Back in the day when I was growing up in Beverly, Massachusetts parents didn't automatically head out shopping when back to school rolled around. Hand me downs from siblings were just the start of a reuse tradition. Mothers knew what families had younger kids. Sacks of garments traveled from home to home with mothers hemming and altering as needed. I was very fortunate to receive the outgrown clothes of a rich classmate in music conservatory.
It was a tradition that I carried on with my own kids. Shortly after Amber and I got back from the hospital a neighbor with a toddler dropped off bags of lovely clothes. My kids got a lot of perfectly good garments through an informal network. And it wasn't just clothes. There were plenty of gently used toys and books. In fact the swing set that drew kids to our yard was a hand me down. And my kids were delighted to keep outgrown clothes and toys in circulation and out of landfills by passing them on to younger children.
So I was delighted when, browsing the Orono Public Library picture book section, I saw Joshua Furst's The Little Red Stroller. The narrative is simple and elegant. After riding in it to all kinds of destinations a girl named Luna outgrows her stroller to a downstairs neighbor, Ernie. This is only the first of a series of transfers in which the pride of the older child and delight of the younger is evident.
Each child's destinations are described in picture and words. Pictures show the range of skin tones and family configurations. That's why the blurb on the inside cover describes it as "highlighting the beautiful diversity of the neighborhood...and of our big world."
Which it most definitely is. But I also see it as a celebration of prolonging the useful life of objects (most definitely good for the environment) and promoting the community interdependence and solidarity that is so much better for us than America's worship of lone wolf individualism.
The Little Red Stroller is a timely acquisition for public, school, and family libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, last night was heavenly for me. It started off with the open mic put on by the social work club with assistance from Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. They had a spread that included homemade nutritious dishes. (I didn't have to subsist on snacks). Much appreciated. I did drag of course. I'll Spread My Wings by Kelly Clarkson. People sang, read poetry etc. The next was the Christmas drag show put on by UMaine's own drag club. When I entered the Wilson Center I was filled with joy and pride. Toward the end of Spring semester '24 I had an idea for a club that would encourage and empower interested students to try performing. But for it to become an official student club it had to have an undergraduate leader. Luckily my friend Jaxon was willing to make that commitment. The club has come a long way since the initial fall semester '24 meetings. Walking in--seeing people preparing, talking, laughing; feeling the electricity in the room--was a dream come true. I did I'll Spread My Wings and He's So Shy by the Pointer Sisters solo and participated in the ensemble grand finale. SO MUCH FUN!!!
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both events.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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