Going through some boxes at my steady paycheck (my job for the tortoises in the room) and came across this book. Understand that I cackled for a full 8 and 3/4 minutes at this. Please polish your funny bone before you scroll down... Don't take a sip of anything unless you want to wet your electronic device...
You ready?
Don't say I didn't warn you...
Ok, here it is!
I'm crying all over again! WHY! I'm so tickled and frightened at the same damn time! I can't even see though my tears, HAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAA!! I don't even know where to start, I can't breathe!! I don't even think I can pinpoint why this is so funny to me, but Imma try.
Whew, ok, ok...
Let's start with the title - The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist
SO. MANY. WORDS.
I have absolutely no reason to read the book because I already know Lil' Benny's life. The title of this book is taller than him! Lil' Benny took his God-fearing oatmeal-eating self and did his best to end slavery. I know it was an uphill battle cuz he was the first and his head was wider than his whole body! Bless him!
But Imma leave Lil' Benny alone for now, he did enough to have a whole book written about him, so his tiny house was set on a firm foundation!
Let's turn our attention to the illustration...
I worked in textbook publishing for a while, so I know artwork goes through a process similar to that of completing an online job application (why I gotta upload my resume and type out everything on my resume, too?!?!) My question: This is the drawing that got approved?!?! Lil' Benny was a saved freedom fighter and you got him out her with no neck, ashy boots, and stilletto nails with eyes that can drag you to the pit?! No sir and/or ma'am, y'all ain't do Lil' Benny right, not at all!
All I'm saying is, if Lil' Benny made enough of a difference in this world to have a whole book and horrible illustration published about his life, you can be great, too!