I was unaware of its past and the controversy engendered by its dangerously simple message. On the surface the story of the flower loving Ferdinand is simplicity itself. It was new to me (the Viking Press 1969 paperback edition) when I read it to my daughter Cat some twenty plus years ago. I don't even remember how I got my copy of The Story of Ferdinand but it has greatly enriched my life and I value it greatly. The Story of Ferdinand: Between the Lions I intend to give my current copy to one of my friend's child as a Christmas present and will buy more to hand out in the years to come. Get a copy and read it yourself if you haven't - then pass it on to a special child you know who can use this message. Best thing about this is that it isn't bogged down by religious, political, ethnic or sociological messages - it i s what it is.

In ways it mirrors a number of koans I read later in life, but koans are generally not accessible to Western children. The text, the illustrations, the book itself is ideal for a young reader but stretches much beyond the classic fable. It changed my life for the better as this simple fable resolved the conflict between living up to others' expectations (being the fighting bull) and living for the moment (stopping to smell the flowers). The story is one of those great classics that changed my life when I came across it in the New York Public Library when I was 6 years old. The message: stop to sniff the roses and don't let anyone force you into being something you're not. Something special for your 7-year old - a classic work with a great message

The story of ferdinand 1936