Ferdinand, the Bull who loves Flowers, is now a Grownups's Hero
The No. 1 animal of 1938 will almost certainly turn out to be Ferdinand, a bull who loves to smell flowers. Ferdinand is the hero of a children’s book. The Story of Ferdinand, written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. Published by Viking Press ($1) in September
1936 selling 14.000 copies by year’s end. In 1937, 68,000 copies were sold. And now, with the book a year and a half old, sales have suddenly and amazingly begun to zoom. More than 3,000 copies a week are being sold and Ferdinand, the greatest juvenile classic since Winnie the Pooh, has been taken up in a big way by adults. Three out of four grownups buy the book largely for their own pleasure and amusement. All this may be only the beginning because Ferdinan has been acquired by the greatest animal creator of his time, Walt Disney.
This spring, Disney will present Ferdinand in a Silly Symphony, patterning his bull closely after the original by Robert Lawson, who is not only an illustrator but also a fine etcher. Meanwhile, Carmen Lombardo, brother of Band Leader Guy, is planning a song about Ferdinand. Mr. Leaf is being accused of having created a political symbol. Too-subtle readers see in Ferdinand everything from a fascist to a pacifist to a burlesque sit-down striker. On these pages are highlights from Ferdinand’s biography. […]
