Monday, December 29, 2008

I Knew You Could!

Last Friday, I needed to return something to Borders and while I was there I noticed a large section with children's books. I went over just to see what they had and the books were greatly discounted! I bought Leah about 5 books for $5 each, this was off of the list price as high as $18. I thought it was a good deal and you can't have too many books!

When I was searching through the books I landed on one called "I Knew You Could" By Craig Dorfman (http://www.amazon.com/Knew-You-Could-Craig-Dorfman/dp/0448431483). I didn't read it until I got home, but something about the title drew me in. On the front of the book is a train, I later learned that this book is part of "The Little Engine That Could" series. Anyway, I found myself reading the book to Leah that night with tears in my eyes. I imagined us 5 years from now reading that book and it having so much more meaning. It's a book to 'celebrate all the stops' in your life. Here are a few excerpts from the book. It's about a train who needs to choose his track in life and on that track he sees different things.
I highly recommend it!




"I knew you could! And you knew it, too--
That you'd come out on top after all you've been through.
And from here you'll go farther and see brand-new sights.
You'll face brand-new hills that rise to new heights...

...Sometimes you'll look up and see planes in the sky.
And you'll think to yourself, "I wish I could fly."
The cars on the road will seem quick and free--
You'll feel stuck on your track and think, "I wish that were me."...

...But the plane might wish he could get out of the air.
Saying, "I wish I could travel like that train down there."...

...Don't worry about not being a car or a plane,
Just enjoy the trip you'll take as a train...

...On the days that you're sad and feel you can't go,
Speak up and ask a friend for a tow...

...Try to remember the world is so wide,
Full of all kinds of people with their own trains to ride.
Just stay true to yourself as you travel your track,
With no second-guessing and no looking back...

...When belief in yourself doesn't feel quite so pure,
And your "I think I can" doesn't quite sound so sure,...

...That's when to push and to strive and to strain,
To show the world you're not a giving-up train.
And you're wise if you know that doing your best
Means that sometimes you should slow down and rest...

...There's more to life that you'll learn as you go,
Because figuring things out on your own helps you grow.
Just trust in yourself, and you'll climb every hill.
Say, "I think I can" and you know what?

You will!"

4 comments:

Popcorn House said...

I was just thinking over the past year, and all that has changed. I am just amazed at our little people. They truly are amazing!!! What a great book. I will have to look for it.

Erin said...

Amanda I am in tears, that is an amazing book, I will have to go get it. Thank you for sharing. Our little ones are so AMAZING!

Ellen Seidman said...

Thank you for that, what a great book. Happy, Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

Actually the same thing happened to me when I first read it to my child, I couldn't stop my tears and he kepy aking me mommy why are you crying and I was like because I'm happy. It's an amazing book, more for the parents than the kids.