Archive for January 6th, 2012
…and not just one but THREE!
One might think at first that the song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” is just a fantasy, but thanks to two dear friends, I can honestly say the dream can come true.
Friends gave me three wonderful hippos for Christmas:
When I was a kid, “Charlie” perfume had lots of what are now funny, kitchy commercials on TV. Turns out one year, they sold a paste version of the fragrance in a metal hippo box. A friend of mine found one of these and made a wonderful gift of it to me. What joy!
This little guy will now come along with me to “Sing Books” gatherings. I knitted a long/thin scarf/necklace and now he can come along for the ride!
This hippo is a glass ornament and will enjoy a special place on our Christmas tree, reminding me what fun it is to make wishes that come true!
Plus, just a little memory to share…
My family moved out of the first house my parents bought when I was about 5 years old. One of my first memories is from that house and of the ballerina hippo wall decals that my mom put on my closet doors.
Of course I also love the “George and Martha” books written and illustrated by James Marshall (who is also the illustrator of a number of wonderful Singable Picture Books).
This is all to say that it’s the little things like this (stories, memories, gifts, events, associations, images, etc) that make a song come alive, that make it matter, that give it relevance…that give a person a REASON to sing.
…and…if you start looking for hippos, they’re everywhere.
…and…if you say what you want, you just might get it!
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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Words and Music by John Rox
Illustrations by Bruce Whatley
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Related Posts
JAMES MARSHALL
The Whimsical, Wacky, Wallop of Singable Picture Books by James Marshall
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/the-wonderful-world-of-james-marshall/
