If it is a modern movie made from a book, your bookstore has it!
This time it is the newly-released movie, “Ferdinand.”
“The Story of Ferdinand,” by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson, written in 1938, has inspired generations of people to take a different perspective on life, ourselves, and what is expected of us.
It is a book so influential that Gandhi said it was his favorite… and a book which Hitler made every effort to burn every copy he could find!
So what is it about this story that has caused such a reaction the world over?
In our opinion, it is a combination of things!
First, the black and white illustrations are simply lovely to look at — evocative even if you were to read it only as a picture book. The artist has done an incredible job capturing the spirit of the story, and the feeling of the characters come through with such incredible ease.
Secondly, “The Story of Ferdinand” is a timeless parable about being true to ourselves and to the rest of the world, despite what demands are made upon us which might force us to be something other than who we are. And Ferdinand, the bull who would rather enjoy the scent of flowers or the shade of a nice tree overlooking the landscape, is met with a lot of pressure from the outside world and those in his immediate world to be different… to be what everyone expects him to be… especially to give in to anger and rage when confronted.
And yet, by being himself, Ferdinand perseveres to achieve being himself!
This is a wonderful story that celebrates individuality and the virtue of peace, applicable to any era and to any age!
In this beautiful story, “Ferdinand” has something to teach us all!
