Goops and How To Be Them

The last time I was in Minneapolis visiting friends we spent a full day going to area estate sales.  Because I was in vacation mode and not my usual fired on all cylinders mode I actually moved slow enough to look at things I generally don't have time for.  In this case books.

I love quirky or beautiful children's books.  It is usually the illustrations that get me but this time it was the title.  I was perusing a bookcase filled with pretty boring looking stuff when all of a sudden the word Goops jumped right out at me.  I was instantly intrigued.  What the heck is a goop.  What kind of cool goopiness have I been missing out on for my whole life.  I knew I liked the book before I even opened it up.  I mean look at them.  They have ginormous round heads and look like they might topple over at any moment.  The goop in the dress looks so ashamed.  I had to find out more.

I cracked open the dusty old book to find it dated back to 1900.  This copy was printed in 1928 and was owned by Amy Sweetser of 4625 Casco Ave.  She had nice penmanship.

I started flipping  pages until I reached the Introduction page.  I wanted to be introduced to the Goops.  I really did.

This is the introduction:

Let me introduce a Race

Void of Beauty and of Grace

Extraordinary Creatures

With a Paucity of Features

Though their Forms are fashioned ill,

They have Manners stranger still;

For in Rudeness they're Precocious,

They're Atrocious, they're Ferocious!

Yet you'll learn, if you are Bright,

Politeness from the Impolite.

When you've finished with the Book,

At your conduct take a look;

Ask yourself, upon the Spot,

Are you Goop, or are you Not?

For, although it's fun to See them

It is terrible to Be them!

The Goops sounded like modern day reality t.v. show stars.  

I read on...

The Goops  they lick their fingers,

And the Goops they lick their knives;

They spill their broth on the tablecloth.......

Oh, they lead disgusting lives!

The Goops they talk while eating, 

And loud and fast they chew;

And that is why I'm glad that I

Am not a Goop----are you?

So as it turns out, these donut headed Goops are naughty little boys and girls that we should learn what not to do from.  And being the daughter of a retired teacher I do love a good lesson when I find it.  

The book is filled with all sorts of fun scenarios of what not to do.  The rhyming and funny little pictures guarantees it to be a hit with the little ones.  I googled and found out that the Goop series has been reprinted and there is even a website dedicated to the goops.  Go here to find out more about the author Gelett Burgess or perhaps  purchase a copy of the book.

To summarize.....I think I know how to be a Goop, but am I any good at not being one.  That's the real question.  I better go read the book again.

Comments

[Sonya]

Ohhh, a day of rummaging in Mpls! Yay!
Have you been to Hunt and Gather yet?? FAB store, always make time for it when we go.

[Megan Morrison]

No I've never heard of hunt and gather. I will definitely add it to my list of places to visit next time I'm up there. I love my trips to Minnesota.