I really love children’s books.  I had a collection of them even before I had children.  While going to school at the University of Utah, I worked at the most delightful children’s book store in Salt Lake City called “The Children’s Hour.”  You should drop by there if you’re ever in the neighborhood- http://www.childrenshourbookstore.com/.  I especially like children’s books that teach something valuable…  like one’s that have a “Make it Do” attitude.  One book we’ve enjoyed reading lately is called Fanny’s Dream (Picture Puffins) by Caralyn Buehner and Illustrated by Mark Buehner.

It’s the story of a sturdy farm girl named Fanny Agnes.  She works from sunup to sunset on her daddy’s farm, but she’s got her dreams… She wants to go to the ball and marry a Prince.  One night she dresses up in her best calico and goes out into the garden to wait for her fairy godmother.  The fairy godmother doesn’t show up, but Heber Jensen does.  He’s a cheerful, pleasant guy but as Fanny says, “Heavens, He’s so short!”  She tells Heber she’s waitin’ on her fairy godmother and she wants to go to the ball.  He asks if she can dance and she says no “But I know how to harness a horse, plow a field, and shuck corn.”  He finally tells her that he is no Prince Charming, but he has 160 acres, a little log house and dreams of his own.  He needs a wife who will work beside him through sweat and joy and good food and company.  She finally decides to give up her dreams and marry him.  The book sweetly describes how they work hard together, have a family, overcome hardships and build a good life together.  At the end of the book, Fanny goes out into the garden at night to pick a watermelon and her belated fairy godmother finally shows up to make her “dreams come true.”  When Fanny hesitates and her fairy godmother impatiently says “Well are you comin’ or not.”  Fanny looks at the at her little house where Heber is in reading to their kids and says… “Not.”

This lovely little tale really typifies how good the simple life can be.  I just wish I could read the darn book one time without getting choked up….

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