children's books, paper dolls, dress up games, children's toys, stuffed toys, paper crafts, arts and crafts

Do You Believe in Gremlins?

A long time ago (in the 1940s!), Flight Lieutenant Roald Dahl, wrote a story about impish creatures that sabotaged air force planes, but really, had their hearts in the right place (they were just trying to protect their forests from those "giant tin birds"!). The story was so whimsical and perfect for the time, Walt Disney and Dahl got together to make an animated movie about them.

Dahl's story revolved around Gremlin Gus and his friends, who, at first, confounded, harassed, and befuddled the British air force pilots. Well, what goes around, comes around. Eventually, the gremlins got confounded, harassed, and befuddled (nothing Initial Training School and used postage stamps couldn't do!). They ended up working FOR the Royal Air Force.

But then, the gremlins got into the act (again!). Confounded, harassed, and befuddled, Disney never made the movie! Instead, a cheeky, funny, and feel-good book - The Gremlins: The Lost Walt Disney Production, was born. Last published in 1943, the book is available again (at The Tudy Book Shop!) for a whole new generation of young readers, gremlins, fifinellas, widgets, and spandules. (Which one of these have you seen @ 10,000 feet? Some flight crews reportedly see widgets all the time.)
So now, are you confounded, harassed, and befuddled? Don't believe in gremlins yet? Think fifinellas are just a figment of a fighter pilot's imagination? Then fasten your seatbelts for a fun read! Stow your doubts away. Let your imagination soar "higher than the highest high!" The Gremlins: The Lost Walt Disney Production is a wonderful, nostalgic blast from the past. It'll have you begging for that window seat. Tally ho, young recruits, tally ho!

Peace!

Isn't it amazing that the Peace symbol is 50 years old? It was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a professional, Brit designer. He designed it for the Easter march of the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War. Today, his design is the universal symbol for Peace.

You know what's really cool though? The symbol is based on semaphoric or flag signals for the letters N and D (It's true! It's true! I Googled it!). In a semaphore, N is formed by a person holding two flags in an inverted V. The letter D, on the other hand, is morphed by holding one flag pointing up and the other, pointing down. When you superimpose and encircle these two signals, you get the Peace sign! An ace design, indeed, and if you ask me, quite smashing, really!

So, go ahead, wear the talk! Mean what you say and wear what you mean. It's a Tudy thing. And while you're at it, here's a special Tudy T to celebrate the occasion.

Peace out, people!

What's Soft and Cuddly...

The Classic Tale of the Velveteen Rabbit: Or, How Toys Became Real(Christmas Edition)And always heart-warming? Your favorite plush toy, of course! I still love all my stuffed toys, and I guess, I always will! But have you ever wondered why? Sure, they're cute, soft, and cuddly but, why do they just tug at your heart strings? Why is it always so hard to let them go? Even when you grow up?

Well, read Margery William's The Velveteen Rabbit and wonder no longer. This lovely, timeless, Easter treasure tells you why all stuffed toys are special, and why they will always have a real place in your heart of hearts!

So when you cuddle up tonight with your stuffed toy, whether it's a rabbit, or a lamb, or a bear, or an elephant, give it an extra, tight hug and a sweet, soft kiss! Remember its whisper. It's an endearing life lesson. Stay real!
Sweet dreamszzzzzz...

'Tis the Wearin' of the Green

The Leprechaun in the BasementAnd surely, it's a welcome sign of Spring!

Still looking for that elusive crock o' gold though? Look no further. In Kathy Tucker's and John Sandford's The Leprechaun in the Basement, you'll stumble onto a lore so golden, it'll warm your heart this Saint Patrick's Day.

It's a wee bit of a tale of makin' do with what you've got when times are hard. Even Mr. O' Leary, that cantankerous, miserly, little ol' man, knows all the gold in the world doesn't change your luck in a jiffy. He'll ne'er say it but, it's a good thing to harness the power within you. Maybe, that's the reason leprechauns don't easily part with their gold. Could it be, wily leprechauns want you to know luck is something you create yourself?

Still, I'd think long and hard before you toss that shamrock away. Or that emerald charm. Or (OMG!!) those battered, tattered, old, green shoes! Aye, mi darlins, there's just somethin' about wearin' the green.

Don't believe me? Ask Mr. O' Leary.

Happy Saint Paddy's Day!