Aggie Goose Rhymes

Outside Reading

"From the outside looking in, you can't understand it...From the inside looking out, you can't explain it..." (About Texas A&M) Unknown


So, the picture isn't clear but I wasn't able to get a better picture of the book. Also, I chose a quote that didn't come out of the book. I think it's fitting and in sense it explains why I chose to write about a book related to A&M... In a few short months I'll have graduated and have will have all the time in the world to sleep in and read FOR PLEASURE. I'll enjoy the time off, but hopefully by this time next year I will be living in Ft. Worth and in seminary... But for now, I have to focus on school. I know it'll be over sooner than I can possibly imagine. These five years, yes I'm '07, has been better than I could have ever imagined that it would be. Anyway, needless to say A&M has and always will be a big part of who I am... As I've walked through these wonderful, old and dusty buildings I've felt more connected with my past- family members whom I have never met attended A&M. And as I walk around campus and get ready to graduate, I sincerely hope that I will one day pass on this legacy; that I will instill a love for this university that was instilled in me at a very young age. One way others have done this is in writing Aggie tales and having them published. Author Debbie Leland has done the same for those special Aggies in her life... Now for the post.

I know we haven't covered poetry yet, but I figured that I would go ahead and write about this book. Basically, this book has adapted the well known Mother Goose nursery rhymes and has an Aggie twist. For instance,Jack&Jill don't climb up the hill to fetch a pail of water, but instead they climb up to reach the top of Mt. Aggie. In another one of the rhymes, Little Miss Muffet sits on her tuffet but she doesn't eat her curds and whey. This version doesn't really say what she's doing but we know that she's in front of the MSC. The last tale or rhyme rather that I'll write about is well- related to Elephant Walk. It's an original and in my opinion is rather touching. Basically a senior buys his Senior boots and his ring and goes to Elephant Walk.... In the end, after reading this book we are brought to several conclusions or can make several statements.

1. From the inside looking out you can't explain it... What I mean is that while this book tells of Aggie traditions and does it well. However, the fact remains that say an alum of Harvard wouldn't be likely to buy this book. More than likely the audience for these Aggie books is the son, daughter, granddaughter, etc. of an alum. These books give an insiders perspective and teaches Aggie hopefuls abt. traditions that their loved one once took part in.

2. From the outside looking in you can't understand it... As previously mentioned, a Harvard alum probably would not buy this book. No one else, really understands how precious and how sacred our traditions are to us. Honestly, if I weren't an Aggie I'd find this book a little bizarre. You have to truly experience A&M in order to understand it. You can't just read abt. it.

3. Realistically speaking, the audience is probably small and consists of Aggies as aforementioned. Most likely, and I'm totally guessing here- this book is probably only sold in the Bryan/ College Station area. I couldn't picture happening upon these books at another Hastings or Barns and Noble elsewhere.

So, I think that wraps it up. Generally speaking, I was touched that someone would write and adapt these tales. WHOOP for Aggie literature.

Conflict in Hansel and Gretel

"In general terms, between what two groups does the conflict occur in the Hansel and Gretel tales? What is significant about who is victorious in the conflict?"

Alright, this was the discussion question for Friday but we didn't exactly discuss Hansel and Gretel so I feel it okay to still write a post/entry for the question. Here goes... I guess I can see a lot of conflict in Hansel and Gretel but I believe the main conflict to be between the parents and the children and between the children and the witch. Conflict also arises between the parents but that is not as important.

In the beginning when Hansel and Gretel are left in the woods for the first time, conflict arises. As stated, in another post I find the abandonment of this children horrible and somewhat terrifying. Well at least it would be terrifying to children. I mean here you are with your parents who you love dearly and then suddenly they decide to get rid of you because they are destitute and have nothing to eat. Anyway, it is clear that conflict has now entered the picture. When the children, Hansel and Gretel make it back to the house the first time the parents pretend to be glad that they are back home. But they aren't and the children soon find themselves in a similar predicament. Now, the children are truly lost as Hansel's plans to save the two (the two children) fail.

As they walk farther and search for a way out they find more and more conflict- in the form of a witch. Because they are held hostage they are forced to try to find a way out of the situation, they have to escape because they know what will happen to them if they fail again. They will die. In the end, the children win and make it out alive. The fact that the children win is well good, that's an understatement but it does more than that.

Unlike LRRH, Snow White and others, Hansel and Gretel are made out to be clever and cunning. They don't give up and because they don't give up they live. Other characters in other tales are not as fortunate as Hansel and Gretel

Following the Crumb Path

"On the way into the woods, Hansel crushed the bread in his pocket and would often stop to scatter crumbs on the ground." The Grimm Brothers, Hansel and Gretel


Alright, so I vaguely remember reading this as a child, or rather having it read to me. What I remember is being scared. In rereading this short story I can certainly understand why I was scared. I don't know why this is considered a tale for children. It seems inappropriate for children. It's horrible that Hansel and Gretel's mother and father choose to abandon them. And it's not just once that they children are abandoned. It happens twice. I can understand that the parents didn't have enough for themselves much less the children but its unforgivable they choose to do. Think about it. In the modern world if parents were to do this- to abandon their children they would get sent to prison for child abuse... It's just a thought.

I also, remember being scared of that witch. I've never heard of a cannibalistic witch but it does indeed make the story all the more gruesome. I almost wonder if the famine effected her as well. It would explain for the horrendous act, or at least the thought to act, that she wanted to commit. In the modern world, to further explain we don't hear of people being cannibals- at least in America. With that said, it seems all the more inappropriate for children. Also, I'm not sure this is on topic or anything but when I read this part, about the witch, I was reminded of the movie Stardust. In the movie, stars ( like the ones that shine in the sky) are actually people, often times beautiful women. In the make believe, fantasy world witch's live as well. In the movie, a star falls to Earth and the witch(es) seek to kill her because her blood can revive them and make them young again.

Anyway, like I said- I don't really see this as a tale for children...

More on Rotkaeppchen...

"Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by every one who looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, and there was nothing that she would not have given to the child. Once she gave her a little cap of red velvet, which suited her so well that she would never wear anything else. So she was always called Little Red Riding Hood." The Grimm Brothers, Rotkaeppchen.

Once again, I turn to the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Or Little Red Cap, if you prefer it by that title. Anyway, I guess I write with more questions and or comments that have come to mind. First off, in class we agreed that Red is not a little girl, but a young adult or teen. If that's the case then why do well call her Little Red Riding Hood? It wouldn't seem fitting. If LRRH is indeed a teen or preteen why didn't the writers/ publishers drop the "Little" part of her title? It seems misleading in a sense, kind of confusing. Also if, Red is indeed older then why do all the pictures/ or images I have ever seen of her seem to say otherwise. I know this is probably insignificant but I'm just wondering/ pondering here.

Also, I guess that I have never imagined Little Red Riding Hood as misogynistic. I have never perceived or thought of any fairy tale as being mysoginistic for that matter. It seems a little farfetched or silly to call it anti-feminist. But, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't have to go along with everyone...

Lastly, for some reason- I never saw the wolf/ werewolf as a metaphor for a rapist. But yeah I guess I can see that now. I defintley think that that is something a child would fail to see.

I think that about wraps it up for now. I'm spent on words and thoughts for now...

Rotkaeppchen

"Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by every one who looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, and there was nothing that she would not have given to the child. Once she gave her a little cap of red velvet, which suited her so well that she would never wear anything else. So she was always called Little Red Riding Hood." The Grimm Brothers- Rotkaeppchen

Journeying back into time we, readers, remember the first time we read this story. Like others, I was young, maybe four or five. Anyway, what I remember is that I didn't question the story. And, yes I don't think children would question the story or any story for that matter. It's just not in their nature. But, years later after rereading this story I have a few questions to ask. This time I do not merely accept the story for what is, but delve deeper.

First off: Why would Little Red Riding Hood's mother send her out into the forest by herself? It seems a bit irrresponsible on the part of the mother. Does she not care what happens to her daughter?

If you ran into a talking wolf in the forest wouldn't you be scared, or distrubed? In the story, in every account/story, that I read I noticed that the sight of a talking wolf did not scare her at all. But then again, it is a fairy tale so I don't think that would be perceived as strange or weird in the story.

When she finally gets to grandma's house why does she not realize that it is the wolf who answers? It just doesn't make sense. It would seem easy to distinguish a wolf from your grandmother.

Those are the questions I ask and wish that I had the answers to. I picked The Grimm Brother's version because I like the German version better. I read it one time in my GERM class, I don't remember which one. But, yeah, it does have all the markings of a German fairy tale. It's a little dry, but it is good. In the end, Little Red Cap/Little Red Riding Hood is saved. In reading this version, or rereading it rather I am reminded of the biblical story of Jonah and the whale. Both are saved and both make it out alive. Other versions, are of course different and well as we all know she doesn't always make it out of the woods.

But, I think that it's important to realize that the varied versions of the story allow for readers to taste or breathe in other cultures of the world...

Outside Reading List

Book 1: Aggie Goose Rhymes
Author: Debbie Leland; Illustrated by Ann Hollis Rife
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 1-29-08

Book 2: Amazing Grace
Author: Mary Hoffman; Illustrated by Caroline Binch
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 2-9-08

Book 3: D.W Thinks Big
Author: Marc Brown
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 2-15-08

Book 4: The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation
Author: Jan and Stan Berenstain
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 2-20-08

Book 5: The Berenstain Bears Go To Camp
Author: Jan and Stan Berenstain
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 2-26-08

Book 6: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Author: Barbara Robinson
Picture Book: No
Posting Date: 3-18-08

Book '07- WHOOP: 1 The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Author: John R. Erickson
Picture Book: No
Posting Date: 3-26-08

Book 8: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Author: Judy Blume
Picture Book: No
Posting Date: 4-1-08

Book 9: Tears of a Tiger
Author: Sharon Draper
Picture Book: No
Posting Date:4-15-08

Book 10: Aliens for Breakfast
Author: Johnathan Etra and Stephanie Spinner
Picture Book: No
Posting Date:

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Extra

Book 11: Next Year I'll Be Special
Author: Patricia Reilly Giff; Illustrated by Marilyn Hafner
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 4-19-08

Book 12: The Chronicles of Narnia
Author: C.S. Lewis; Illustrated by Deborah Maze
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date: 4-24-08