Some Dogs Do

Gabriel loves being read to.The same sorry 14 times a day if he can have his way.He pitter patters off to get a book or five brings them to the parent of his choosing, squiggles his way onto our laps and his body language says it all, "Start reading. I'm ready now."This is one of his favourites. Korey and I like it too. Especially if we haven't read it in a few days; on the days when we've read it what feels like a zillion times, well, I don't think love or like are words that describe how we feel about that book or any other. ;-)Some Dogs Do (the link here is to Amazon excerpts so you can see the cover and the illustrations)When Sid set off for school one day,a happy feeling came his way.It filled him up so much he foundhis paws just lifted off the ground.Without a how, without a why,Sid fell up towards the sky.Through swirling puffs of cloud he twirledabove a tiny toy-town world,in the land of sun and moon,like a doggy-shaped balloon.At school Sid asked his best friend"Did you see me fly just then?""Don't be daft," came Ben's reply."You're a dog, and dogs don't fly.""But I did," said Sid."I did.. I did."In the classroom, Sid said, "Hey! Guess what! I flew to schooltoday!"His classmates giggled, yelped and yowled."Dogs don't fly to school!" they howled."But I did," said Sid. "I did."Miss Mare the teacher shook her head."Now Sid, you shouldn't lie," she said."All dogs walk and jump and run,but dogs don't fly - it can't be done.""But I did," said Sid.Gus said, "Right! If you can fly,come outside... let's see you try!"Sid's happiness had gone by then.He tried to get it back again.He thought about the clouds up highand then he jumped towards the sky. "FLOP""You see, you're just a dog," said Gus,"with paws for walking just like us.That will teach you not to lie.Now you know that dogs don't fly."When Sid walked home from school that day,it seemed a long and lonely way.And once at home with Mum and Dad,deep inside he still felt bad.He did the things he always did,but something wasn't right with Sid.His dad came out and asked, "What's up?You seem unhappy, little pup."Sid sat staring at the sky,and all he said was, "Dogs don't fly."Sid's dad slowly raised his head."I know a secret, Sid," he said."Could you keep it safe inside?""What's the secret?" Sid replied.He turned aroundand then...he knew...(picture of Sid's dad flying)Now you know the secret too!Sid's happy eyes were open wide."I knew it... DOGS DO FLY!" he cried.Sid's dad said, "Come, fly then, Sid,"and that's exactly what Sid did.Do dogs fly? Is it true?Some dogs don't and some dogs do.Why are there always bystanders like Gus who want to tell you exactly what you can't do?!!?This book also happens to be one of Gabriel's "books on DVD". Yup, books on DVD and Winnie the Pooh... well, Gabriel is starting to watch videos. We've opened up the screens to our little boy! Yikes. It scares me sometimes, but it seems OK at the same time. And he chatters away (mostly in grunts and gestures) about what's going on on the screen...On this particular book DVD, Gus seems to have a Scottish accent; Korey and I are getting pretty good at imitating it!What happens if you re-read Some Dogs Do imagining Sid is a survivor instead of a dog? And one day to his delight and surprise, he discovers he can SOAR (thrive). Do Survivors thrive? Is it true? Some survivors don't and some survivors do.