Today, May 23, is the birthday of Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952). Even those who don’t recognize the name will most likely recognize her book, Goodnight Moon, which was originally published in 1947 and is still a staple when it comes to bedtime reading for young children. In her professional life, Brown (called Brownie by her friends) transformed children’s literature by writing stories about and for children (albeit disguised as bunnies, kittens, and other cuddly animals). She gave voice to their interests and their concerns at a time when most picture books for children were moral-laden fairy tales and fables. In her personal life, Brown was a beautiful woman who led a colorful life. (Hmmm … I wonder why Hollywood hasn’t made a movie about her?) She dated society figures including royalty, lived extravagantly, and died suddenly and tragically at the age of 42. Another fascinating fact: Brown was childless and left most of her royalties to a neighbor’s young son whom she had befriended. That tale had an unhappy ending; he ended up squandering his inheritance.
Fortunately, many of Brown’s stories and poems are still in print today. How many can you name from the excerpts below? "Brownie" points for getting all 10 right! And shame on you if you don’t recognize the line from Goodnight Moon! (Answers are below.)
1. I can swing right over the world.
2. So he kissed it right on its little fur nose and put it gently back in the grass…
3. And they wanted green paint, of course, because nearly every place they liked to go was green.
4. But in this story the children are away. Only the animals are here today.
5. And here he is where he wants to be—a sailor sailing the deep green sea.
6. “I will become a little sailboat, and I will sail away from you.”
7. But because he was only a little bunny, it was a very little rock and he didn’t throw it very hard and the egg didn’t break.
8. And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush…
9. “Here is my home. Under this rock, under this stone, down under the ground, here is my home.”
10. He was named Crispin’s Crispian because—he belonged to himself.
Answers: 1) My World; 2) Little Fur Family; 3) The Color Kittens; 4) Big Red Barn; 5) The Sailor Dog; 6) The Runaway Bunny; 7) The Golden Egg Book; 8) Goodnight Moon; 9) Home for a Bunny; 10) Mister Dog.
How many did you get right? What is your favorite book by Margaret Wise Brown?
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