Lately, my five year-old and I have been talking a lot about
Boo Hoo Boone. Boone is one of the main characters in
Lynne Reid Banks’ The Indian in the Cupboard.
Boo Hoo Boone. Boone is one of the main characters in
Lynne Reid Banks’ The Indian in the Cupboard.
This wonderful chapter book (and movie) tells of a fifth grade boy who uses a magic key and an old cupboard to bring miniature, plastic action-figures to life. The story (focusing primarily on a ‘Cowboy and Indian’) has drama, humor, and action. It also has a few lessons about loyalty, the value of life, and relationships.
Boo Hoo Boone is the cowboy in the story. He gets his nickname as he tends to cry often. Boone cries when happy. He cries when sad. He cries in excitement and in boredom. Heck, this big ol’ lug of a guy just plain cries whenever he feels something deeply. The other cowboys may tease him – but I'm kinda sweet on Boone myself.
My youngest son too feels deeply. In preschool, he would see another child get in trouble and immediately feel the sting of the scolding (as if it had been his own). Just this past month, I’ve seen my boy giggle and giggle and giggle until the tears rolled down his face. And last week as we drove home from school he asked, “Do you think it’s ok for Boone to cry so much, Mom?”
My response: “Boone’s a sensitive guy. I have to respect someone who doesn’t overprotect himself so much that he attains complete apathy.” Looking in the rear view mirror I saw a very young, but wrinkled, forehead of confusion, so I restated my idea: “Yes. It’s ok for Boone to be sensitive. Boone is just telling us how he feels.”
There was a pause of silence in the car as he considered that statement. The light turned green, I moved through the intersection, and a little voice in the backseat murmured to himself: “It’s ok Boone. I’m sensitive too.”
Boo Hoo Boone is the cowboy in the story. He gets his nickname as he tends to cry often. Boone cries when happy. He cries when sad. He cries in excitement and in boredom. Heck, this big ol’ lug of a guy just plain cries whenever he feels something deeply. The other cowboys may tease him – but I'm kinda sweet on Boone myself.
My youngest son too feels deeply. In preschool, he would see another child get in trouble and immediately feel the sting of the scolding (as if it had been his own). Just this past month, I’ve seen my boy giggle and giggle and giggle until the tears rolled down his face. And last week as we drove home from school he asked, “Do you think it’s ok for Boone to cry so much, Mom?”
My response: “Boone’s a sensitive guy. I have to respect someone who doesn’t overprotect himself so much that he attains complete apathy.” Looking in the rear view mirror I saw a very young, but wrinkled, forehead of confusion, so I restated my idea: “Yes. It’s ok for Boone to be sensitive. Boone is just telling us how he feels.”
There was a pause of silence in the car as he considered that statement. The light turned green, I moved through the intersection, and a little voice in the backseat murmured to himself: “It’s ok Boone. I’m sensitive too.”