Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Places We'll Go!

TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book.
~Author Unknown


There are a lot of theories out there about how television effects kids. As with most things, I think it's harmless in moderation. In fact, my middle child has learned an enormous amount from the History Channel and Animal Planet.

But books... "Oh, the places you'll go." How often do we hear the statement, "The book was so much better!" as people leave a movie theater. I still shudder each time I think of the damage done to the Inkheart story by it's movie counterpart. The world's we can visit, the sights we can see, the people we can meet... nothing is better than the discoveries waiting for us inside every new book. And we get to be a part of it!
so... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Alenn O'Shea
you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So... get on your way!
One day, it will be our worlds, our sights, and our characters they'll be discovering. Keep dreaming. Keep writing. Keep querying. Oh, the places we'll go if we persevere!!

39 comments:

Heather Sunseri said...

Oh, so true, Shannon. I love that book, by the way - Oh, the Places We'll Go.

Kayeleen Hamblin said...

I love that book. My 3yo is a great example of this. He doesn't even care if I am reading the book to him. He makes up his own story for what he sees. He loves books!

Carolyn V. said...

Shannon! This is my favorite Dr. Seuss book! Did you know he wrote that one for adults? It's awesome. =)

My kids love books. My daughter just got into a series and I'm so excited to see her read. =)

Unknown said...

My family didn't own a TV when I was a kid, and I have a wealth of happy childhood memories. There is so much in the world for kids to discover. Books to read, trees to climb, adventures to imagine. The good doctor had it right. We are off to great places! Today is our day!

Patti Lacy said...

Love your blog, which ALWAYS inspires me!

Dr. Seuss was amazing!!

Correct that--is amazing! He lives on through...his words!

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

SO very true my dear. I loved Inkheart the book. I pray my son will look for books than babbling baffling amusement

Tana said...

That's my favorite book!!! I'm taking my DD to the library today. :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

I love that quote! And the book is fabulous. My mom gave it to me when I graduated, and it's a great lesson for my own daughters.

Anonymous said...

That's so true! I love movies, but I have to agree that book is a magical thing that movie cannot replace.

Gail said...

While I don't think I'll be alive long enough for my words to have as long a history as Dr. Seuss, I hope they will be remembered by some children! Great post!!!

Unknown said...

I have always loved this book, it was one of my graduation gifts when I graduated High School, though it's meant for younger I still always loved it and still do. I would love to own all the Dr. Suess books, just like the Rohl Dahl books, great for nostalgia!

Sherrie Petersen said...

I'm so glad my kids usually prefer the books to the movies. Actually, I'm just glad they enjoy books as much as they do!

Heather said...

That was so inspiring I'm sniffling. Thank you, I needed that!

Julie Dao said...

I LOVE that book. I got it as a graduation present when I finished high school and it still thrills me to the core today, thinking of oh! the places I'll go :)

B. Miller said...

Wonderful, uplifting post! Thanks for sharing this today, I needed it! YAY FOR BOOKS! :)

Elana Johnson said...

Amen, sista!! And yes, keep going. Don't give up. Do hard things. :) :)

Tere Kirkland said...

Loved that book as a kid. Made me feel like anything was possible.

Thanks for the reminder. ;)

* said...

Great quote, great book!

I love & appreciate the writerly inspiration that flows from your blog!!

Jana said...

You didn't know that because the job is not even officially open yet. The two that are there right now are moving up to Glacier, then Nancy and I will apply to move up to the middle school. It is still just a chance or idea, nothing set in stone!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

We literally read this book to our boys in-utero! I so, sooo love it! It was our very first children's book. Now our bookshelves groan with them.

Christine Danek said...

You are so right and great inspiration is always needed. I love this book and I now read it to my daughter (who loves it too).
Thanks!

Jana said...

Thanks!! It is an excitng prospect, truly where I think I want to be, but I know I will miss a lot of things about elementary. But, I'd get to be where my kids are and will be for the next 5 years!!

Shelley Sly said...

Awww happy post! :D I love that book, too.

Unknown said...

I so agree! Thankfully, my kids tire quickly of Jake and Josh, and iCarly. They do love the Discover and History channels. Right now? They're outside running in the sunshine :))

Great post!

PJ Hoover said...

i used to think TV was evil, but when I look at where I get inspiration, I think it's a mix of books, tv, movies. It all goes into the equation.

Natalie said...

That's one of my favorite children's books! I think the possibility of creating worlds for children to enjoy is the most fun thing about writing.

sarahjayne smythe said...

Awesome post. So very true. :)

VR Barkowski said...

THIS is why I write, not fame or fortune. Thank you, Shannon.

Jaydee Morgan said...

Nice post!

It always amazes me how we usually do think the book was better than the movie - and yet, we (well, some of us) dream of writing a book that maybe, someday, might be made into a movie. It's crazy.

cleemckenzie said...

Lovely, those places we can go. I appreciate the ones I visit in both books and movies. Then I adore those I can go to and smell, and touch, and see, and really be in.

When I saw Alice in Wonderland I decided I was in a different Wonderland and that worked to make it enjoyable. I loved the animation--the characters I'd known from childhood. I let the movie makers take license with the story. A different medium. That's all.

Jemi Fraser said...

I read that Dr. S book every year in the end of the year. Kids love it!

There are several movies I can't or won't watch because I enjoyed the books so much.

Charmaine Clancy said...

Great post. My girls learned the benefits of reading the book first with the Percy Jackson series. They found the film okay but nowhere near as adventurous as the book! Now when they see a new flick they want to try and finish the book first.
The big trick is convincing those teen boys in school that reading will be fun if they just give it a go!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I got the goosebumps. It warms my heart that my boys already get the magic of "the book is better."

Stephanie Thornton said...

We are definitely going somewhere! (Maybe crazy.) Hehe.

I'm with you- T.V. is okay in small doses, but books are so much better. My daughter is three and is already in love with chapter books. Yay!

Christina Farley said...

Thanks for the encouragement! Your blog is always such a refreshment of positive!

Tina Laurel Lee said...

I like the comparison between books and movies. How easily movies can limit the worlds in your head. So true. And thanks for your confidence. I sure hope I can get it down on paper!

Natasha said...

What a fantastic quote, and so true.

Both my kids are addicted to the TV, but they are gradually coming to realise that the world of books is a wonderful one too.

I too agree that most books are massacared by the movies.

Carrie Harris said...

Cannot agree more. Although I'm still happy my name isn't Buxbaum.

Alexia561 said...

You hit the nail right on the head with this one! I've yet to watch a movie and think it was better than the book, and if I really liked the book, won't even bother with the movie version.

Great post!

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