By DAPHNE LEE
Tots to Teens
PARENTS, do you remember the song Puff, the Magic Dragon by folk group Peter, Paul and Mary? It was released in 1963 and reached the number two spot on the American pop charts. The song was banned in Singapore and Hong Kong because of its supposed references to drugs, particularly marijuana, but lyricist Peter Yarrow insists that Puff is simply a song about the passing pf childhood and the loss of innocence.
Yarrow wrote his lyrics before he formed the group. It was inspired by a poem by his friend Leonard Lipton who, in turn, based his composition on The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash. Peter, Paul and Mary started performing the song in 1962. It was released the following year on the album, Moving, and Yarrow credited Lipton as co-lyricist.
Lipton is also listed as co-author on the recently published picture book version of the song. When I received the book, my first thought was, "Oh no! Will this depress me?" If you're familiar with the song, you will know exactly what I mean. Puff is a dragon whose best friend is a little boy called Jackie Paper. The twosome have thrilling adventures together, sailing the seven seas and meeting pirates, princes and kings. However, one fine day, Jackie decides he's had enough and runs off, leaving Puff to slip into his cave and mourn the loss of his friend: "A dragon lives forever, but not so little girls and boys/ Painted wings and giants' rings make way for other toys."
When I was little, my lip would start to quiver at this point in the song and as the last notes died away, I would be bawling uncontrollably. Poor Puff! And that heartless beast Jackie! Well, those of you still traumatised by the song's dismal end, will be happy to hear that Eric Puybaret, the ilustrator of the picture book, has drawn a happy conclusion for the story. The book ends (like the song) with a description of Puff frolicking in the "autumn mists". It's a reminder of happier times, before he was abandoned by Jackie. However, the illustrations don't leave us with the devastating image of Puff creeping off into his cave, alone and lonely. Instead, Puybaret conjures up a new friend for the dragon and ... by golly ... it looks like she might be Jackie Paper's little girl! Ahhh ... so that was what he was giving up painted wings and giants' rings for!
Very nicely done indeed! Puybaret's drawings depict Honalee as a magical and beautiful place filled with bodies of smooth blue water, delicately flowering trees and gently sloping hills. There are delightful and amusing touches of whimsy in the details, like a school of dolphins sporting mortar boards - the teacher has a winged collar and a monacle.
Since the book is based on the hit song, a CD, most naturally, is included with the book. It contains four tracks: a new interpretation of Puff, the Magic Dragon, performed by Peter Yarrow and his daugter Bethany; an instrumental (karaoke) version; and two traditional folk songs (Froggie Went A-Courtin' and The Blue Tail Fly), with new words and musical arrangement.
My two-and-a-half year old daughter made me play the CD seven times in a row. She especially loves Puff and after three listens, she could sing the chorus.
This book would make an excellent Christmas gift and I know lots of parents who would welcome it as much as their children would.
It brings back memory, I remember this song but don't remember the lyrics except 'Puff the magic dragon, live by the sea....'.
Where can I get the book in KL (with the CD)?
Iris
Posted by: Iris | Saturday, February 02, 2008 at 08:08