If you’re a fan of Fall Out Boy, you might know that their album title “From Under the Cork Tree” was inspired by the book, The Story of Ferdinand. I knew this and I’d been wanting to check the book out for some time. I’m pretty sure I’d read this book a few times as a child, but it was nice to reread it as an adult to see just how wonderful it is.
The Story of Ferdinand is about a young bull named Ferdinand who isn’t like his peers. The other bulls would rather run and jump and bump their heads together, “but not Ferdinand.” Ferdinand would much rather sit quietly under his favorite cork tree (an actual tree that grows corks on it; *giggles*) by himself.
But when sweet, pacifist Ferdinand is chosen by accident for the bull fighting in Madrid, what will happen?
I think this book is highly relatable for any children (or adults) who are a little bit different and unlike their peers. Ferdinand’s mother is super understanding. She sees that he wasn’t alone when sitting under the cork tree but actually happy and content, so she lets him do what makes him happy. I loved that. That’s how mothers should be: you should encourage your children to do exactly what makes them happy (I’m glad I had a mother and father like this).
This book is very sweet. I love its message: it is okay to be you. Do what you love doing even if it’s not what people expect of you. Be happy. If you don’t want to do something, don’t.
Highly recommended. It takes no time at all to read and it’s a great message for kids.
Publication info:
The Story of Ferdinand
Written by Munro Leaf; illustrated by Robert Lawson
Published by Viking; January 1936
72 pages (hardcover)
Caught Read Handed 
Loved this book when I was a kid!
Yay! 🙂
Oh, it’s been ages since I read this book, but we have it around here somewhere. I should find it. 🙂 So far I’ve been lucky as a parent that my kids seem to like the same things I like. I bet it’s hard to be a geeky mom with a jock kid, or vice versa.
Oh man. For sure. I was lucky that my dad loved to read as much as me, and my mom loves to read some too. I hope my kids (whenever I have them) love to read. *fingers crossed*
I firmly believe that reading to a child as much as possible will instill a love of reading. I’ve been reading to mine since before they were born. 😀
My parents did the same for me. 🙂
I also think it’s important not to underestimate what a child is capable of understanding. I started reading chapter books (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the first) to my son when he was 3. I actually had a children’s librarian ask me why I was doing that?!? My response was that he was ready for it. 🙂
That’s a good idea. I don’t know if my parents did that, but my reading level was always a lot higher than my grade level. Like, in middle school, I always got 13+ for my reading level. 🙂
I bet they did. My son’s reading level just tested in the 12-13 age range (he’s not quite 9) and he’s now reading some of my books. 🙂
Wow! That’s great. 🙂
I’m one proud Mama, especially since I taught him to read (I’m not even ashamed of how boastful that sounded). 😀