HONK!

I just read the best book.  It’s a kid book so ratchet your excitement down just a notch.  That’s better.

It’s called HONK!: The Story of a Prima Swanerina by Pamela Duncan Edwards.  It has a lovely handwritten inscription on the inside cover: 1998 Merry Christmas Hailey, love Aunt Janelle.  This may be one of the best Santa Cruz flea market finds of 2011.  That Granddad knows all the good holiday gift stalls.

To summarize the story, it’s about a Parisian swan who dreams of dancing in Swan Lake.  What?  That doesn’t sound great to you?!  Well trust me.  It’s a real page turner.  With sprightly dialogue and illustrations of haughty French opera-goers, it provides numerous opportunities to practice your foreign accents while reading.  In the version I tell, the smarmy Opera House manager seems to have come across the border from Germany seeking additional opportunities for advancement in theater management.

If you’re looking for an alternative to Curious George or Dr. Seuss, it looks like you can find pure joy in bedtime reading for only $6.80 at Amazon.com.  Thanks Auntie Janelle.