I was at a church service once and the minister used “Winnie-the-Pooh” as the inspiration for his homily.

Specifically, chapter two, where Pooh goes to visit Rabbit and gets lodged in the entrance to Rabbit’s burrow.

Christopher Robin arrives and says Pooh will have to wait, stuck in the hole, till he gets thin again. 

But, says Christopher Robin, “We will read to you.”

Pooh sighs (or rather tries to sigh, since he’s too squeezed to sigh properly).

At last he asks, “Would you read a Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in Great Tightness?”

Christopher Robin does, of course, and Pooh is extricated a week later, thinner, but loved.

When we get stuck, it’s good to have friends. And a Sustaining Book.

By the way, mine is “The Little Prince.”

You?

Happy reading,

Jeff, Bob, and Zoe …
… who believe that reading with kids can change the world for the better

Read our current story: “Jack Jenk Shouts Love”

Jack Jenk is an outsized 5th-grade boy destined for a football future until a homework assignment sends his life cartwheeling off in an unexpected, and uncomfortable, new direction. 

• Read part 1: A Different Kind of Smart
• Read part 2: The News was a Bummer
• Read part 3: “Can I Change My Answer?”
• Read part 4: Mark Farkle Says They’re Criminals
• Read part 5: A Not-Very-Linebackery Thing to Do
• Read part 6: Jack Adds a Sentence
• Read part 7: The Plan Goes Splat!

Let me know if you’d like a PDF copy of the entire story.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.