The Circle of Life



© Walt Disney Company





“From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
… In the Circle
The Circle of Life” 

© 1994 Walt Disney Music Company

For a Disney lover, the re release of The Lion King this fall, brings to mind the song, “The Circle of Life” by Elton John and Tim Rice.  The circle, or cycle, of life is always around us, but as seasons change we are reminded of that even more.  It resonates all around as we experience weather changes, see the leaves change (at least those of us in the north), even see the early snows and think ahead to all of the upcoming holidays and celebrations.

There are many books for children, as well as adults, that are based on life cycles.  Adults have classic family sagas, historical fiction and biographies as well as current selections from which to choose.  Many classics, such as John Steinbeck’s East of Eden and James Michener’s Centennial and the all time favorite, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, revolve around the lives of generations of people and their impact on each other. Roots by Alex Haley, is another excellent example.  Many books of today do the same.  Adrianna Trigiani writes family sagas that span time.  Another good current one is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.   Think about the message that Randy Pausch gives the reader in The Last Lecture.    Marley and Me by John Grogan and The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein examine life and its changes through pets. 

When it comes to books about the cycle of life for children, there are many.  Here are a few of my favorites which have been loved by many.

Cycle of Life Books (*especially good ones!)

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall illustrated by Shari Halpern

*Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The Enormous Egg by Leo Lionni

*Frederick by Leo Lionni

*The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

Knots on a Counting Rope by John Archambault

*The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

*Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

*Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney

Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington

The Quilt Story by Tony Johnson and illustrated by Tomie de Paola

The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons

Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

A Tree for All Seasons by Robin Bernard

A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry

*The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

If I had to choose my favorites in this category, I would have to choose both Charlotte’s Web and The Velveteen Rabbit.  These two books are not just books for children.  They tell all of us about the “circle of life”.  Children can hear them, read them and enjoy them, but adults can see life reflected through these supposedly, simple children’s stories.  As adults, we can often learn a lot through children’s books and movies.  So, the next time that you pop in your DVD and watch The Lion King, listen closely to what Rafiki and Mufasa have to say.  It is a circle of life.