A Penguin State of Mind
While there are other characters in the funny pages that I do like, such as Charlie Brown, Ziggy, Marmaduke, the dog from Pooch Cafe, and Mooch and Earl, no one compares to Opus. He is never unkind, he finds beauty in everything, and he is a bird of strong convictions. When I found these same traits in human form, I married him. Opus, a longtime resident of Bloom County, then Outland, and most recently a star of a self-titled comic strip, officially retired on November 2, 2008. There are several compilations of his comic strip, and there is this story: A Wish for Wings That Work. You don't have to love Opus, or even know who he is, to appreciate it. It is all about a bird who wants nothing for Christmas save a pair of wings that will actually enable him to fly. When he is called on in an emergency, he realizes that he can fly, as all penguins can (underwater, of course), and that his gifts are special, just as everyone has gifts unique to her or him that make them special.
I have been reading this story for several years to my students, starting when I taught in an inner city high school in NY. A Wish always evokes some interesting discussions, even though it appears to be a picture book for younger children, they ALL take something away from having read it. And don't think it isn't for you or your children if you are not Christian. Santa and anything religious are secondary to the theme of loving yourself, even if you perceive your flaws (which we all have) to be huge. I have had it confirmed by one Jewish student and several Muslim students that the only concept that resonates is acceptance of self, something that many children can't have reinforced enough. A Wish for Wings That Work is a wonderful story with a great message and beautiful illustrations, a lovely book for any age.
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A wish comes true
This is the most lovely x-mas story I ever read! It's about not giving up on your wishes, be bold and don't have the attention on you.
If you like this story, look for a book of Ariel and Shya Kane, they have found a way of living, that is beyond all I could immagine - all it takes, like in this book, is courage.
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