Mister Dog

The Tall One and I are going to visit his family in East Tennessee this weekend. I am particularly excited because about 30 minutes from his house, the National Storytelling Festival will be happening in Jonesboro, Tenn.

I've never been to the storytelling festival before, but I can only imagine how wonderful it will be. I mean, really. There's not much better in the world than being read to - especially at bedtime. Maybe I can convince someone at this festival to read one of my favorite bedtime books aloud - Mister Dog.

If you haven't read this book, you should. Regardless of how old you are. It's about Crispin's Crispian - the dog who belongs to himself. Crispin takes himself for walks, smokes a pipe and romps in a field with cats and bunnies. Bliss. And now that I think of it, this book may have a lot to do with my ferociously independent nature...and decorating style. His house rocks!

The boy who belongs to himself is in this picture. Crispin makes friends with him and invites the boy to come live with him. They share their foods for a soup - a bright green vegetable and lots of meat. Clean up the house together. And most importantly, at the end of the book, my favorite part:

"And then what did he (Crispin's Crispian) do? Then he curled up in a warm little heap and went to sleep. And he dreamed his own dreams.That is what the dog who belonged to himself did.

"And then what did the boy who belonged to himself do?The boy who belonged to himself curled up in a warm little heap and went to sleep. And he dreamed his own dreams.That is what the boy who belonged to himself did."

Which makes me think, maybe the story of Crispin's Crispian is a lot like the story of the Tall One and I. And that makes me quite happy - because like I said, this story is my favorite one of all.