Cole has a new obsession. The 1953 Little Golden Book Classic The Little Red Caboose. He demands it be read over and over. And over. And over.
I'm sure it's the pictures because the story is...well, lacking. It's about, obviously, a little red caboose hooked to the back of a steam engine. But the oil cars, flat cars, box cars, and coal cars get all the love. Until one day the train attempts to scale a large mountain and the caboose essentially holds the train from sliding backwards until some other engines can come push the train from behind. Then everybody waves at the little red caboose.
But oh those pictures! Swiss-looking mountain climbers. A large village of very stereotypical Native Americans. Furry little critters everywhere. A circus. A horse and buggy and school bus on the same road. Suspension bridge. A farm. Boaters. Fishing. Church spires. Kelly and I mockingly ask where this is supposed to represent. It's like someone mixed up some Norman Rockwell with the Pokey Little Puppy.
Cole can't get enough. Especially the tunnels. He points them out every time. One of his other favorite books involves going through a house room by room in the life of a bear. Including said bear's clean kitchen, couch for napping, library for reading, and dining room table where he's eating honey and bananas. Cole loves the green door and schematic diagram of the 2 floors at the end.
We have no idea what makes this kid tick, but it's awfully interesting to try to figure out.
I'm sure it's the pictures because the story is...well, lacking. It's about, obviously, a little red caboose hooked to the back of a steam engine. But the oil cars, flat cars, box cars, and coal cars get all the love. Until one day the train attempts to scale a large mountain and the caboose essentially holds the train from sliding backwards until some other engines can come push the train from behind. Then everybody waves at the little red caboose.
But oh those pictures! Swiss-looking mountain climbers. A large village of very stereotypical Native Americans. Furry little critters everywhere. A circus. A horse and buggy and school bus on the same road. Suspension bridge. A farm. Boaters. Fishing. Church spires. Kelly and I mockingly ask where this is supposed to represent. It's like someone mixed up some Norman Rockwell with the Pokey Little Puppy.
Cole can't get enough. Especially the tunnels. He points them out every time. One of his other favorite books involves going through a house room by room in the life of a bear. Including said bear's clean kitchen, couch for napping, library for reading, and dining room table where he's eating honey and bananas. Cole loves the green door and schematic diagram of the 2 floors at the end.
We have no idea what makes this kid tick, but it's awfully interesting to try to figure out.