This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Maurice Sendak Foundation. The opinions and text are all mine.
Being a parent indeed has changed our perspective in life. It’s no longer just about us or our wants or desires in life. We now have to make responsible decisions and set a great example to our son Josiah King. That’s because our choices will not just affect us but as well as the upbringing of this tiny little human who depends on us to guide him.
My husband and I agreed that we have to be careful with what we say or show our son because he is now like a sponge absorbing everything around him. For about a month now that we have been observing his action, and every time he plays with his stuffed toy Elmo he would give it a big hug and smile. Hubby and I came to the conclusion that this is the perfect time to teach him what love and friendship mean.
Except, how does one exactly teach an infant or a toddler the importance of love or friendship for that matter? Reading books and sharing an actual example or an action. I remember as I was growing up that I have my own favorite book or story that I would read over and over again. I would love for our son to have a go-to story as well that he can look back to. I have picked out Presto & Zesto in Limboland by Maurice Sendak.
So what made me choose this book for our son? Because Maurice wrote this book along with his dear friend Arthur (Yorinks) to acknowledge and pay tribute to their longtime friendship. A way to celebrate their bond as best friends. In the book, Presto is Arthur and Zesto is Maurice. Here’s the thing … we all have a best friend. Someone we share everything with. Someone we can rely on, through thick and thin. Someone who will always have our back, no matter what. Especially my son witnesses first hand that I often take regular video calls with my own best friend who is living in the Philippines. I want him to grow up knowing that friendship has no distance, age, or even color. It’s all about love and knowing who you can trust.
Since Maurice’s passing in 2012, The Maurice Sendak Foundation discovered the unpublished manuscript and illustrations for Presto & Zesto in Limboland. Believe it or not, I only happened upon this book by chance. I have always been a fan of Maurice’s works, and one of those is “In The Night Kitchen is fine.”. I was looking up his other books when I stumbled across this gem. Best believe I am absolutely delighted that I did.
To keep the legacy alive of one of the most important children’s authors of the 20th century, I highly encourage you all to share his art and stories to your family as well as friends. Feel free to order a copy of Presto & Zesto in Limboland through Amazon or support an independent bookstore just like Battenkill Books in NY.
Interested to know more? Visit www.SendakFoundation.org to learn all about The Maurice Sendak Foundation.
52 comments
First of all, I must appreciate your way of inculcating values in your child. Wiil go for this book. Thanks
First of all, I must appreciate you for the way you are inculcating values in your child. I would look forward to get this book as a gift to some kid in my family.
What a lovely way of teaching children about friendship!
What a beautiful book and the illustrations are seriously impressive! I agree, it’s so important to support smaller businesses 🙂
This is so nice, I haven’t heard of it but interested to learn more.
Great to learn about more of Maurice work and the picture are vintage with all sort of msteries tucked away in the corner. It will light up a lot of imagination for the young kids.
I was so excited when I heard there was a previously unknown Maurice Sendak book! He is my favorite children’s author.
I love Maurice Sendak so much. When my kids were little, I read his books to them all the time. They were huge fans.
Oh I certainly plan on sharing stories of the past with my future son!! He must learn about his family’s history!
This is very sweet actually. Good one.
The images in the book look really nice, it must be so tough knowing what to share and show your kids x
This looks like an interesting book. We love reading the kids stories and those that have a positive message are best
Being a parent really does end up changing so much about us, mostly for the best! This looks like such a good story, I will have to pick one up for my kids collection!
The friendship in this book sounds super sweet. I think this would be a lovely book to read with little ones!
Wow. I have never heard of Presto & Zesto in Limboland before. It looks like a lovely story!
I have never heard of this story! I need to find it at our library!
How neat that this book was found and published! I didn’t realize that the author had passed away – we have certainly enjoyed his works over the years. This is really neat, thanks for sharing.
That is a really neat book. Sounds so interesting. I really love the illustrations.
What a beautiful way of teaching children about having friends! Such a great story!
Books, storie and fairy tales are the best way to teach something to a kid. This one seems to be a beautiful book!
Teaching children about friendship and teaching them to read all at once using a cute story. Sounds like a solid foundation
I agree parenting is tough. It’s not like that somebody teaches you how to be a good parent, one learns with time but a good book to guide you is definitely a blessing. Hope your son enjoyed it.
Love the message you’rw teaching your son, friendship knows no distance.
I have always enjoyed his books. I have heard about this one but had not yet had a chance to get my hands on it yet. Thank you for such a great review.
i have never heard of this book but it looks really interesting. I love the illustrations. Kaz
That’s such a wonderful idea to teach kids the meaning of friendship, especially through using this kind of stories. If I ever have my own kids, I’ll definitely do the same! 🙂
You and your husband are on the right track. Making decisions together knowing that now those decisions affect an entire family. Great job. I always read to our girls and they are now avid readers themselves. I’m sure your son will soon start acquiring a love for books.
From fashion coffee table books to children’s book! Wow you are having both worlds 😀 Will check for this book, great as gift.
What a lovely book and a great way to teach children these things.
The themes in this book definitely sound like the ones we should all be teaching our kids. Friendships, compassion, love and respect will get everyone a lot further and happier in life than anything else. It sounds like a lovely little book full of positive messages.
What a lovely looking book! The images in it are absolutely gorgeous as well – what a perfect gift idea for a little one.
Totally agree, why you have decided to protect your son, as kids are like sponges. Beautiful book lovely illustrations xx
Looks like great book to read. i will check it out for my kids. I like them read meaningful stories.
This sounds like such a lovely story, and it’s nice learning about the story behind the story. A good choice. 🙂
This book looks perfect for children and I really love the style of the illustrations
What a lovely way to celebrate the incredibly valuable gem that is a good and true friendship.
Friendship and relationships are so important and ensuring your children have a concept of what that is through this lovely book is a great idea. I think the illustrations in the book and the concept are stunning.
What a lovely way to teach children about friendship!
This book sounds like a lovely way to introduce the concept of friendship to your child.
This seems like a good story book to instill some values to our kids. Great find. I love it.
What a beautiful looking book, I love the way its teaching children about friendships
I’ve never heard of this book, but it sounds like a lovely way to discuss friendship with your child.
Its so lovely how this has now been published since his passing what a beautiful tribute to him and what a stunning book the illustrations are just beautiful
Aww, this book sounds absolutely wonderful. And it’s a lovely way to teach children about true friendship 🙂
Louise x
I love a book that can teach them meaningful things like this. It sounds like a lovely read.
I love how the book talks about friendship, it’s a great way to teach our boys to be kind and befriend other kids.
My son tends to be shy around other kids, i think this will help out. I will be on the lookout for this book.
This sounds like such an adorable story book – I love the look of the illustrations as well aren’t they just beautiful.
thanks for sharing !!
I have always been a book reader myself when I was a child and I also wanted my children to love books as well. Sometimes their values in life starts in there.
What a lovely book for kids. I love the idea of a tribute to a great friendship.
I don’t know many children books but I have to check this one out. Looks great. Thank you fir sharing!
Friendship is one of the things that parents should teach their children. Your ideas are really great! This is such a nice and interesting post 🙂