Margo's Musings: What Will Happen to the Project?

When we saw The Barnabus Project on display at our local library this past weekend I have to admit, I couldn’t wait to read it. I was curious about what it would be about and totally understood why my little sister, Margo, ran to it and snatched it off the table.

Barnabus lives in a lab because he is a Perfect Pet. He lives near his friends and the men in the green suits come and feed him his favorite foods- cheese and peanuts. One day the guys in green suits come in to check on Barnabus and the others in his area and  they are all rejected. They don't meet the standard for a Perfect Pet and this means they need to go back to the starting point and become a perfect mouse or elephant, not a mouse/elephant. But Barnabus is worried that becoming perfect may mean he doesn’t love his favorite foods or the things that make him him. His friends are worried too and they realize the only thing they can do is escape. But can they do it before the men In green come back? Where will they go? How will they survive? They aren’t sure, but they know they have to do it!

The illustrations in this story are absolutely beautiful. So many details are hidden within the pages and there are new things to discover with every reading. The creatures are fascinating to look at, and I had fun pouring over the pages. The colors really set the mood of the story and turning each page was a true delight. 

I love the messages In this book because teamwork is crucial and it’s important to be who you are. I enjoyed the book for the complexities in the story, and Margo loved the simplicity. The story offers similar takeaways to people of all ages, but it also offers something different depending on the reader's age. That helps make this a truly special book for the whole family. 

I think kids and adults of any age can enjoy this book together (or alone). The Fan Brothers worked together to create this masterpiece and it has been a treat to read and reread. I highly recommend this book and am sure it will become a favorite after the first reading. 

Has anyone else read The Barnabus Project? Or have you read another book by The Fan Brothers? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~F

Views From the Pond- March/April

Over the last year and a half I have moved to a new house (it was quite a process). One of my favorite things about my new space is the small pond in the front yard. Although it wasn't on my list of things I "needed" when I was house hunting, it turns out it was something I needed in my life. 

Depending on the season, there is a house or two visible in the distance, as the pond is close to my street (which is very quiet most of the time). If I sit on my front porch I can see and hear the pond and the babbling brook that feeds into it. There is also space close to the pond to sit and relax. Over the last year I have watched the daily changes and have marveled in the animals that come to visit. In the evening, the sounds of crickets and frogs mingling with owls and other night creatures creates a symphony that changes daily. 

I decided to share my views with all of you- so this is the first of a new regular monthly feature on Fairday's Blog. 

These pictures are all from this past March and April. I love the Mallard ducks that visit most days! I talk to them and call them Lord and Lady Quackerly.  Some mornings it is hard to leave for work because there is so much to observe at home. You will notice algae in some pictures, and that is a new addition. There wasn't even a trace of algae in the pond until after the pond came back from a drought we had last summer/fall (it lasted for about 3 months and the pond became a puddle). 

This post contains a lot of pictures because I am sharing two months of Views From the Pond instead of one. It is amazing to see how much the pond changes each day, and the view is so therapeutic. The first picture is from the morning of  March 1st and the last is from the last weekend in April. I have SO been enjoying watching my Magnolia tree bloom. 

I hope you enjoy the views as much as I do! Nature changing and coming alive is pure magic to witness.  ~Stephanie