This review is more than a just a book we love. This is a book that means a crazy amount to us.
Throughout both of my pregnancies with my beautiful ratbags, my wonderful husband Nick would read this book to the babies in my tummy. Then, on the day when they were both born he read this book to them (at some point, obviously not straight away as there was a LOT going on). Now we read it to them on their birthdays. It is a VERY important book in this house.
Why do we love it so? Well, it teaches our children to aim for the highest of highs:
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to great heights.
But it also breaks the cold hard realities of life to them. Life isn't always fair and they won't always be the smartest or the fastest:
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't.
Because sometimes you won't.
Fear not though. This book won't crush their little hopes and dreams. What it will do is send them the wonderful message that they are the ones who can make those hopes and dreams come true.
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
Which is what I want for my kids. I want them to be people who have every confidence in their abilities to rock the shiz out of whatever they choose to do. But I also want them to realise that they won't be the best in the world at everything, or quite possibly anything.
This book is commonly quoted in college graduation speeches. Early copies of it are sought out by parents as gifts for their graduating children. I've even heard an amazing story of a father who had every single one of his daughter's teachers from kindy through high school write a message to her in the same copy of this book. But we're not that organised.
Instead we will continue to read this book to our babies as they grow. We will use it to bolster them up so they can meet the challenges of the world. When the world is a little unkind and they need cuddles and a pep talk, we will again turn to this book to help them unslump themselves.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)
KID YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
