The Pleasures of Reading, Viewing, and Listening, in 2021, pt. 2: Cesi Davidson

 

Word Joy

by Cesi Davidson

 

 Release your voice. Begin with a sound. Begin with a word.

 When most of us were infants or toddlers, we played with our voice. Sounds, words, strings of sounds and words came out of our bodies expressing raw emotions. Joyful playful experiences could be unplanned and without boundaries and limits. As we grew into young children those raw feelings associated with the sensual pleasure of our own voice was shaped into expected communication. Now is the time perhaps for you to reclaim your voice. “This is my voice and this is how it feels.” Look in the mirror. Read aloud to yourself. Feel the breath move through your body as you prepare to talk. Watch your mouth move as the word emerges. Have fun. Loud and soft. Fast and slow. No contemplation. No judgment. Simple word joy. Use early readers, books intended for caregivers to read to young children or for children beginning to read for themselves. These books have mostly one-syllable words, which are repeated with language that has rhythm or rhyme. These books aren’t scholarly or philosophical adventures. These books are simply joyful. 

 Here are some books to get you started with reading to your inner child. I’ll share how I “play.” If you let your imagination rule and ignore any inhibition, you’re bound to find your fun. 

Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka 

Two boys meet on a street. One boy says, “Yo!” The other boy says, “Yes?” The story continues with most pages having only a single word. On the last page, the boys express the joy of their new friendship with a resounding, “Yow!” They jump up and reach for the sky. 

When you read this book aloud feel the muscles in your face form a smile when you say, “Yes.” Feel your jaw drop when you say, “Yow.” What emotions can you release and express with the stress on the words suggested by the punctuation marks (!, ?) Take some time to play. How many times can you say, “Yo Yes” In a row without a mistake? 

Dance by Bill T. Jones and Susan Kuklin 

On each page of this book we see photographs of the celebrated dancer, B.T. Jones posing his body. He uses his face, feet, limbs, and hands to remind us that movement is good for the soul. These words dance and dancing are used repeatedly throughout the book. Susan Kuklin photographed the lines and curves created with a body with energy that lifts off the pages. Read a page and then make your own body shape. Any movement that expresses your person in the here and now is perfect. Remember to caution yourself about self-judging. 

 I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont and Illustrated by David Catrow 

 I chose this book for its celebration of the self. With upbeat rhyme and rhythm we feel the joy of self-love. On the first page, “I like myself! I’m glad I’m me.” On the last page, “I like myself because I’m me.” Saying the word, “me” is a beautiful way to start and end the day. Use it as a word of self-acceptance. 

Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson 

Some of us may have been told as children that “please” and “thank you” are magic words. Politeness helps positive things happen. Given the often lacking of social graces in modern day interactions, I wonder how widespread this wisdom remains. Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lewis Lee remind us about the power of please coupled with perseverance. As you may suspect at this time, the word please is showcased in this book. Appearing on almost every page  is the word please. Read the book. Look into the mirror and say this magic word. Watch how saying the word naturally forces your face into a position to smile. At the conclusion of the book, the baby says please with a good intention. Of course, in our adult word, we consider more complications. So consider self-talk. “Please remember to be my personal best.” 

 Life Doesn’t Frighten Me Poem by Maya Angelou and paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat Edited by Sara Jane Boyers 

“When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed, but when we are silent we are still afraid, so it is better to speak.” -- Audre Lorde 

We observe our fear. We can submit to it. We can also overcome it or walk through it. Maya Angelou’s tender and supportive words paired with the dynamic paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat encourage us to step with confidence into the world. “I go boo. Make them shoo.” Even the most resilient of us may need to be reminded not to be frightened by life’s challenges. The rhymes in this book are composed of single syllable words like wall/hall/all, fun/run, and cry/fly. The rhythms naturally fill the spirit. We’re given a beautiful mantra to begin or end the day. “Life doesn’t frighten me at all.” 

 

Cesi Davidson is the author of Articulation: Short Plays to Nourish the Mind and Soul, and Fricatives: Short Plays to Nourish the Mind and the Soul, both of which Aqueduct Press has published in its Conversation Pieces series. She holds a doctorate degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York and has provided therapeutic services for children with communication and learning challenges for over thirty years. Since beginning to write in 2009, she has written hundreds of plays demonstrating a broad range, fearless creativity, and cultural responsiveness. Cesi is a producing artist. She’s founder and curator of Short Plays to Nourish the Mind & Soul, free public theatre in New York City.