Sunday, April 14, 2013

Ferdinand

Do you remember The Story of Ferdinand? It was published in 1936, written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. In 1938, Walt Disney made it into a short film that won that year's Academy Award for best short film cartoon. I hadn't seen the movie before linking to it for this post, but I still have our family's copy of the book from our childhood library.

Ferdinand is a story of a bull who is more interested in smelling flowers than fighting. He's carted all the way to the big city for a bullfight. But no matter what the matador does to provoke him, Ferdinand just sits in the middle of the ring smelling the flowers in the ladies' hair. (The Disney film sticks to Leaf's book almost exactly, except a bit of schtick in the bull ring.)

I know another pacifist who reminds me very much of Ferdinand.

17 comments:

Andy said...

Nice photo. The dog knows how to keep cool.

Shell Sherree said...

A lover, not a fighter. Wins my heart every time. And this is a very pretty photo, Petrea. I love those flowers that spring up in amongst the grass. But Boz is still the best thing about it.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

As soon as I saw your title I knew exactly who u were referencing.. My kids loved that book and I remember having it read to me as well... looks like your Boz has something in common w/ol' Ferdinand... :-)

Katie said...

Boz makes a perfect Ferdinand! Great photo. Ferdinand is one of my all-time favorite kids books. I have a copy from 1937, which was already in its 10th printing after only a year. I know it's still in print today, which means many kids in the past 75+ years have learned that it's ok to sit under a tree and smell the flowers. The Disney film is fun, but the nothing beats the book!

Petrea Burchard said...

I read the story again and watched the film last night, smiling all the way through it. I'm glad it's still in print.

Susan Campisi said...

I love Ferdinand! I was a reading tutor for a 4th grader last year, and we read the book together. She loved it as much as I did. This photo with sweet Boz and the pretty pink flowers is a perfect link to the story.

Unknown said...

We loved that book. My grandmother laughed and laughed at the cork trees.

Petrea Burchard said...

Cork trees are very funny.

Laura M said...

One of my favorites! And Boz is in the perfect pose. I saw the Disney film before I read the book. My elementary school was close to Burbank, and we got a lot of films from the studio. I finally read the book, I think as a teenager, and read it time and again to my kids.

Adele said...

Loved that book. Boz is a dead-ringer!

LONDONLULU said...

My favorite childhood book that I just got for my new nephew! I was gutted when it was lost in some move. Boz is Ferdinand in a canine body:)

Ms M said...

Ferdinand is a wonderful story that I enjoyed, too, as a kid. And it does fit Mr. Boz. I love the look on his face as he sits amid the flowers.

Petrea Burchard said...

I've been calling Boz "Ferdinand" for a while. It really fits.

Latino Heritage said...

It's the over the shoulder look that reminds me of Ferdinand. How thoughtful of Boz to do this for you. Your image perfectly captures the line in the story, "...he just sat down quietly and smelled". Gracias.

Petrea Burchard said...

He stops to rest more often than he used to, Roberta. We comply.

TheChieftess said...

Ohhhh Petrea!!! That was one of my absolute favorite books!!! I still have my copy too!!! I vaguely remember seeing the movie...but it could never compare to that sweet little book!!! Boz does a great Ferdinand!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I agree, Chieftess, the movie can't compare to the book, and Boz does a great Ferdinand.