A Time To Keep

Here is something I wrote a few years ago for Cay Gibson wonderful book Literature Alive.  

“A Time To Keep” With Tasha Tudor

“A Time To Keep” – isn’t that what we try to give our children? Memories to tuck into their hearts, memories which will hopefully comfort them in times of hardship, and bestow on them a sense of continuity, order, and purpose. Tasha Tudor’s books have been a source of inspiration for me to create a small haven for my children in a troubled world. Reading her books never fails to give me peace and serenity. It is that peace that I try to offer to my children; a peace that rests in simplicity and candor.I became acquainted with Tasha Tudor more than twenty years ago, after I moved to the USA from Canada. From the very beginning I felt an affinity with Tasha’s world: a world where little children can be found frolicking among God’s bounty, engaged in all manners of playful activities, while picturesquely clad in the clothes of yesteryear. Looking at her picture books gently reminds me that children’s playthings can and perhaps should be as simple as the wooden blocks used to create cities of ages past, chairs to ride into imaginary countries, or baskets to sail into uncharted worlds (along with a few well loved teddies for good company!) 

With a stack of books illustrated by Tasha Tudor one could have an almost endless supply of inspiration on a vast number of subjects ranging from homemaking skills such as cooking, sewing, crafts, and animal husbandry, to more academic pursuits in poetry, great literature, nature studies, art, and writing. As for the youngest scholars, one couldn’t ask for a more delightful way to learn the alphabet, counting, and learning the names of the months through the seasons then by sitting on the lap of a caring adult with one of Tasha’s lovely books. For example, you could read Tasha’s counting book “One is One” with your little one and then go for a nature walk and gather a basket full of seeds, flowers, pine straw, and other small odds from nature’s bounty. Upon your return why not sit down and make your own counting book with your findings? The writing of little rhymes for each page, no matter how odd they seem to you, should enchant your child all the more. Cover each page with contact paper and you will not have to fret about his grubby little fingers leafing through it. Of course you do not have to stop with “One is One”; any of Tasha’s books, with their intricate borders, will lend themselves to a myriad of counting experiences.

My own children have always found comfort and joy in seeing the seasons pass in Tasha’s family. Sort of a promise that their own days of feasts and celebrations aren’t gone forever but are to return yet again, like a book read over and over to delight them. And isn’t it reassuring, when you are but a teeny weeny lad, to know that your birthday will come right after that big meal of turkey and cranberries, otherwise known as Thanksgiving dinner? Inspired by the book “Around the Year” why not take some pictures of him thoughout the year and slide them into one of those lovely photo albums? Then write a small verse to describe what each month brings to your family. You could even add some small pressed flowers, herbs, or grass from each month along with a caption. If you can, look at the title page of “Around the Year” and notice the lettering — maybe your child can draw little birds and mice running around his letters like Tasha did. Or maybe you could just try to name each kind of bird portrayed in the twelve circles surrounding the title page. Did you notice how they follow the year, starting with an owl for December? 

Throughout the years we immersed ourselves in her books, each brimming with ideas to brighten up our days.  Like Tasha’s own children, my little ones once discovered a wee catalog in their small mailbox sitting outside their room.   In the catalog they found an array of teatime fare, from miniature cookies to juice, to be ordered for their enjoyment. They could pay for these with buttons provided previously by their thoughtful mother. They could also order invitations (as well as those indispensable stamps) to mail to their favorite bear or doll. In February these same mailboxes were laden with homemade valentines for everyone, including the growing plush family.

These minute valentines were truly special; dotted with lacy bits of dollies, special stickers and sparkling with effervescent glitter, and carefully tucked into diminutive envelopes.

In May we secretly delivered little baskets of wildflowers to the neighbor’s door. How it thrilled the children to see the sweet old lady looking about, searching in vain for the kind souls she could thank for this unexpected surprise! Back home they danced, barefoot around the colorful Maypole, weaving in and out with glee in the clean spring air. Teatime that day brought a cake festooned with a miniature pole, and bright ribbons. Thus if I happened to read “A Child Garden of Verses” at bedtime that night, and came upon these words, “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings”, I should think they would all have agreed.As Tasha’s holiday book says it so well, “Take Joy”. Her title was taken from a letter written by Fra Giovanni, in 1513. This is one of my oldest daughter Sara’s favorite poems. She and I found a profound wisdom in these words, a wisdom that Tasha can so insightfully convey through her illustrations.