nPostednApril 18, 2014
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nJustnas the English-language world enjoys the tales of ChristophernRobbin’s stuffed bear and other toys, those who speak and readnPortuguese have been able to enjoy the tales of the Yellow WoodpeckernFarm.
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nThencharacters in these stories include Lucia (called Little Nose) andnLittle Pete, their grandmother and the family cook, and also allnkinds of imaginative characters like a talking rag doll and corncobnpuppet, a talking pig and rhinoceros, and characters of commonnfolktales such as Saci Perere and Cuca.
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nThenauthor of the Yellow Woodpecker Farm books, Monteiro Lobato, was bornnon this date in 1882. He lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and he wrotenfiction for adults as well as for kids. He wrote nonfiction fornnewspapers and magazines, he was an art critic, and he foundednpublishing houses.
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n Infound it interesting to learn that Lobato’s Yellow Woodpecker Farmnbooks wove together three different universes: the everyday life ofnthe kids on their Brazilian farm, the imaginary universe invented bynthe kids in their play, and the universe of traditional myths told bynthe grandmother, Mrs. Benta.
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nLike many other kids’ stories, this combination of realistic and fantastic universes is sometimes created with magic. For example, I read that the kids used magic powder to visit places like Neverland, mythological AncientnGreece, Fable World, and Grammar World.
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nLobato’snstories have been the basis of some very popular TV shows. Fivendifferent TV series arose out of the Yellow Woodpecker Farm showsnalone! Check out this You Tube teaser. There are many episodesnof the show, but unfortunately I could only find one with English subtitles.
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nThenYellow Woodpecker Farm stories are very important in Braziliannculture. I found one website that has some interesting quotesnfrom the rag doll character:
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“Thensecret, my friend, is only one: freedom. Herenwe have no leashes. The greatest misfortune of all is to be in anleash. And how these leashes have spread throughout thenworld!”
“Thensecret, my friend, is only one: freedom. Herenwe have no leashes. The greatest misfortune of all is to be in anleash. And how these leashes have spread throughout thenworld!”n
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n“Theynsay I don’t have a heart, but that’s not true. I donhave a heart and it’s beautiful. Except that it’s notnmade of bananas. It is not impressed by petty littlenthings; but it hurts every time it sees an injustice beingndone. It hurts so much that I’m sure the ‘evilest’nthing in the world is injustice.”
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nAndnI found another that had a bunch of photos of YellownWoodpecker Farm products.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nHighFive Day
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nWorldnAmateur Radio Day
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nPaulnRevere Day in the U.S.
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nBirthdaynof lawyer Clarence Darrow (famousnbecause of the “Monkey Trial” about teaching evolution)
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nAnniversarynof the publishing of the first crossword puzzle book
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nAnniversarynof Albert Einstein’s death
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nApriln holidays
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nMayn holidays
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nMayn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in May
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