We're STILL "Free To Be You And Me"

As I grumpily scrolled through my Reader today, looking for some idiot thing that some moronic celebrity did, or some freakshow human interest story that was worth my vitriol and ridicule, something rather amazing happened. I read that Marlo Thomas's 1973 book Free To Be...You and Me was not only celebrating its 35th anniversary, but was being re-issued with new material and songs.

And lo, Miss Banshee's snarky heart grew three sizes that day.

Free To Be..., which has the simple message that you are awesome just the way you are, was, according to Marlo Thomas, totally ahead of its time back when it was first published in 1973, but the universal message of acceptance and celebration of our similarities and differences is just as important now that the original readers of the book can read it to their own kids.

"The message is a rather deep one, that you can choose your own role models, you can fight stereotypes," says Thomas, 70, who starred in the hit '60s TV series That Girl, which broke single-woman-in-the-city stereotypes. Free to Be "was a revolutionary book. Some people were even afraid of it."

People being afraid of a book that encourages children to embrace diversity? Thank goodness we've come so far in 35 years! (Listen, I said my heart GREW, I didn't say the snark moved OUT.) But coming off the tail end of Banned Books Week, the list of which has LOADS of current children's books on it, we NEED this sweet little book more than ever.

The new edition has all the original material from authors such as Shel Silverstein and Judy Blume, and has fourteen new contributions, updated artwork, and a new accompanying CD to go along with the original songs. Hopefully the new material will be incorporated into the live shows based on the book, which have been performed for decades. 

In the time of Heather Has Two Mommies being pulled off the shelves, girls still being told not to play with trucks and boys never to cuddle a doll,  maybe we all need to go back to our roots and remind ourselves of what the purpose of Free To Be... was 35 years ago, and still is today. That we're all different, we're all unique, and that's just spectacular.

Thomas recalls what Kurt Vonnegut wrote in the original afterword of Free To Be...

"That it's a manual for what's possible," says Thomas. "I like to think that is what this book is."

That's damn right. And I don't care if I've lost all my street cred for this one. I just want to go find a kid and tell her she's perfect just the way she is.

source

Comments

[Tracy]

I'm picking each of my girls up a copy ASAP. And maybe even some for my friends!

[Heather]

I love love love Free to Be...You and Me. I remember watching the movie in music class as a 3rd/4th grader. When my oldest (now 8) was a toddler we got the soundtrack and the video. All my kids love it, too. It incorporates so many important messages, and the music is groovy. :) We also love the sequel, Free to Be...a Family, which continues to celebrate what makes us alike and what makes us different. I'm excited to learn about the anniversary edition, and can't wait to check it out.

[Lori]

Thank you for this!! I didn't have the book but I did wear out my copy of the record as a kid. I loved the songs and the message overall is so great. I need to find this for my nephews & nieces. Many of whom, I'm proud to say, played with whatever damn toys they wanted to (6 year old nephew asked for and received an "easy bake oven" for Christmas. 3 year old niece had a collection of trucks/cars/dinosaurs/dolls to play with... etc). Maybe I'll pick myself up a copy just for old times sake.

[BaltimoreGal]

My best friend had the record and we listened to it all the time- "Atalanta" was my favorite.
Oh, memories.

[Deb]

When I gave birth to my daughter in January, one of the first things I downloaded for "her" on iTunes was Free to Be You and Me. (Even if I still had my vinyl copy, I'd have no way to play it.) I love singing the songs to her, and am a little annoyed that now there's a new edition to buy... if I'd known, I'd have waited.

[Frank M]

I have this LP! Saved it right along with my Mike Post's Television Theme Songs

[Frank M]

What's your favorite track?

[nolfo]

I listened to this record every single day as a child. My boyfriend in college actually bought me the CD. I plan to raise my children on this as my mom did me. My favorite track is the "Ladies first" one in which the little priss eventually gets eaten by the tiger ;)

[Talamar]

I had the book, record, tape and CD. I think I have the DVD now too.. I even performed the "Ladies First" and "Housework" in school speech contests.. It was my all time favorite "friend". Yea for an anniversary edition.!!

[Andrea]

Wow, does this bring back memories - and also make me smile. I wore out the album, was in the show (my big debut: "Don't dress your cat in an apron; Just cause you want him to bake!"), and even acted out the scene where the babies are talking ("You're a boy and I'm a girl!") in 2nd grade with egg carton puppets. I remember so many of the acts - William Wants a Doll, When We Grow Up, and all the other ones listed above (loved Ladies First!! - "and she was...")! No standout favorites, but I didn't like the Shirley Jones' "Girltown" - that creeped me out, even at the age of 6, and I was never a big fan of Rosey Grier's "It's All Right to Cry." I need to go find this for my niece!!

[Stevil]

Its OK to cry.....

[Gray Matter]

Like others have said, this was a staple in my house when my 8 year old was a toddler. I would well up with tears every time the "William has a doll" song came on. And who doesn't love the Mel Brooks "I'm a boy, I'm a girl" bit.

Great memories, thanks.

[larissa]

I have to buy this!

Actually I have the Free to be..A Family which was very similiar and was put out in the early 90s

Not as awesome but still pretty good.

And this doesn't take away you street cred.

[jodifur]

B/c of this post Michael is watching an old vhs copy of this right now. And he loves it.