Anyone that knows me is aware that height is, um, sort of an issue for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not generally insecure about my looks, but I think everyone has that one “sensitive subject” they’re not comfortable about themselves, and at 5’10″, being tall is mine. And no annoying “But being tall is so great!” comments are going to change that.
So I could appreciate the levity and message of the latest book I’ve come across at work: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, and illustrated by David Catrow. Molly Lou, the shortest, buck-toothiest, bullfrog-iest new girl in class, shines because she follows her grandmother’s advice to always, “Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you.” She’s got confidence that (literally) bowls over the school bully, and it’s fantastic. This is the kind of both entertaining and meaningful read that makes me want to shove it in the New York Times’ snotty face and say, “THIS IS WHY PICTURE BOOKS ARE SO GREAT!” Phew! Anywho… moving on…
Designing “extras” for Molly Lou’s 10th anniversary got me to thinking about those handmade growth charts scrawled up the doorframes of classic American households. Remember those? Well, I wanted to see if there were some pre-made growth charts with a bit of design flair. Turns out, you can pretty much find a colorful growth chart for kids on any theme – no matter how tall or small!
Here were some of my favorites:
Heirloom Boxed Set Growth Chart – via Design Mom
Grow-With-Me Scroll Chart – via Family Style
Chalkboard Paint DIY Growth Chart – via OhDeeOh
Basic Shapes Growth Chart – 1 Comments on Stand Tall! Growth Charts, last added: 10/8/2010
Umm, so the who tall am I just made my life. Who wouldn’t want to know they were taller than Abraham Lincoln AND Snoop Dogg?