The Amazing Bone was my favorite of Steig's works. It's the story of Pearl, a dainty piglet in a cheery spring frock who finds a magical talking bone that's fallen out of a witch's basket. The bone is so awesome it manages to save Pearl from robbers, and a hungry fox. But I won't tell you how, you'll have to read the book.
(Keep your mind out of the gutter) |
My best friend Julie (our Young Adult Librarian) and I used to make fun of that a lot. Actually, we still do, when applicable. Julie even made me a special bookmark from the cover of a discarded copy of The Amazing Bone.
But "The Amazing Bone" has a dual meaning for me (I thought I said to keep your mind out of the gutter, that's not what I'm talking about!) because I also think of my favorite library tool as "The Amazing Bone."
What is this marvelous library tool? Why, it's a "bone folder," used when putting the mylar covers on hardback dustjackets, and also & especially used to smooth out air bubbles when applying clear contact paper to paperbacks to make them sturdier and more impervious to wear. This simple bone folder is amazing and mysterious. Is it really made from whale bone? No one knows. (Well, I don't know, and I'm the only one here.)
"Oh, Bone..." |
This brings me to another fond memory from those public library Children's Room years. An older librarian, Jane, had been working on something that required a bone folder, but apparently she couldn't find it. So, being from an older generation and rather naive, she moved slowly back and forth in our work area, asking everyone, "Have you seen the boner? I can't find the boner. Does anyone know where it is?"
This one had me LOL-ing!
ReplyDeleteToo, too funny!
I love your writing and your quirky sense of humor. Your funny outlook on life really shines through!
Great post!
Oh, Bone! Oh, Jane, and her long gray braids and ponytail. Great post, Tommy!
ReplyDeleteJules