I can’t figure out the point.
Animals do hibernate, but they don't hang out in large groups around whatever flower they can find. And I don't think anybody would argue that it's trying to be realistic in that sense. It's not trying to teach us anything scientific. It's just trying to make a silly story about animals and a flower and it's... boring. It's really boring.
Spring comes after winter.
Doesn’t make much of a splash.
The length of time over which the book's events occur is very nebulous. How much of it is literal? Metaphorical?
Water flows from rain and down the mountains, and eventually ends up in the ocean.
Don’t use it for scientific accuracy and you’ll probably be fine.
Come on. Rainbows don't have a purpose. And they don't always happen after a storm. They might even happen before a storm. You could even make one with a garden hose. And you can definitely have a storm that doesn't end with a rainbow, which raises the question of how this mother would know the storm was over.
Storms are pretty to look at.
The metaphor breaks down when you examine it.
The shepherd is explicitly a boy, though it's not clear exactly how old he is. The sheep is an actual sheep, and not even a particularly useful one at that (black wool was less desirable). And I've read "Where the Red Fern Grows"-- I know that in a battle of dog vs. mountain lion, mountain lion usually wins.
Sheep are worth risking your life over.
The most wonderful doll was inside you all along.
It's a fairly preachy book, but it doesn't really explain what it is she's doing wrong or whether she's aware of it. And then it doesn't really deal with the consequences. It's kind of like "Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine" except that where SBM has kind of an over-the-top consequence, this book really doesn't have any consequence.
Your imagination is always better than reality. Or, reality/growing up sucks.
Don’t angels make people freak out?
It teaches a bit about the culture and holidays of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, but I imagine it's rather outdated. I wonder what Olvera Street is like nowadays, almost 75 years later.
This is how Mexican Americans live in Los Angeles.
Children’s books were different back then.
It includes the actual scores to all of these, with words. For a child to like this book, they'd have to be very interested in the history of hymns. It's mildly interesting from a historical standpoint, but probably not to children of today.
Here's a list of hymns and some background information about them.
Rather too large to be a dainty dish.
It's kind of interesting from a historical standpoint, but I'm really unsure whether this was ever intended for children.
It's important to remember all nursery rhymes.
Not sure whether I'd rather catch the wind or inherit it.
It's just this misunderstanding between friends. She thinks Ezel is telling her she can't do something, when he's really trying to suggest that they could dance together without saying it. And it turns out she dances with him because he's her friend and she doesn't want other people being mean to him. She sticks up for him and does the right thing.
Stick up for your friends.
Not as good as "Toot and Puddle."
The stories do show quite a bit of compassion from Frog to Toad. Toad is kind of the standard "Gloomy Gus" stereotype, sort of like Bert and Ernie, where Toad is Bert, and Frog is Ernie. Frog is more rambunctious and outgoing, trying to enjoy himself but still with an empathetic side (except when he lies to his friend about the month).
Various. It's okay to lie to your friends to avoid being lonely. Do nice things for others. It's okay to make fun of people for wearing ugly clothes. Stories are boring. Remind people that you enjoy their company.
