Happy May Day and April book review <3

Happy May Day! 

Consider this a small bouquet dropped on your porch, even though it looks a lot like the April Book Review post. 

Our last full day in Arizona, we made plans to connect with Russ’s sister for dinner. The original plan was a MLB training game but the weather did not play nice. 

Since we had much time between our arrival in the area and dinner, we watched the Illini play in the NCAA tournament at a sports bar and then headed to the local library. 

We love libraries and were delighted to find this one had a room set up like a book store where they sold items pulled from circulation along with a nice assortment of donated books.

I found this treasure and happily enjoyed visiting The Hundred Acre Woods for the first part of April. 

This children’s classic has always charmed me with the wording and situations. While I love the animated versions, this was a pure delight. 

I was saddened when I decided to google A. A. Milne and discovered that his muse for the story, being his own son Christopher, did not lighten the heart. It seems A. A. Milne was better with words then relationships. 

His son felt neglected by him and was bitter about the books that painted a better childhood than the one he experienced. I have to wonder if Milne wrote about the man he wished he was. Very sad. 

The second book I read is another children’s classic that I picked up somewhere along the way. I think it was in a donation box or library sale, or someone gifted me. I can’t remember and I am sorry if it was gifted by someone as I would love to thank them. 

It was also a fun read. The animal characters and settings were entertaining. I researched a little about the book after reading the inside cover. These clever characters not only tell of the adventures of four friends in the animal kingdom who dress like humans and have very full adventures, they are representative of aspects of our human nature and culture. 

There are lessons to be learned by the antics of Toad, the intervention of Badger, the innocence of Mole and the kindness of Rat. Well worth a read. Or two. 

Ironically this edition contains an essay by A. A. Milne at the end where he shares that he and Teddy Roosevelt were two adults who learned from their wives and offspring the value of reading this “children’s book”. 

I highly recommend both of these classics. They refreshed me at the end of the day without overtaking my mind. Both are well written and lift the spirit and mind. 

What are YOU reading these days?