I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books.
--Anonymous
On March 15, I introduced readers to my new friend, 4-year-old Michai James ("Chance Encounter: A wink, a smile, a new friend"). We met by coincidence and have remained in touch since. We've both benefited.
I have received a few letters from Michai since the one I shared in the earlier column. He has a great assistant, his mother, Micha. Each letter is about 9-11 lines long, on a single sheet of lined notebook paper, and starts this way: "Dear Mr. Nigel."
What follows depends on the book he is reading and how it inspired or touched him. He signs each one. I take that as his stamp of approval that the letter expresses his thoughts and thanks.
"I want to thank you so much for the SECOND book you mailed me!" his letter of March 28 stated. "I really enjoyed the story and was happy to hear that the Pig was able to have tea with the wolves." The book, The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, is one of my favorites.
Turning the tables on an old classic, the three wolf siblings are warned about the big bad pig. Huffing and puffing doesn't work for the pig, so he uses a sledgehammer to knock down their first house built of bricks.
After several episodes of building stronger houses and the pig using different, stronger tools, the wolves wise up. They weave a house of flowers whose fragrance intoxicates the pig and they live happily ever after.
"I ask my mom everyday if I have anything in the mail," the letter continued. Now that is a good sign that he is interested in a good story and excited about what's next.
"I'll write you soon!!!" his second letter concluded, right over those uneven sized letters that form his name. That's my cue to order the next book.
A few weeks later, I received another letter; this one dated April 18.
"Thank you for my THIRD book!" He likes his growing library. But, he said, "I don't like the book about Alexander."
His third book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, is about a boy who faces a series of trials and tribulations. He has some really bad days. Here is an excerpt: "I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
Michai didn't like how Alexander was treated, especially, he said, "when his brothers pushed him in the mud and made him get all-white shoes." All he wants is for Alexander to "feel better."
"I received another book in the mail, but I'm not sure it came from you," his letter dated May 6 started. A note, usually included with each book, was missing this time.
This addition to his library, Jump at the Sun Treasury: An African-American Picture Book Collection, is a book of multiple stories that includes a biography of Willie Mays, a scary ghost story and a meditation about prayer. Michai liked the story about Willie Mays, the "Say Hey" kid. I like the way Mays used to catch a ball in center field. He made it look so easy and so cool. "I liked how he hit the ball and no one could catch him," Michai shared. He was playing "coach pitch" at the time he sent this letter. A star on the rise, perhaps?
"I am seeing a sparkle in Michai's eyes when I read to him!" wrote his mother, Micha. "It's amazing."
That's the power of the wonderful world of books and reading. It is about time for another book, and another letter to add to my file.
■ Nigel Alston is a Dale Carnegie trainer and motivational speaker who lives in Winston-Salem. He can be reached at nalston1@triad.rr.com.
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