CO YOGA + Life® | Winter + Spring 2022-23

Page 22

lifestyle / Books

STEP OUT WITH THE GRUFFALO

A StoryWalk Project by Sandy Ferguson Fuller

D

o you know a Gruffalo? About 20 years ago, while browsing a bookstore in Edinburgh, Scotland, I stumbled on a new children’s picture book entitled The Gruffalo by UK author/illustrator team Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, not yet published “across the pond.” What in the world is a Gruffalo? I wondered, opening the intriguing cover and turning the colorful pages. I was hooked and bought the book. This, now-classic, soon debuted in the U.S. and became an international, award-winning bestseller with over 14 million copies in print worldwide, an Oscar-nominated animated film and a stage musical performed on Broadway. It was also voted England’s favorite bedtime story! So, what is a Gruffalo? He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. He has terrible tusks and terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws. Not to mention … His eyes are orange; his tongue is black. He has purple prickles

22

all over his back. Okay. So, he’s kinda scary. But, what does this have to do with bravery? As the story goes, an intrepid, tiny mouse sets out for a peaceful walk in the woods. Soon, he attracts several hungry predators: Fox, Owl and Snake. Each hope to snatch him up for a delicious snack. The resourceful mouse conjures up a frightful, imaginary beast to scare away his foes. Little does he know, there’s a REAL Gruffalo lurking! When they cross paths, suddenly the mouse is face-to-face with a giant surprise and the ultimate challenge. Will his clever scheme backfire or work to save himself? The familiar moral of this whimsical, rhyming tale is … no matter how small or how big you are, you can get yourself out of any situation … with proper wits and courage and bravery. A classic picture book is timeless and delights audiences for generations. Recently, The Vail Public Library chose The Gruffalo as their feature title to showcase for the summer in Bighorn Park in East Vail. The

StoryWalk Project is a national program created by Anne Ferguson (Montpelier, VT) and made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and, locally, through the Colorado State Library. The Friends of the Vail Public Library and the Town of Vail also sponsor their free program. Just like the mighty mouse in the story, children and adults can set out for a walk in the woods, follow a path around a pond, read the story and savor the illustrations on sequential panels along the way. It’s wonderful to share together, with theme activities suggested at the end. I spent a fun afternoon at this StoryWalk revisiting one of my favorite picture books, also keeping a watchful eye over my shoulder just in case the Gruffalo decided to follow me! So, if you don’t know the Gruffalo, don’t be afraid to get acquainted! Discover his story at your local bookstore or library. And, hopefully, you can find a StoryWalk program in your neighborhood for ongoing entertainment. Or, consider starting one; there’s always space for more! +

YOGALIFELIVE.COM


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

FEATURED GATHERINGS

4min
pages 66-67

RECIPES

3min
pages 64-65

CONSCIOUS BRAVERY

3min
page 62

THE LOVE AFFAIR WITH MY SCALE

3min
page 63

GOOD VIBRATIONS

4min
pages 56-57

WINTER SOLSTICE + SPRING EQUINOX

4min
pages 54-55

GEAR GUIDE

3min
pages 52-53

NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF INFERTILITY

10min
pages 58-60

5 WAYS PARENTING MAKES YOU BRAVER

3min
page 61

BIG CITY MOUNTAINEERS

3min
pages 50-51

EREM

4min
page 49

MAKING A SNOW LABYRINTH

3min
page 48

VETOGA

4min
pages 46-47

TRANSFORMING DOUBT INTO DARING

4min
pages 42-43

BREATHING FOR BRAVERY

4min
page 41

TRAVEL

1min
page 39

FINDING COURAGE

2min
page 38

WHAT ON EARTH ARE THE AKASHIC RECORDS?

6min
pages 44-45

WHAT WE LOVE

4min
pages 36-37

SHOP LOCAL + SUSTAINABLE

5min
pages 34-35

CO ESCAPE TO RIDGWAY

14min
pages 28-33

MEDITATION IN A CUP

3min
page 25

YOGA + LIFE READING CORNER

4min
pages 22-23

COLORADO INFLUENCER

4min
pages 12-13

THE TORCH OF A TABOO ART FORM

3min
page 24

STUDIOS

6min
pages 20-21

DEEP TISSUE RELIEF WITH ASHIATSU MASSAGE

4min
pages 26-27

TEACHERS + LEADERS

14min
pages 14-19

ABOUT THE COVER

3min
pages 8-9
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.