Ernest is simply irresistible! He is a miniature donkey who is unhappy being so small. Everyone, including a newborn horse is taller that Ernest. He tries everything he can think of to make himself look taller to the other
animals in the barnyard. He tries standing atop a dirt pile, only to be giggled at by the cows. He tried standing at the top of the ramp leading
into the stable, stretching his ears and neck as much as he could. Travis,
the horse, asked him what was he doing but Ernest was too busy stretching to
hear. As Ernest walks back down the ramp Travis asks, "What's the matter?"
and Ernest replied that he is tired of being so tiny. Travis pauses and says
that he had never really noticed Ernest's size before. Ernest couldn't believe his ears. The cows joined in the conversation and they, too, had not
noticed that Ernest was tiny. This puzzled Ernest. Travis explained to him
that all the barnyard animals think he is nice, funny and fun to be around.
He continued by saying "it's who you are that matters" and that his size
doesn't matter. Size is only what you look like on the outside. Who you are
comes from the inside; it's what is in your heart and how you treat others.
Ernest starts to understand that he is special just the way he is.
This is a story every child needs to hear. We are responsible for reassuring our
children that they are perfect just the way they are and how each one of us
is special. I love this book and highly recommend it to everyone. Children
ages 3 and up adore it.
