Now that Johnny Airplane is a reality it is interesting to look back at how the oral story differs from the book. Since this was originally a bedtime story, it is not hard to understand that the story differed a little every time I told it.
If I was tired, Johnny was very edited. On the other hand there were nights when embellishing was in order. The easiest place to expand the story seemed to always be his take off with the firefighters. I sometimes made that takeoff very harrowing. Lots of “I can do this” and “I’m not going to make its”. The birds in the trees at the end of the runway made lots of noise, and waved their wings to warn Johnny away, and then they flew away at the last minute. Needless to say, he always just made it over the trees.
My son, Steven, tells me how his imagination’s eye is different from the book. For example, in his mind Johnny was a red, single engine Cessna. And, the firemen were dressed in city firefighters clothes rather than smoke jumpers garb. That makes a lot of sense when you think of a little boy’s imagination. Steven does not remember a stern man at the signup table for the race. It was more of a group condemnation from the big airplanes.
So, now even though the story is set, if you are an experienced bedtime reader, “adjusting” the story to the time constraints will not be difficult. I’m sure you’ll make adjustments with your children as I did with mine.
