we’ve come a long way baby

Filed Under Stuff | February 3, 2009

feb3_free_to_be

But not as far as we could, perhaps. In the ’70s our house was full of macramé, batik and the styling sounds Free to Be. . . You and Me, a kids’ album of songs, stories and poems celebrating diversity and challenging stereotypes about gender, class and race. So when we found the CD on Amazon after we had kids we had to snag it. Because after all, isn’t the belief that they can be whatever they want to be the best gift we can give our kids?

The original album came about in 1972 when Marlo Thomas went to read a bedtime story to her five-year-old niece and was taken aback by the gender stereotyping and sameness of stories available for girls. So Thomas gathered together her friends including Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Carol Channing, Diana Ross and Mel Brooks and they created the record, Free to Be. . . You and Me. Nostalgia for our youth aside, the messages are still strong and valuable, if hardly subtle, but then the under five set aren’t known for their sublety.

The original album was soon followed by a book, a 35th Anniversary edition of which was recently released with added stories and poems and updated illustrations. It also contains a funny afterword by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr, a CD with a few of the original songs, and a note from Gloria Steinem. Proceeds from the CD and book still go to the Free To Be Foundation which benefits children and families.

So if you’re casting about for a Valentine’s gift that celebrates your little one’s essential sense of self and that doesn’t go against your values – the only princess to be found in the book or CD has no desire to get married, much to her father’s chagrin – a little bit of freedom in musical or written form never goes amiss.

Free to Be…You and Me: www.freetobefoundation.org

 

One Response to “we’ve come a long way baby”

  1. Alex on February 3rd, 2009 11:03 am

    Shel Silverstein “Where the Sidewalk Ends” – my kids Love both Free to be and Shel-
    Both are on our Ipod-
    Not to mention the Muppet show soundtrack!!!!!

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