Explore the Spirit

640: Fresh ideas to lift spirits and spark creativity in 1st spring of a new decade

For millions across North America, spring finally feels like a real possibility! And the challenge we face in tough times is finding those sparks of creativity that we can kindle into new life: new faith, new compassion, new energy to connect with others and build that new world we all hope will emerge.
    Last week, we featured a giant in Christianity: N.T. Wright, who is saying exactly what I just said in a Christian context.
    This week, we're going to expand outward and showcase a host of very cool ideas from other sources: A Universal Flag and a creative children's book. This week, we'll also tell you about some other films and books and, on Wednesday, you'll meet Joan Konner—a nationally known journalist and colleague of Bill Moyers who has written an entire book about ... well, about the creative power of Nothing.
    No kidding. You have to stay with us, this week, to see all of this creative stuff unfold. This is, after all, the 1st spring of a new decade in this Third Millennium. It's high time we got moving, right?

COOL IDEA 1:
Brian McClure, "The Sun and the Moon"
... and the Universal Flag

Here's a great example of an overlooked cool idea. Brian McClure has been traveling the world for a few years now, promoting his children's books and his Universal Flag.
    As someone powerfully plugged into new media for many years, I must confess that I completely overlooked McClure's spark until now. That can happen with unusual new ideas. Out of the blue, a reader named Susan sent me a helpful Email about McClure and his body of work. Until that Email, there was no convenient window frame through which I would have spotted him. But, now, we've found him, his "Sun and Moon" book—and his flags.
    We're telling you about them today, because we really like this "The Sun and The Moon" children's book—and, when I saw his flags online, I loved the design.
    When I first visited Brian's Web site to learn more about the Universal Flag, I quickly discovered that Brian describes this flag in terms that don't come from my own religious tradition—and may not come from yours. But just look at that flag! It's gorgeous. It makes me smile. I'd be happy to fly a flag like that just to spark creative thoughts in the people who glimpse its colors.

    Colors.
    That's what hooked me on "The Sun and the Moon." Illustrator Buddy Plumlee plays freely with color in the book. There are several unusual double-page spreads that splash colors in all directions (a detail of one 2-page illustration is shown above).
    The story? Well, the Sun and the Moon have a childish fight one day. They start arguing and, before you know it, the whole world is dark. That's a big problem for everyone!
    Things get worked out in the end and humans learn a few lessons, too, about the larger impact of fighting with others.
    I have to say, the book does get a bit preachy in a couple of sections. I prefer children's literature that teaches exclusively through the story and the imagery—and McClure couldn't resist making the lesson crystal clear to readers.
    But I can tell you as a parent who has logged thousands of hours of reading time, this book will be a hit. Plumlee's illustrations are simply so creative that kids will enjoy reading this one, again and again.
    Although the specific terms McClure uses to draw his conclusions aren't from my own religious tradition—and may not be from yours—it's a very cool book to have in your home library.

    Click Here to order "The Sun and the Moon," by Brian D. McClure, from Amazon.

    AND PLEASE: Come back every day this week for more Cool Ideas!

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

639: Two Gems for Your Spiritual Life Both in Church ... and Way Outdoors!

Itching to get outdoors again?
    The warm weather blowing through the northern U.S. has all of us eager for spring. And, today, we're sharing 2 gems for your spiritual life—one that's great for groups in your church and one that's terrific for heading outdoors in all weather!

FIRST: Our great-with-groups suggestion ...
     If you're just catching up with ReadTheSpirit on the weekend, we've been sharing terrific small-group resources on the 2 most recent books by N.T. Wright. I know from personal experience leading small groups—and as a journalist covering religious life in America—that there's not a more sure-fire way to gather a crowd in thousands of Protestant churches these days than to announce an N.T. Wright discussion group.
    Well, if that's your aim, start here—our ReadTheSpirit N.T. Wright Resource Page. We've got cool stuff to help you with "Surprised by Hope" and "After You Believe."

SECOND: Our way-outdoors suggestion ...
    Millions of Americans can't wait to get outdoors again and, often, springtime adventures involve water: rain, mud and spills while opening up cottages, putting boats in the water for the first time and so on. Even a casual walk through the woods might splash through unexpected puddles.
    Now, there's an answer for the pilgrim who wants to wander equipped with a Bible: The Waterproof Bible.
    Actually, these high-tech Bibles, printed on special paper that fully repells water, have been around for a few years. Earlier, these Bibles offered the King James Version but now there's a new NIV option—and various designs from which to choose.
    We road tested the "waves" edition in bright blue (cover is shown at left).
    Since we envisioned these Bibles as most useful for family hikes and camping trips, we invited kids to test them. Why not? They're the ones we hope to engage in family outings. And they're the ones most likely to mix outdoor adventures and water. So, high school students from the Divine Light Media crew led the way. They designed a cool test for the new blue edition of the NIV—with younger kids playing a role as well.
    You should see the result of their test—a 2-minute video that the Divine Light crew produced, filmed, edited and posted on YouTube. (NOTE: If you don't see a video screen below, you may be reading this story via Email or some other feed. Click on the headline of this story, above, you'll jump to our Web site and the video screen will appear.)
    If you'd like to visit the online home of Waterproof Bibles, here's the Web page at Bardin & Marsee Publishing.
    Here's a link to order the same "NIV Waterproof Bible: Blue Wave" that our film crew tested via Amazon.

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NOTE on Divine Light Media: This is an educational project for high-school-age students at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, which includes: Alex DeHart, A.J. Gay, Sarah Higdon, Joey Houghton, Alex Koukios, Blake Martin, Michael Saunders, Eric Seitz and others. The Divine Light crew also recently photographed Ann Arbor's Fairy Doors for an inspiring family story by author Lynne Meredith Schreiber.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

634: "Are fairies real, Mommy?" (Part 2) Doorways into Our Imagination

This week, we're exploring mystical realms from Monday's "Night Fairy" to Tuesday's story on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fairy friends—and we even encountered the bizarre "Harvard Psychedelic Club".
    HERE IS Part 2 of a special story for parents ... by author and marketing consultant Lynne Meredith Schreiber—a parent herself ...

BEHIND A TINY DOOR:
The Story of Ann Arbor's Fairy Doors
    … and the Roots of Belief, Part 2 (Click here for Part 1)

By Lynne Meredith Schreiber

I first heard about the fairy doors from another parent who took his daughter on a walking tour of downtown Ann Arbor. I Googled the words and landed at this site (www.urban-fairies.com).
    Apparently, the first fairy door appeared in the home of Jonathan and Kathleen Wright, an Ann Arbor couple who renovated their historic house in 1993. Kathleen, a Kindergarten teacher, was running a childcare program in the house, and Jonathan was working in his field of illustration, design and specialty inks. While putting an addition on their 1895 house, located in the Old West Side neighborhood, they noticed a tiny wooden door one morning in a downstairs hallway.
    Actually, it was Kathleen’s preschool students who noticed it. The Wrights’ two daughters had yet to be born.
    “The preschoolers discovered it one morning,” Wright told me over coffee at Zingerman’s, a popular Ann Arbor deli. “They loved it. They speculated about what was living in there. One child said he saw a lion mouse. The door opens and inside they saw a miniature stairway. They put their hands in, found another door, but that door was always shut and locked.”
    Wright will not actually admit to creating the fairy doors. He insists they simply appear or vanish, although he did spend two years “researching” the fairy doors, out of which came a book entitled, “Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors?”
    Calling himself a “non-certified fairyologist,” Wright expanded on children’s drawings of the fairies they have spotted near or around the Ann Arbor fairy doors.
    When Kathleen wanted a fireplace in their home, Jonathan built it—and another fairy door “showed up.” By then, daughters Samuelina and Delaney were part of the picture. Fairy doors have always been a part of their lives.
    The fireplace fairy door has a window, too, and behind it a curving staircase leading to a balcony, fireplace and another room where sometimes a light is on. The consensus of the Wright children, and Kathleen’s preschoolers, was that fairies must live behind these doors.
    Since then, fairy doors have appeared in at least nine locations in downtown Ann Arbor, including on the outside of commercial buildings, retail shops and the Ann Arbor District Library.
    “If there was any intent, it was to be something free and accessible and fun and imaginative,” says Wright. “Imagination is the key to the fairy doors.”
    “The M.O. of urban fairies seems to be that they mimic what humans do,” Wright says. At the same time, “they blend in. How much of it is mimicry for the sake of flattery, or for self-protection, who knows?”

    On a sunny, February Thursday, Asher, Eliana, Shaya and I parked across from the Ann Arbor District Library and embarked on our mission. We walked straight to the back of the children’s section, to a bookshelf under the fairytale sign, and discovered a teal colored door leading to a hollowed-out space several-books deep. Windows on the spines of these books gave us additional views into this long fairy home, which was littered with a seashell, several pennies and a pencil.
    Asher and Eliana negotiated what to say in the note they would leave for the fairies. They wrote in pencil on a yellow post-it, folded it and shoved it inside the transom above the door, which wouldn’t open. (We tried.)
    “Wait—I think I hear the fairies!” Eliana exclaimed, her blue eyes wide.
    I listened and gazed up.
    Asher meandered off to find books. Three-year-old Shaya wanted to play the larger-than-life checkers game. Eliana kept peering into the fairy door.
    “Mommy! Look!” She poked a finger at me. I saw green sparkles on it. “That must be fairy dust,” I said.
    She nodded her head vigorously.
    After a half-hour of supposition and exploration, we left the library and headed to Main Street. We stopped at the brick and wood door at the base of the exterior foundation for the Selo-Shevel Gallery. We crossed to the Ark and peered into the fairy door and fairy ticket window, where we saw a reel of tiny tickets with pictures of fairies on it. Asher and Eliana decided we couldn’t leave a note because it would obscure the tickets.
    We continued on to Peaceable Kingdom, a store commonly known as “fairy central” for all the fairy paraphernalia sold inside. The door is located at the base of the exterior façade. We dropped to our knees, ignoring odd looks from passers-by as we sprawled on the city sidewalk.
    Inside, we saw a fairy store, with items for sale on shelves. It looked quite involved and detailed and as if it led to more interior rooms but we couldn’t find a way in.
    From there, we went to Sweetwaters Café on West Washington. This fairy door—really, a fairy kitchen—was located inside, beneath a high-top table and a wide window. The door fronted a four-walled, free-standing fairy-sized café, inside of which we spotted a table, tiny coffee cups and plates, and Eliana swears she saw some crumbs – evidence that the fairies had recently been there. We didn’t see any fairies, though Shaya left a small package of bread sticks as an offering.
    After stopping for our own snacks at the counter, and learning from the café owner that he’d never seen a fairy—but that’s because adults can’t see them, he said—we meandered down South Ashley Street until we found Red Shoes, a gift store in an old house. On the way, we found another fairy door, one not on Wright’s map, located on a residential door. No way in, no windows or lights on, but sure enough, it was a fairy door.

    At Red Shoes, we found the mother lode of fairy doors. Inside the store, low on the wall, the open doorway let little hands in to explore the abode, which was furnished. A door on the outside of the store provided another entry. It was red. Eliana left a note inside.
    Children leave candies, coins and notes for the fairies. A lot of these gifts appear sometime later inside the Peaceable Kingdom fairy abode.
    “So many coins are left—I’m sure the tooth fairy recycles some of that but I don’t think she deals in pennies much,” Wright says.
    Sometimes the fairies collect the coins and leave them in a box at Wright’s house. He typically donates them to Food Gatherers. “Fairies don’t have any use for the money,” he explains.
    After lunch at Ray’s Red Hots and an hour-and-a-half run through the Hands-On Museum, we popped into the People’s Food Co-op for a snack. We shed our winter coats and dropped into chairs – only to notice a fairy door behind the banquette, with a small green table and chairs in front of it. This one was also not on Wright’s map.
    “Look, Mommy!” Eliana exclaimed. It was all I could do to keep my kids from pushing the woman who sat in front of the fairyscape away from her peaceful seat.
    When the woman behind the counter told me that they added that fairy door 8 months ago, I shushed her. “My children believe,” I said.
    She looked chastised.
    “There will always be people who just don’t get it,” says Wright. “They need an explanation of why. Those people never will get it—but those who do are intrigued and enchanted by the concept of a fairy or being hanging out with us.”
    A mythology has built around the fairy doors in Ann Arbor. Some people say, “Only in Ann Arbor could something like this happen,” and as a graduate of the University of Michigan, I understand that assertion. Ann Arbor is an island in the state of Michigan, a place of anything-is-possible, a hub of fervent belief and righteous indignation and protest and change.
    But is it so hard to suspend our disbelief? Really?
    Wright insists that making something imaginative and also physical, available, free-of-charge to the public contains its own magic. It’s something he struggles with, as others try to capitalize on the fairy doors—they are available for sale on eBay and in toy catalogs and an individual even approached Wright to ask him to buy into a commercial side to this endeavor. He politely declined, but cringes a bit as the guy makes money off what may be his idea. (Those are resin copies, whereas the fairy doors Wright promotes are carefully crafted of wood to evoke the style and nuance of the places where they are located.)
    “This certainly could be profitable,” he says. “But it didn’t feel right to me.”

    Wright has never seen a fairy. He listens intently to children as they describe their encounters, and he’s left journals in every locale for those who do spot them to jot down their impressions.
    “If you think about all the dead space in a house—there could be thousands of fairies living there! One of the signs is having a fairy door – and missing socks,” he says.
    “This is about believing,” Wright notes. “Belief doesn’t make something real or true. You can’t make something unreal by not believing or conjure something by believing.” “I can imagine fairies—I’ve never seen one, but by golly I can imagine them. That’s what’s engaging about all this. It’s fun to imagine it—whether it’s real or not. The doors are real. How they got there”—he looks away, his hands open—“I leave that to whoever’s looking to figure it out.”

Lynne Meredith Schreiber has written five books and many magazine articles. She is the Chief Creative Officer of Your People LLC, a company that provides community-focused marketing and public relations.

NOTE on the photos with this story: Some of the illustrations with this week's series of articles come from Victorian-era picture books, now in the public domain. The color photos of Fairy Doors in this 2-part story were taken by photographers from Divine Light Media, a high-school-age media-production group at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, which includes: Alex DeHart, A.J. Gay, Sarah Higdon, Joey Houghton, Alex Koukios, Blake Martin, Eric Seitz and others. The Divine Light crew retraced the steps of Lynne and her children—hoping to catch glimpses of what they saw.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

633: "Are fairies real, Mommy?" And ... "Will we see fairies?" What do you say?

All this week, we've explored mystical realms that can light up fresh spiritual awareness for us (like "The Night Fairy" on Monday), or can embarrass us (like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on Tuesday)—or can both enlighten us and embarrass us at the same time (like the Harvard Psychedelic Club on Wednesday).
    TODAY, let's talk parent-to-parent about the fun of fairies as our children are growing up and exploring the world with us. Author and marketing consultant Lynne Meredith Schreiber—a parent herself—writes a two-part story for us about these delightful real-life encounters ...

BEHIND A TINY DOOR:
The Story of Ann Arbor's Fairy Doors
    … and the Roots of Belief, Part 1 (Click here for Part 2)

By Lynne Meredith Schreiber

We were driving home from a playdate when Asher asked if we could take a trip to Ann Arbor to see the fairy doors.
    “Sure,” I told my 8-year-old eldest son. “During February break from school we’ll spend a day finding them.”
    Then 6-year-old Eliana chimed in. “Will we see the fairies?”
    Before I could respond, Asher jumped in with a question.
    “Are fairies real, Mommy?” he asked, in all his growing-older skepticism.
    Like any good mother who wants to prolong her children’s innocence, I shot the question back to him. “What do you think?”
    “I don’t know. I can’t see them,” he said.
    “Of course they’re real,” Eliana insisted. “If the tooth fairy is real, these fairies have to be real, too.”
    “I don’t know if the tooth fairy is real,” Asher said.
    I honestly had to bite my tongue to keep from smiling. Thank God I was driving and had to face forward.
    “She IS real,” Eliana retorted. “Otherwise, who would leave the money and take the tooth?”
    “Well…maybe Mommy did,” Asher said quietly.
    Damn. I kept listening, not wanting to jump in until I had to.
    “She didn’t! I know it was the tooth fairy. Otherwise why would Mommy have her phone number in her address book?” Eliana said.
    Two years earlier, when they asked how the tooth fairy knows about a lost tooth, I’d told my kids the parents contact her. Asher wanted to see her contact information, of course, so I pointed to a blank entry in my address book and explained that phone, fax, address and email are written in special ink that only adults can see. When he turns 18, I said, he can see for himself.
    My children believed me. Asher even pulled out my address book during a playdate to show other kids. I love this part of childhood.

    Back to the car that day and the fairy doors: Asher replied to his sister’s comment that he’ll remain unconvinced until he turns 18 and can see for himself. OK. That buys us 10 years. And in the meantime, Asher wanted to see the fairy doors.
    But the topic of believing in something we can’t see brought God into the question as the conversation unfolded. Finally, it was my turn to jump in without giving away the secret that imagination is simply imagination.
    “Well, you believe in God and you can’t see Him,” I told Asher.
    “That’s different,” he said.
    “How is that different? You believe in Africa and Australia though you’ve never seen those countries. And you believe in lots of other things that you haven’t seen or can’t see but still you believe in them. Fairies are exactly the same.”

    And besides, I thought, there are actual doors peppered throughout the city of Ann Arbor, behind which, apparently, fairies live.

COME BACK TOMORROW for Part 2 ...
    MEANWHILE, test your vision with the photo below. Can you find the Fairy Door?

Lynne Meredith Schreiber has written five books and many magazine articles. She is the Chief Creative Officer of Your People LLC, a company that provides community-focused marketing and public relations.

NOTE on the photos with this story: Some of the illustrations with this week's series of articles come from Victorian-era picture books, now in the public domain. The color photographs of Fairy Doors, like the one above and more photos with Part 2, were taken by photographers from Divine Light Media, a high-school-age media-production group at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, which includes: Alex DeHart, A.J. Gay, Sarah Higdon, Joey Houghton, Alex Koukios, Blake Martin, Eric Seitz and others. The Divine Light crew retraced the steps of Lynne and her children—hoping to catch glimpses of what they saw.

(Click here for Part 2)

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

631: The Case of Sherlock Holmes' Creator Wanting to Believe in Fairies

"The Coming of the Fairies: The series of incidents set forth in this little volume represent either the most elaborate and ingenious hoax ever played upon the public—or else they constitute an event in human history which may in the future appear to have been epoch-making in its character."
    By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

What a story!
    The brilliant creator of Sherlock Holmes—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a world-famous, best-selling writer now in his 60s—publishes a major new non-fiction book that he insists will rank among his most important works! Why such a stunning claim? Because he has "actually proved the existence upon the surface of this planet of a population which may be as numerous as the human race."
    That newly discovered "population"? Fairies.
    Conan Doyle is absolutely convinced they are real—and he claims to have scientific proof. Actual photos! (The black-and-white photos today are part of his "proof.")
    Turns out, the Cottingley Fairies weren't even an especially elaborate or ingenious hoax. The whole infamous incident unfolded because two curious little girls borrowed cameras to take pictures of some paper "cut outs" of fairies, which they held up in their garden with hat pins.
    They were just having fun. Just kids.
    Kids love fairies to this day. If you missed it, read our review of "The Night Fairy," a wonderful new book by Newbery Medal Winner Laura Amy Schlitz about some back-yard connections with fairies.

    But, in Conan Doyle's life—this was a historic milestone for all the wrong reasons. These two girls' handful of black-and-white photographs spiraled way beyond their control. Conan Doyle was announcing to everyone on the planet that he had proof of fairies.
    I fact, these photos weren't even good fakes. The images just struck a desperately wanting-to-believe old man at the right moment to rocket fairies into orbit for years to come.
    It wasn't until 1981—64 years after the photos were taken—that the "girls" admitted in a television interview that the photos were made from cut-out pictures held up by pins. To contemporary eyes, that's exactly what they appear to be—photos made with cut outs carefully poised in the frame. Today, it looks like a fun elementary-school project—photographing your favorite illustrations in an outdoor setting. If only Conan Doyle hadn't become so overly enthusiastic, right?
    You may be wondering: How could these women spend most of their lives "keeping mum"? Well, that's obvious, said one of them in 1981: "Two village kids and a brilliant man like Conan Doyle—well, we could only keep quiet!"
    Was it a "fraud"? No, they insisted. "I never even thought of it as being a fraud—it was just Elsie and I having a bit of fun and I can't understand to this day why they were taken in! They wanted to be taken in."
    And there's the truth, I think. We do want to believe. And in our desire to believe we wager our lives and reputations on some beliefs that are timeless and noble and have changed the world in wonderful ways. But, let's be honest, shall we? We also hold tight to lots of beliefs that are in fanciful shades of gray and pastel.

    On Wednesday, this week, you'll read an amazing story based on years of investigation by journalist Don Lattin about how several of our most famous and well-respected spiritual sages today—including Dr. Andrew Weil, Ram Dass and Huston Smith—all found themselves in the heart of a psychedelic explosion at Harvard University in the 1960s. They all desperately wanted to believe in an emerging image, as well. And the result at Harvard was painful, to say the least.
    On Thursday and Friday, this week, we've also got a wonderful 2-part story from Lynne Schreiber about parents, kids and fairies.

Care to read more?

    Click here to buy a recently republished edition of the original Conan Doyle book "The Coming of Fairies" (with all of the original black and white photos) from Amazon.
    Wikipedia has a pretty good overview page on the case of the Cottingley Fairies. This Wiki page currently has a flag on it from the Wiki editors, asking for help to shore up the page's footnotes and overall style—but this article matches other sources on the subject. It's worth a visit.
    Lock Haven University's Dr. Donald Simanek maintains a popular Web page about Conan Doyle, Spiritualism and the case of the fairies.
    Finally, the James Randi Educational Foundation—one of the most important de-bunking projects in recent years—has a page devoted to these fairies. This page is intriguing because it also has copies and transcripts of some of the letters related to the fairy photos.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

630: Hush! Listen! Open your eyes! We're talking about FAIRIES this week

"I am not afraid of giants," Flory boasted aloud. It sounded so daring that she said it again, swinging her feet. "I"m not a bit afraid of giants. But I hate bats."

Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz is a school librarian and knows lots of children who are asking for books about fairies, these days. That's why she wrote "The Night Fairy," a delightfully inventive story about a young fairy trying to make her way in our world—yes our world. More on that in a moment!
    All this week we've got fanciful—and mostly fairy-specific—stories. Come back tomorrow to read about a fascination with fairies in the life of Sherlock Holmes-creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Wednesday, we'll look at a rather fanciful year at Harvard University in the 1960s that transformed our current world of spirituality. And, later this week, Lynne Meredith Schreiber returns with a story for parents about enjoying a real-life fairy adventure with her children.
    We're not alone in such a focus. The Wall Street Journal just reviewed and praised Schlitz's new book. (Yes, the Wall Street Journal praising a little book about fairies! Hmmm. One's mind races, doesn't it?) The WSJournal called this new book "elegant" and "exquisite," and we certainly share that strong recommendation.
    To illustrate the timeless breadth of interest in these little creatures—the illustration, below, is not from the new book, but from a century-old children's book about fairies.

What's so special about "The Night Fairy"?

    Well, first, just like real children—fairy children often feel alone and often feel hurt by forces they don't understand. Flory, the main character in this new adventure, has an accidental but tragic encounter with a bat that leaves scars on her wings. As she begins to recover, she discovers something that seems even more ominous:
    Giants!
    Of course, from a tiny little fairy's perspective, a "giant" is—well, psst, don't tell the young people who'll read this book—but the first giant Flory encounters is what we would call ... a human.
    One reason I call this book "delightful" is this reversal of perspectives that occurs again and again. Rather than a typical fantasy narrative in which characters move deeply into their own world and relations with our world become tenuous—Schlitz positions Flory's adventures literally on our doorstep.
    Another example of playful inversion of "our" world is the "big" squirrel who becomes her companion—not exactly her friend, but certainly an important companion. The squirrel's major quest in life is figuring out fresh strategies to keep gathering food from the progressively more complex bird feeders the giant keeps introducing in the garden. My wife and I have always enjoyed feeding birds and we know all too well the daily drama of trying to keep squirrels from gobbling up all the best songbird mix. Suddenly, I was reading about this drama from the squirrel's perspective—with an overlay of Flory's own viewpoint on squirrels, as well.

    As little Flory grows, she also encounters some of the more terrifying denizens of the garden, including one fascinating creature who calls himself Peregrine, a name that Schlitz defines as "Traveler." I won't spoil the story, even for adults, by revealing this creature's identity here—but that term "Peregrine" has been intertwined in religious and spiritual realms for thousands of years. It began as a term for free residents of the Roman Empire who were not imperial citizens—and eventually morphed into what we now call pilgrims.
    Young readers, I suspect, simply will race through this little book and very likely will enjoy this tale's mind-bending adventures, teasing them to see our own worlds from a number of other viewpoints. But, I strongly suspect that this is a "read-it-again" book, especially if parents are reading it aloud at story time. As we live with this book, there will be some fun conversations about what's going on in our own back yards.

    In my view, and perhaps in yours, those are some of the best conversations to have with our children.   

CLICK HERE to order a copy of "The Night Fairy" now from Amazon.

(Below is a small snapshot of a 2-page spread inside this book. Color illustrations by Angela Barrett are sprinkled throughout "The Night Fairy.)

CARE TO READ MORE?

    Last week, we reviewed two other cool new books for kids! These books are about animals, earth science and saving our planet.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

628: Did ya see that Rhino? That mask? This must be Purim—and play time!

What a fun week!
    Did ya see that Rhino?! Yes, there was a rhinoceros in ReadTheSpirit—in our interview with singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer. Rhinos fit into one of her most playful songs.
    And rhinos are a bridge to our story today, because Candlewick Press, a global hub of creativity in children's literature, has two new books out this week all about our planet. More about that in a moment!

    For our Jewish friends, this week families all around the world are recalling the heroic story of Queen Esther—because Purim is coming. To learn more about the Fast of Esther and the Purim story, click here to read Stephanie Fenton's "Spiritual Season" column for this week.
    I know that around our Home Office, Jewish day schools are planning parties, making masks, getting out noise makers to hiss and boo at the bad guy in the Esther story. One school, I've heard, is collecting boxes of pasta to use as noise makers—then will donate them to a local food bank. What a cool idea!

    Meanwhile, spring is just around the corner in the Northern Hemisphere (we've got readers way down South, too, we know). And Candlewick already is greeting spring with these two terrific books for kids and the adults who love them.

    "LET'S SAVE THE ANIMALS: A Flip-the-Flap Book" I'm both a parent and a life-long collector of pop-up and flap books from around the world. I know from countless hours of reading such books to kids that eyes grow wide, mouths open—and small hands reach out to help us "read" these stories.
    Over and over again, of course.
    One thing I like about "Let's Save the Animals" is that often the "flaps" are not immediately obvious on these pages. The paper stock and the inks are matched so perfectly that occasionally I had to do a double- and even a triple-take to see where to "lift."
    The story is simple: Page after page, we discover animals from more than one perspective. We see the rhino both walking through the grassland—and wallowing in the mud.
    There's even a good range of wildlife to accommodate your kids' "favorite" animal. The book includes: elephants, rhinos, tigers, polar bears, pandas, penguins and butterflies.
    CLICK HERE to order a copy of "Let's Save the Animals: A flip the flap book" from Amazon.
   
    "HOW THE WORLD WORKS: A Hands-on Guide to Our Amazing Planet" Once again, I can see the popularity of this book a mile away. Flip open the "Water Cycle" pop up page (shown in detail below) and anyone within eyesight of this book will gather around for a closer look.


    This book is aimed at a little older range of children than "Let's Save the Animals," but my experience in half a century of reading with kids is this: Readers of every age love colorful, creatively designed books. You can't help but start flipping the pages and the flaps in "Animals," no matter how old you are.
    Similarly, readers will immediately start flipping flaps, popping up 3D models and even unfolding carefully tucked-away paper surprises like "The Big Bang."
    As a lover of Pop Up books—and because my own children loved them so much—this would be my immediate springtime choice for fresh reading with kids.
    CLICK HERE to order "How the World Works: A Hands-On Guide to Our Amazing Planet" from Amazon.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    We welcome your notes! Email ReadTheSpirit@gmail.com. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

610: Gumby to "Catcher," icons of youth fade as their creators exit life's stage

How many of us curled up near the TV to watch Gumby or Davey and Goliath shuffle across the TV screen—or later in high school—discovered Holden Caulfield's acerbic take on adult life?
    Maybe you only discovered Gumby when Eddie Murphy revived the green guy's star status in those hilarious sketches involving a grumpy old Gumby, retired like so many other vintage stars? Maybe you only caught Davey and his lovable dog Goliath in a DVD re-release? Maybe you had a love-hate relationship with J.D. Salinger's once-daring novel?
    Well, the two creative geniuses behind these tales made it through the first decade of this new century, but now they both have exited life's stage within a couple of weeks of each other.
    Art Clokey, the TV innovator who created both Gumby and Davey, died January 8 at age 88.
    J.D. Salinger, whose quirky private life proved to be almost as popular as his most celebrated novel, died January 27 at age 91.

Our question today is: What's their legacy in your life?
    Where does your own life fit into the spectrum from sweet-as-cotton-candy Gumby/Davey—to the acid-as-day-old-coffee Holden Caulfield? Maybe you've experienced the entire spectrum in your life? Many of us have!
    We want to hear from you at readthespirit@gmail.com this week about these giants exiting life's stage.

    When I heard Salinger died, I immediately thought of articles in newspapers and magazines over the past couple of years arguing that "Catcher in the Rye" is so dated now that many educators have cut the book from reading lists—or are arguing for dropping the book in the future.
    And, as much as I can see the creative beauty in a classic "Davey and Goliath" episode—and appreciate the liberating power of Salinger's tough kid in the odd-ball red hat—I do suspect that these are creatures so specific to the last century that they may not last long in the new.
    It's true that we all love Charles Dickens, 140 years after his death, but who today knows much about the equally lionized novelists of that era: Wilkie Collins and Edward Bulwer-Lytton? (Hint: Lytton penned, "It was a dark and stormy night." Collins was Dickens' close friend who wrote best-selling thrillers, including "The Woman in White.")
    As you think about what you might say to our question, today, here are some fascinating Web links to enjoy ...

SOME COOL SALINGER STUFF ...

    Here's his Wikipedia page if you care for a more encyclopedic look at his life.
    My own favorite news story about Salinger this week comes from the Rutland Herald in Vermont. It's a story about how much fun his neighbors in Cornish had, over the years, trying to keep visitors from pestering their friend. Sounds like the plot for a delightful film someday!
    Of course, there's still mystery about his death. Here's the New York Daily News on the speculation about what manuscripts Salinger may have locked away in his safe. And, of course, we wonder whether such manuscripts should ever see the light of day. Maybe a locked safe is a far better tribute to Salinger than a cascade of literary cast offs.
    But do we need any more? I think not. Salinger did so much already! If you're game for a dazzling stream-of-consciousness-connect-the-dots overview of all the cultural bells Salinger helped us ring—then you'll enjoy writer A.M. Holmes' fabulous tribute in the New Yorker to Salinger's power to shape young lives.
    Want to read "The Catcher in the Rye" again? Here's an Amazon link to order a copy right now. (And, E-readers? Nope! Among the Salinger quirks—there still isn't a Kindle edition.)

SOME COOL CLOKEY STUFF ...

    First, here's his Wikipedia page if you care for an overview of his life and work.
    The Wall Street Journal's tribute to Clokey includes a couple of fun links—one to the NBC video clip of Eddy Murphy's famous "Broadway-Gumby-Rose" sketch and also a clip of the real "Gumby."
     The single coolest Gumby/Davey Web site is within a larger online project called the Deep Archives. The overall Web site is a collection of images, artifacts and short histories on pioneers in animation. I've found the site's navigation also is sometimes a bit odd. But, it's a site worth visiting! Here's the Art Clokey page, which includes interesting images of archival materials related to his TV shows. (Special thanks to Detroit Free Press staff writer Joe Swickard for first alerting us to this archival link!)

    If you're really enthralled by Clokey, the folks behind the Emmy awards have a much more professionally designed Web site, which includes hours of interviews with Clokey—conveniently divided into segments you can watch online.
    Finally, here's a link to the Amazon page for "Davey And Goliath: The Lost Episodes," which I think is one of the best DVD collections of classic episodes. These 10 shows span 1962 to 1972 and include "Polka Dot Tie," the tale of a new kid who is mercilessly teased because he wears a polka dot tie. Nearly half a century later, the Polka Dot episode still stands up as relevant to kids.

REMEMBER, our question today is: What's their legacy in YOUR life?
    We want to hear from you at readthespirit@gmail.com

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    Not only do we welcome your notes—but our readers enjoy them as well. You can do this anytime by clicking on the "Comment" links at the end of each story. You also can Email ReadTheSpirit Editor David Crumm. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

575: Rethinking charity: A different kind of superhero shines in The Cardinal

ReadTheSpirit has recommended the work of comic author and artist Kurt Kolka for a long time. When Kurt recently prepared to launch a lavish new comic book edition of the Cardinal's tales, he invited me to write a Preface for the debut edition as Editor of ReadTheSpirit.
    I was honored to do that and, in a moment, I'll share with you some of what appears in that Preface. But, first, you'll want to know how Kurt's main character connects with this week's theme: "Rethinking Charity." (Click here to jump back to our overview on Monday, if you missed that.)
    The Cardinal's real name is Rich Benton, the "Clark Kent" behind this crimson-costumed superhero. But, Rich is closer to a Spiderman than a Superman when it comes to personal struggles. Like Spiderman's alter ego, Rich is young and struggling. In particular, Rich wrestles with his Christian faith, trying to discern his own vocation in light of these strange crime-fighting talents he has been given.
    What I like about Kurt's work is that Rich doesn't merely mope around until some gargantuan new threat looms on the horizon—a mighty foe truly fit for a superhero. Rather, Rich keeps plugging away at local volunteer efforts on a regular basis. There are scenes in this new comic book of Rich making beds in an emergency shelter for families left homeless after a fire—and Rich helping to sort out the stock in a food bank so everything is ready for needy families.
    Far too many of us fall into inaction because we fear we're powerless to make a difference—or we wallow in fantasies that we would take action if only someone waved a wand and gave us superpowers.
    Rich is different. He is a superhero, but he makes as much difference through practical charitable efforts as he does through heroic crime busting.

    Here's the gateway to the Cardinal's realm:
    www.TheCardinal.org
    If you want to explore Kurt's larger world with his superhero, click on the "More from K.J. Kolka" link on the comic page.

(Excerpts from David Crumm's)
PREFACE to "THE CARDINAL,"
a new comic book by K.J. Kolka, No. 1

“What is my calling?”
    The Cardinal voices our own inner plea in the years since the attacks of 9/11. Not only has the world’s balance of political power churned turbulently since that fateful morning—but, as the decade closes, the world is scrambling through the rubble of a historic financial crisis and millions of workers are learning that they’ll be changing jobs for the rest of their lives—if they’re lucky enough to find jobs.
    Meanwhile, the media revolution has placed powerful doorways to global culture in the palms of our hands. Dick Tracy couldn’t have dreamed of the sheer connective power now built into wafer-thin rectangles that millions of us tuck into our pockets each morning. And, like almost everything else about life these days, these truths extend beyond the borders of the U.S. In the rapidly emerging island nation of Singapore, the average citizen now owns more than one multi-media cell phone and many Singaporeans own three or more.
    The result of all this disorienting change is a plea like the Cardinal’s four words: “What is my calling?”
    In our increasingly interconnected world, the models of men and women we can hope to emulate distill down into the vivid, heroic icons we all love to celebrate. These heroes’ abilities become larger than life until they seem, like the Cardinal, to take flight. But the best of these, like the greatest of our timeless religious icons, still are rooted in our human limitations. Like Achilles in the ancient Greek pantheon or like Jesus, the savior to the world’s 2-billion Christians, these are figures with supernatural powers—but also human flesh. For Achilles, there was that ankle. For Jesus, his choice to suffer on a cross was an agonizing decision.
    That timeless human appeal of the greatest heroes is woven into the Cardinal’s character from his origins. One of the sages advising young Rich Benton, the Cardinal’s alter ego, tells him, “There is a power that is made perfect in weakness. And it is within you.”
    ...
    Billions of fans around the world are voting with their pocketbooks for comic-style movies, DVDs, video games, manga and graphic novels. Now, scholars and high-brow critics were paying attention as well.
    At a historic moment like this, whole battalions of comic heroes are waiting in the wings. Some, like the Cardinal, have been around for years maturing through various vintages like fine wines. The Cardinal you will enjoy today is a far cry from some of the Cardinal’s early sketches.
    When you see Rich Benton with his hands deep in a pile of dirty dishes, volunteering in a mission kitchen, you might not think of all these grand and global associations. But the Cardinal takes off directly into these heady skies.
    He’s a little guy. A flawed guy. A guy wondering if he’ll ever figure out his place in this crazy, dangerous world. A guy searching for a faith that will sustain him through turbulent change. A guy who wants to bring a little hope to others.
    He’s a guy a lot like me—and a lot like you.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    Not only do we welcome your notes—but our readers enjoy them as well. You can do this anytime by clicking on the "Comment" links at the end of each story. You also can Email ReadTheSpirit Editor David Crumm. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)

573: Now this is cool and Christmas-y! Online holiday surprises ...

We're already unwrapping holiday presents at ReadTheSpirit! This generous holiday spirit is because you—our readers—are sending us Emails, letters, Facebook and Twitter notes with holiday ideas, links and (in response to our special appeal on Tuesday) favorite movies and books that put you in a holiday mood! (Keep those notes coming, please.)
    Hanukkah starts on December 11! We'll have some special Hanukkah treats for you during this Jewish festival of lights and religious freedom. But, here are some cool gifts to enjoy right now!

FIRST, Yes Scrooge Is Alive and ...
Wait!!! Here's a note from a real-life Bob Cratchit!

The Spiritual Wanderer, a.k.a. Rodney Curtis, had a very good week ... Well, no, he had a bad week ... Wellll, it was the best of weeks; it was the worst of weeks.
    Very Dickensian, hmmm?
    Rodney Curtis is a nationally known newspaper photo editor, when he's not penning terrific memoirs like "Spiritual Wanderer" (Hint! Hint! Rodney's wise and funny book is a great holiday gift idea!)
    Because the newspaper business is nearly as dead as Jacob Marley in many places—Rodney now has the distinction of having been laid off twice from two different down-sizing newspapers. As always, he writes about these all-too-common American experiences with grace and wit!
    His column on his latest encounter with the Scrooges of journalism wound up linked from a TIME magazine Web site, among many others, and readers are flocking to read what the Wanderer is writing about living hopefully in turbulent times. (Thank you, if you are among the readers already enjoying Rodney's work on the Spiritual Wanderer Web site.)
    If you haven't discovered what he's doing—then, get on over to his Web site before the clock strikes another hour ... and the Ghost of ...
    Well, you get the idea.

SECOND, Ace Collins and the Hallmark Channel Proclaim:
"BE OF GOOD CHEER!"

December 2009 is shaping up like a truly Dickensian season for millions.
    To help you navigate this challenging season, we welcomed best-selling author Ace Collins to ReadTheSpirit this week. He showed up for the interview with his own brand-new book, "25 Days 26 Ways," and his arms overflowing with great ideas for turning Christmas stress into joy! Bothered by commercialization of the holidays? Ace says: You can learn to enjoy it!
    Bothered by long lines? Ace says: What a great way to meet people!
    Thinking of dumping Christmas cards? Ace says: Wait! Here's how to rethink your Christmas card list!
    PLUS, this weekend, the Hallmark Channel is bringing 79-year-old Doris Roberts back for a starring role in "Mrs. Miracle," based on the beloved Debbie Macomber novel. Don't miss it! To learn more, read our review, which explains a few important things about Hallmark's revision of the popular book.
    On the day our review was published, I visited my dentist's office—and the office staff told me they can't wait to see the movie. But one woman was concerned she might miss it! So, here's the complete schedule of "repeats": Saturday, December 5 (10p.m. ET/PT, 9CT); Sunday, December 6 (12a.m. ET/PT, 11p.m. CT) and (8p.m. ET/PT, 7CT); Friday, December 11 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7CT) and Saturday, December 12 (2p.m. ET/PT, 1CT).

THIRD: Have you found a great online Advent calendar?
Or, Hanukkah calendar?
We're finding them ... well, we're finding them hard to find!

    Advent calendars basically are idea-a-day calendars that help people enjoy this season of spiritual waiting. Sometimes the little "doors" (made of wood, paper, plastic or fabric) contain a story, a candy or a holiday figure.
    Millions are sold each year from inexpensive paper calendars to elaborate folk-art creations—because families love them. That's actually a big part of the problem in finding online, interactive calendars. Googling for Advent calendars brings up mainly retailers pitching products. Instead, we want to find item-a-day, interactive experiences that we can recommend to you—for free online.
    Now, obviously, there aren't many Hanukkah calendars—although some do exist. Mainly, the various candles lit during the festival are the markers of these special days. Still, the problem exists: It's hard to find a good, online, once-a-day Hanukkah offering for families.
    Here at the Home Office, we've come up empty time and again in our online searching. Or, maybe our standards are just too high? (Note: My wife Amy Crumm devoted hours to this research and came up with one lame Web site after another—some of them with poorly written links or bad Java coding that crashed her Web browser. Some simply weren't any fun—or were adequate but just weren't worth suggesting to friends like our readers. Amy also found that Microsoft's new search engine www.Bing.com did a much better job than www.Google.com in helping her to find fruitful links in this kind of search.)
    BUT WAIT! Don't shout "Humbug!" just yet!
    Dr. Rob Pasick, whose wisdom and wit you may recall hearing in radio interviews about "Balanced Leadership," has set up a once-a-day holiday offering over at his Balanced Leadership Web site!
    Check it out!

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

    This is a good time to sign up for our Monday-morning ReadTheSpirit Planner by Email—it's free and you can cancel it any time you'd like to do so. The Planner goes out each week to readers who want more of an "inside track" on what we're seeing on the horizon, plus it's got a popular "holidays" section.
    Not only do we welcome your notes—but our readers enjoy them as well. You can do this anytime by clicking on the "Comment" links at the end of each story. You also can Email ReadTheSpirit Editor David Crumm. We're also reachable on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube and other social-networking sites as well.
    (Originally published at http://www.ReadTheSpirit.com/)