Jeffrey Moss (1942–1998)

I love this book, but I can't read it without crying. It's one of those wonderful kids' books that is fun for the kids but surprisingly rich with meaning and insight, like the best Dr. Seuss books can be.

What impressed me as much as this book, is it’s writer, the late Jeff Moss. This man was a genius.

* Composer, Lyricist, Playwright
* Television Writer – as in award winning writer for his work on Sesame Street. His skill helped the show garner fourteen Emmy Awards while he was associated with it. (To date, Sesame Street has won 118 Emmys)
* He wrote songs such as, “Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood”, “Rubber Duckie”, “Nasty Dan”, and the music and lyrics for The Muppets show more Take Manhattan.
* He is also credited with creating the Cookie Monster.

It isn’t any wonder he was able to write such a touching children’s story with a meaning that carries weight for all of us, regardless of age. This book is timeless.

Hieronymus is born to immigrant birds who come to where they live, across the “big sky”, in order to escape a life where conformity is enforced through intimidation and outright violence.

If you’re not like us, you don’t belong
You Must march to our music and sing to our song,
Or else you’ll be sorry before very long.

If you disagreed with what they thought was right,
These birds banged on your door in the middle of the night.

Wanting the best for their son, they strive to instill a sense of self that will allow him to soar literally and sing any song he wishs, to be greater than them and their humble beginnings. Just like any parent, they want their son to be part of a society that will recognize and welcome his greatness.

If it’s you who flies highest, then no one can reach you
To hurt you or tease you or tell you you’re wrong,
To make you feel sad and not let you belong.

However in making the sacrifices necessary, they pay a price – and so does Hieronymus. The lessons they teach him in order to be accepted don’t quite have the desired effect. Know-it-alls, perfectionists, and stubbornness to the point of rudeness are not traits everyone warms up to.

Hieronymus doesn’t know what he’s missing in his life until he meets Sabrina, someone who sees past the arrogance and accepts Hieronymus because she sees a heart bigger than his ego. But it takes an even greater love to finally show him that perfection is not found in how you look, how you act, or what you can accomplish. It’s merely a perception held together by the thinnest of threads.

Those threads become unraveled at the birth of Hieronymus’ granddaughter. This is the part of the story, that tugs the hardest at your heartstrings and your own thoughts on societal expectations as well as parental. It is the catalyst to Hieronymus’ enlightenment of what “true self” means – and happiness.

This is a transformative story that sneaks up on you with it’s gentle prose. It guides and allows us, just like it’s protagonist to see things in a different way. We don’t always know everything. And that’s okay.

Being special and unique has nothing to do with being knowledgeable or great. It is something we carry within ourselves and all we need to do is be given the freedom and support to find it, nurture it, and excel in it.

A highly recommended read for parents and children.

Although the concepts may be beyond the age group this is recommended for, children will be entranced by the rhyming and the characters making it a favorite read. There will be plenty of time for them to re-read this book and discover its deeper meanings as they get older. It isn’t a bad idea for the older folks to pick this up and read once and awhile too. show less

TWELVE STARS. TWELVE!!!!! I'm telling you. This is the real deal! Ok, Ok, in fairness I just finished it and I'm still all teary-eyed and basking in the glow but MY GOD! What a book! I can't tell you about it. Just read it. It will only take 15 minutes. And it rhymes in the very best way. You know where the story sinks it's hooks in even deeper because of the rhyming?

I have to thank my daughter for bringing this book home from her elementary school library in her back pack. I might have show more missed it. Sometimes I don't even read the books she brings home. I almost didn't because I was annoyed that I didn't know how to pronounce the name "Hieronymus White." That was a close one. Thank you daughter and thank you bright-green-hat-on-muppet-looking bird. show less

Great fun! Jeff Moss, Sesame Street co-creator, makes learning more about dinosaurs fun. The truth is only occasionally stretched, with explanations.