Our Books
1. The Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White (1970)
E.B. White wrote three novels for children. They're all classics, but only
Charlotte's Web is ubiquitously known. And that makes The Trumpet of the
Swan an ideal first choice for One School, One Book. (Stuart Little is less ideal
because many children will already be familiar with the recent film adaptation.)
The Trumpet of the Swan has three things going for it. The protagonist Sam
Beaver, through whose patient, curious, observant eyes we learn to see and
appreciate nature, quietly and privately. Louis the Swan, born without a honk,
he learns to communicate anyway through the aid of a trumpet. His adventures
will take you from the wilds of Canada and Montana all the way to the Ritz
Hotel in Boston, Mass. And of course, there is E.B. White's sterling and
matchless prose.
One virtue of The Trumpet of the Swan, making it ideal for One School, One
Book, is that while Sam Beaver's naturalistic curiosity and journaling will
intrigue older listeners, Louis the Swan's antics (at camp, at the zoo) will
enthrall younger listeners. Parents will take vicarious pleasure when their
children are thus intrigued and enthralled by E.B. White's lesser known classic.
2. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien (1971)
Robert C. O'Brien's Newbery Award-winning Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of
NIMH is the longest book thus far recommended for One School, One Book. It
is a beguiling and unforgettable book that tells two stories. First we meet Mrs.
Frisby, a mouse who lives on a farm, who must find new living quarters for her
family, a task beyond her physical capabilities. Her search takes her to the
mysterious, secretive, industrious rats who also live on the farm. And these rats
-- the rats from NIMH -- turn out to have their own story, an unexpected,
captivating tale of capture, experimentation, and escape -- a story whose nine
chapters are the secret heart of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
One might think that a chapter book 235 pages long is too much for younger
children. And it is true that Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a more
ambitious One Book choice. But the story delights and captivates younger
children because they are able to identify with the plight of animals. They
empathize with Mrs. Frisby and her sick son as she visits a crow and an
apothecary and an owl and eventually the rats. They may not understand what
NIMH is exactly, but they still thrill to the plight of capture and escape (via air
conditioning ducts). Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH eventually has larger themes to explore, including
discussions of parasitism and independence, civilization-building and sacrifice.
It all sounds like a lot but that's why it's been charming readers -- children and families alike -- for 35 years. A
fine example of how One School, One Book can bring families together, holding the attention of first graders
and fifth graders simultaneously, thus building a culture of reading.