Little Britches

Title: Little Britches

Author: Ralph Moody

Summary: Little Britches is the autobiography of Ralph Moody spanning years aged 8 to 11 during the first decade of the 20th century. It is a touching remembrance of major transition in the Moody family. They moved from well established Main to the rugged and mostly untamed wilds of Colorado. He and his family are surprised by just how rugged and untamed their leased land and new home are and quickly are taught difficult lessons about self-preservation in an unforgiving environment. Perhaps, because Moody was just a child during the hardest years his parents tried to strike out a living on an ill equipped ranch we can go down memory lane with him and believe his version of the world. He sees the world as awesome and inspiring instead of harsh and obstacle ridden. He learns through often sad and sometimes joyful experience what it is to be a man of character and integrity. He sees in his father strength and poise and mastery where an older child might see fancy and stubbornness and wrong-headedness. In this simple and well written book we see the age old transformation of man to boy.

Recommendation: I would highly recommend this book to parents of younger children. Read it and then read it to them. Most of us do not have the luxury (or burden) of living in a world ripe with consequences and yet, as I tell tales to my own children I remember how hungry I was to make simple sense of the world. The core lessons of right and wrong and principled behavior are not only good for a bygone era and they are not lost on young ears.

Hearts: 4