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http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO
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Dear Reader,
"Once there was
a peddler who sold caps.
But he was not like
an ordinary peddler
carrying his wares on his back.
He carried them
on top of his head...
...As he went along he called,
'Caps! Caps for sale!
Fifty cents a cap!'"
People often ask, "What are you reading right now?" and this week I think they'd be surprised by my answer. Because my favorite book, the one I'm reading right now, is Caps For Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina. In fact, this morning, lying on the floor with my feet up on a foot stool, I was reading out loud (reading children's books out loud is the only way for me), but it wasn't my voice I was hearing. Instead, I was six years old again, sitting on the floor in front of our black-and-white console television, listening to Captain Kangaroo's voice as he read, "Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!"
First published in 1940, Caps For Sale is recognized as a classic and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Such a delightful story, written by an author who says, "I was born and spent a happy childhood in a pleasant part of Siberia, at the foot of the Ural Mountains."
That happy childhood must be why this delightful tale made me giggle and smile when I was six years old, and this morning when I was hearing Captain Kangaroo's voice reading, "Caps! Caps for sale!
Fifty cents a cap!" I was giggling and smiling again.
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Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/
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What memories you brought with that. As soon as I read about hearing his voice and the story I remembered listening to it as well. I always watched the show as a child.
Posted by: MAF | February 18, 2011 at 08:18 AM
I am retired from our local library, where I was the Children's Dept. and one of my favorite filmstrips to show was "Caps for Sale". The kids liked it also. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Posted by: KH | February 18, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Captain Kangaroo for you too?? My mother didn't read to me when I was a child so my only exposure was those great books was on that show. I bought every one of them for my kids.
My favorite memory of Caps for Sale was reading to my 4 year old daughter (who is now studying for a Masters in Library Science) while her baby brother sat in an infant seat. Not only did I read with great enthusiam, I pantomined throwing a cap on the ground and shaking my fists. That was the first time I heard my son laugh a belly laugh - so of course that positive reinforcement kept me repeating the words and gesturing all the more. Sure do wish I have a picture of him that day.
He's now in college studying philosophy - wants to teach it at the college level one day. I'm so very glad I read to my kids.
Have a great day!
Posted by: KD | February 18, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Thanks for bringing back such a memory. I loved Caps for Sale and Captain Kangaroo! And you are right about reading children's books out loud. My husband and I often guest read in our twin granddaughters classrooms and we
love it!!
Posted by: PC | February 18, 2011 at 08:20 AM
You always stir up memories! When I was in 1st grade my cousin - who was about a year old then - lived across the street. Every morning before school I would have breakfast with him and we would watch Captain Kangaroo together. I wonder when there will no longer be anyone who remembers the Captain - he filled so many of my mornings with stories and do something that would make my cousin laugh. Thanks for the memory nudge!
Posted by: JF | February 18, 2011 at 08:21 AM