Let Your Friends Lend a Hand
To the
Adult reading to a Child
The story in this book is based on an actual childhood incident which became fanciful in its retelling and eventually, took on a life of its own, as family stories tend to do. Children take delight in reliving their past and in using their imagination to retell and recreate it. As a shared memory, these stories can also become a reservoir from which we can draw in those ongoing conversations about life. As such, Terrance McPhee, his playmates, the plane, the tree, the caterpillar, and the butterfly have all become basis for a kind of family thinking.
I grew up in the time of the delightful storybook, The Little Engine That Could. The chugging refrain, “I think I can, I think I can…” encouraged children to persevere and to keep on trying. Often it empowered and affirmed them in their own abilities. Children, however, are often without any real ability to effect change in their world. What to do when trying harder and doing it again just aren’t enough? What to do when we are simply stuck? This is where Terrance and friends have something to offer.
Do All That You Can...
Like the efforts of the Little Engine that Could, “all that you can” affirms a child in his/her abilities and best efforts. Start there.
Let Your Friends Lend A Hand...
We don’t have to solve our problems alone. “What are friends for?” said Malone to McPhee. We are at our best when we work with others to find solutions.
Be Grateful...
No matter how “stuck” we may seem to be, it is always good to stop, step back and recognize the good that is also part of the situation.
Play...
Be a kid; do what kids are supposed to do. (And if you are no longer a kid, still play; we need it too.) The freedom and the creativity of play allow great things to happen.
Maybe Someday, A Butterfly May, Blow in on the Breeze.
When you find you are forcing things, that’s a good sign that it’s time to let go, at least for now. Give it, and yourself, some time to rest and see what happens in time. Some things are beyond our doing and there is always so much more going on than we could ever know. Like the caterpillar working its way through every page of the book, the solution we are seeking is often already in the making. Trust.
A butterfly blowing in on the breeze may seem a fanciful thing on which to place a child’s hope but, as Scott Ward so aptly re-phrased it, “Trust. Trust that the outcome is what you need.” There is, in fact, so much more going on in the world than we can know or, even, imagine. Children are no strangers to the wonder of this world and readily understand this concept.
Do things always turn out as we want them to? No. But that doesn't mean there isn’t a “something more.” A child might draw upon a super-hero mentality to “solve” something and ask in simplicity, “Can I make a butterfly appear?” No, but we can make a world where butterflies are apt to appear. The butterfly beautifully underscores the connectedness of all creation and opens the door to deeper levels of thought and experience.
As the adult reading to a child, it is our great privilege to encounter these questions and answers, to participate in conversations that reveal the originality of each child’s thinking and understanding. To this I simply say, “Are not we the lucky ones!” Enjoy. Honor the time in their company. Learn with them as you go along.
God bless,
Kathleen
An Uproarious Adventure Awaits!
Discover TERRANCE McPHEE and the TOY EATING TREE, a delightful rhyming read-aloud perfect for families and educators of young children. Follow Terrance and his fluttering friend as they tackle a toy-snatching tree in this fun-filled story for ages three and up!
Want to Color Terrance Yourself?
Educators and Parents
Do you want resources on how to help your students and children enjoy Terrance McPhee even more? Click here for Classroom Resources!