Richard M Nixon.
I've always liked that story. It feels delightfully subversive. For years I would tell it to the teachers as the kids settled into their places on the rug. Ruefully, once again I include the observation that one can use any President, as long as the rhythm works.
I have an idea for a post about the past and the future and maybe a why, but I don't want to dwell in that space tonight.
That's why I told the story.
all the graphics are from https://seuss.fandom.com/wiki/Marvin_K._Mooney
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