A Book’s Summer Lullaby
When I heard that Carly Simon had written a children’s book, I had to take a peek. My first impression, which was wrong, was that it wasn’t that special. At the time, I had already created a nice library for my young daughter and Simon’s book, Amy the Dancing Bear, seemed similar to other books we had. But then I saw the author on a talk show where she gushed about the day Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was then an editor at Doubleday, left a lovely breathy message on her voicemail stating that she thought the book was wonderful and that she would see that it was published. So I gave Amy the Dancing Bear a second glance…
The book did resemble other books on my daughter’s shelves but I realized I had failed to experience the sweet rhythm in the story. I missed that Amy the Dancing Bear tells of the end of summer in the red woolen mittens that Mama Bear dreams of knitting in fall. I hadn’t noticed the lyrical thoughts that spill from both Amy and her mother, about an old watch that failed to tell time, a piano sonata, a Baked Alaska recipe, moonlit arabesques, and fluttering lightning bugs. There is even a flowing blue nightie, special pink silver polish, and a snowy organza apron.
Looking more closely, I saw the trailing vines and hibiscus blossoms that encircle every page which seem to sway in unseen misty breezes from dark open windows. Their home is a magical tropical place where a mother bear and her charming daughter end their day in harmonious cantatas. The book’s prose is both poetic and real as I can almost imagine Carly saying the words to her own sleepless dancing daughter.
Since Amy the Dancing Bear was published in 1989, it has become my favorite summer lullaby. I enjoy its expressive synergy on hot summer nights even though the book sometimes makes me want to throw back the sheets and race downstairs to polish some spoons or pour a cooling glass of iced tea like the chilled tumbler Mama Bear relaxes with as she awaits for drowsiness to capture her pirouetting child. (And the delightful image of Amy and her mother’s pizza supper is not to be overlooked).
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Amy the Dancing Bear appears to be out of print now but some inexpensive copies can be found online and I bet almost every good library still has a copy.
6 Comments
Lynn
Hi, I am a subscriber and received no incoming posts from you in a while (since the Gloria Vanderbilt post). I looked on the internet and found you had sent out several posts since then; they just never appeared in my inbox. Another blogger, I think it was, Between Naps on the Porch, had warned subscribers that hotmail and outlook were filtering out her blogposts. She suggested that all subscribers change to a different email address and avoid hotmail.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Thank you Lynn. My old site sends you directly here now. But those who used to subscribe have to do it again on the new site. Please be sure to do that. I’m sad to think some readers haven’t done that and may think I’ve disappeared! Hopefully they will remember to check A Lovely Inconsequence anyway! Thank you so much for your readership. It means so much to me. This is a WordPress site now and I used to use Blogger.
Margaret Powling
What a lovely description of the book, Donna. I love children’s books and have a small collection of them, mainly for the wonderful illustrations, but this book sounds delightful to read as well as to look at. Your new-look blog is also beautiful, I must remember to look in more often! It’s the sort of blog I enjoy, an oasis of calm in an often busy day.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Thank you Margaret. That is how I feel about your blog too. You can always click the subscribe button and get my posts in email. And I’m sorry you can no longer post on Instagram. I miss you there!
Debbie Squires
Because I had not received a blog post for a while, I decided to check your blog site and happily discovered that you are posting and adore the fresh new look… it is SO perfect!! (And it was not surprising to read the amazing Contessa aka Fairy Godmother helped with with her referral…she is such a wonderful person.)
Love your writing, and hope one day to hear what you think of my books : ) A big congratulations on the publication of your book… hurray for writers!! From your enticing review, this children’s book looks like a must have, and I cannot imagine receiving the voice mail behind the publication! I would have fainted! (I am so grateful for online bookstores that sell out-of-print treasures, just ordered some of Gladys Taber’s books I was missing and some of Andrew Lang’s Color Fairy Books.)
Thinking of you as summer quietly tiptoes into the wings and fall breezes in for her brief (but glamorous) turn on center stage… I will ALWAYS miss fall in New England!!
PS Please be sure you enter my email address, so i will automatically receive your posts!!
A Lovely Inconsequence
So lovely to hear from you Debbie. I should have a nice book review for you soon! By the way, you can subscribe to A Lovely Inconsequence and then not miss a post. Fall in New England is extraordinary. As soon as the cool air comes in, I count every day as Sweater Day. But Florida has its charms too. I am writing another book – this one of essays. Let me know if you ever travel back to Massachusetts, etc. I’ll be emailing you soon.