thINK Assignment: Oh, The Wonderful Days of Childhood

"Everybody is bigger than I am." As children, we love to have stories read to us. Whether it is right before bed, in the car, or just at random points during the day. One of my favorite books, a book that I still enjoy today, is The Littlest Rabbit. The title pretty much describes itself, in that the plot of the story is about a rabbit who is criticized and shunned for his size. Being a short girl myself, I could actually relate to this book. The thought of being criticized for being different just doesn't seem fair. I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I wish that I could stand up to people like the little rabbit did. If I could just build up enough confidence to say something, the way I act might cause someone else to change. And then the cycle of being a good person would continue.

One aspect of the book that everyone can grasp are the pictures. The drawings by Robert Kraus suggest that even the simplicity of a little rabbit can evoke many different emotions and describe all types of ideas. The main theme of this book however is that revenge is sweet! But being mean can only go so far. You need to be a better person and don't just do what they did.

"Stop that! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" or "Don't pick on me!"

In the end, it would be a lot simpler if we didn't judge people based on appearence. We should just be the "bigger person" and let it go.

Annotated Photo

In exactly 18 words, I have thoroughly described who I am as a reader, a writer, and a person. Click on the photo below to learn more.

Dorothea Lange's Photos

By looking at Dorothea Langes's surprisingly morbid photos, initial reaction was sadness. Seeing the way that this family lives on an everyday basis sends chills up my spine. How can one mother take care of all those children and herself all at once?

These photos make me feel thankful for what I have. The fact that I can have a stable shelter, a fortunate lifestyle, and caring parents means the world to me. I do not know if I could even survive in the world in which they are living now.

However, though these photos evoke some disturbing and depressing emotions, it also makes me want to help people that are in need. Why would we not help these unfortunate people? It would only take a few minutes out of my day to go donate some money to the homeless shelter. Or I could even go a step further and send old clothes or bedding to an unfortunate country.

We should all be thankful for what we have, and we should also be caring enough to take into account how much other people suffer.

The Giver

The Giver's compelling plot and lovable characters made the novel a real joy to read. The plot line pulled me in and turned the whole book into a page turner. And the characters were so complex, yet simple at the same time.

The novel, The Giver, was about a society in which the law was "sameness." To have complete control over the community they made everyone have the same appearance, thoughts, and even the same opinions of each other. No one is allowed to be different. The main character Jonas doesn't realize these similarities until he becomes "The Receiver." He learned that the community didn't used to always rely on sameness. They actually used to have war, pain, and many other slight differences. Jonas's journey unfolds throughout the rest of the novel as he learns of all the pain and suffering that occurs in secret from the community.

One of the most beloved characters of The Giver is Jonas. Though he seems to be unhappy with his career choice at the beginning of the novel, by the end all he wants to do is help his community. He is nice, polite, and cares about his civilization and what secrets are being kept from them just to remain the "same." Another character is the Giver. Since he was the prior Receiver to Jonas, he knows what Jonas is having to deal with. He does whatever he can to help Jonas through his struggle, and at the end he even helps him escape.