Literary Dreams Can Come True

       One of the books I discussed with an amazing book group when I was a working librarian (as I hope to be again someday) was The Wheel on the School by Meindert Dejong.  This tale was first introduced to me by my Dutch Grandmother, and has always been in my "Top100 Children's Books for a Warm Soul" mental list.  

       In this awesome, gentle yet exciting story, a group of children involve their Dutch village in a hunt for a wheel to place on the top of the school.  The wheel would act as a base for a pair of storks to build a nest- and this is what the children want above all.  Their teacher understands this and encourages them to go on the hunt.  Each chapter follows the individual tale of each child's journey for a wheel- before they all come back together for the satisfying conclusion. 

      (B, I know you were not totally thrilled with the action as it cannot compare with the world of Harry Potter- but when you think back to the book, do you like it any better?)

    While we were in Morocco, we visited a palace that had storks nests all along it's walls.  I made a short video of it before realizing just how many there were.  So take a look (and a listen!) to the storks in action.   I have not been this excited about a literary connection since I got to roll maple syrup in snow and eat it like in Understood Betsy! 

Here are some of the pictures Matthieu and I captured of the storks, click on the photo to view it bigger.