The Wonder Child and Other Young Heroes

Tape, CD Review by Karrie Hagerty in the Tale Trader Magazine

As a child, I grew up listening to nursery rhymes and tall tales. I sat mesmerized by the storyteller at the local library's storyhour every Saturday afternoon. What I would like to know is where was Bonnie Greenberg when I was a child? Greenberg's mix of inspirational storytelling and goodhearted song brings us all back to the magical and innocent times of our childhood.

The Wonder Child and Other Young Heroes, brings six treasures from many cultures and shares inspiring lessons for life. Greenberg challenges us to look beyond the obvious and mundane events in our lives and revel in the small, seemingly insignificant gifts that remain constant, yet rarely unveiled.

The CD begins with a truth teaching about one person making a difference. The Starfish is a story about a little girl believing she can save stranded starfish by singlehandedly throwing them into the ocean. She was thought to be foolish by her grandmother, but believed by saving only one starfish, she had made a difference. This comment made her grandmother think and realize her small, eight-year-old granddaughter COULD make a difference in life no matter how small she was. I believe if we all shared in this philosophy we would all live in a happier place.

ìThe Wonder Childî is a wonderful Jewish fairy tale. The tale focuses on the grimness of jealousy and the beauty of truth and innocence. This tale reminded me a bit of the wicked witch of the forest and Snow White. Love and kindness blanket the evil, greed, and hatred of the jealous queen; a loving family is reunited. The King and The Wonder Childî live happily ever after.

The next story is derived from Chinese Folklore. I absolutely loved Min-Yo and the Moon Dragon. The moon is thought to be falling closer to Earth and the villagers are worried. A trip to visit the Moon Dragon is planned to plea for the salvation of Planet Earth. Min-Yo is summoned by the village to make the dangerous climb up the cobweb staircase to ask for the Moon Dragon's help, since she is dainty enough to climb the falling-down staircase. She brings gifts of treats and diamonds to gain the dragon's friendship and trust.
Little does Min-Yo know that all the Moon Dragon needs is love and respect from his neighbors on Earth. In fact, the abundance of diamonds was the start of all the misfortune.
The fourth story is an Israeli folktale, whose author, Rabbi Robert Samuels, is an influential part of Greenbergís work. The Little Heroes of Kfar Tabor is a tale of a community uniting to overcome an almost impossible obstacle. All the villagers want is a school for their children to learn and grow. However, due to erroneous laws placed by the Turks, that dream seemed just that, a dream. I was inspired by the will of the parents and children to make their dream a reality.
This tale reiterates the morals of teamwork and goodwill toward humankind.

A surprise awaited me on the fifth track of Greenberg's CD. She really does give us a great sense of cultural variation and lessons. Johnny Appleseed, an old American legend, has been around for generations. Johnny, a motherless child, decides to bring his knowledge and wealth of apple seeds to the whole country. He is a determined young boy with only one goal in life: to plant orchard upon orchard of apple trees. Apple trees are his only real love and the salvation in his life. Along the way, Johnny gains great respect and admiration from those he encounters. Greenberg brings us through the tale beautifully, which is sure to bring a tear to your eye.

If you have ever boasted the phrase, I might be small, but I'm mighty, you will be moved by the last tale on the CD, Devoleb. Greenberg challenges you by asking what "Devoleb" spelled backwards means. Okay, I will give you a minute to figure it out: time's up. Inspired by Greenberg's own son, David, Devoleb teaches us that whatever we put our minds to, we can do. We are taught in this inspiring tale to discover and mold our own special talents. Size is no hindrance in life; only ignorance is.

This CD is overflowing with lessons and morals we may tend to forget or dismiss later in life. Once you have listened to Bonnie Greenberg's classic storytelling, you will be more than reminded of the simpler and precious aspects of life. The hero and heroine are reborn through her storytelling and song. This collection of stories will rejuvenate the child in all of us and put a smile on our faces.