One Morning in Maine
by Robert McCloskey
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Dec 2025 on Hidden Brain.
The general take
Shankar Vedantam brings up One Morning in Maine as a classic Robert McCloskey story that he used to illustrate the concept of reframing as a wise intervention, suggesting he sees it as a meaningful example for teaching children how to shift perspective on situations.
About
A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK • This heartwarming classic beautifully conveys life’s everyday pleasures. As Sal brushes her teeth she noticed something strange. One of her teeth is loose! Her first loose tooth! When the tooth falls out she’ll be able to put it under her pillow and make a wish. But while Sal digs for clams with her Dad, her loose tooth becomes a lost tooth. How can she make her wish now? Luckily an exciting trip to Buck’s Harbor with Dad and baby Jane helps make Sal’s wish come true. In this beloved story, Robert McCloskey’s deep appreciation of the Maine islands comes through in gorgeously illustrated detail.
Who said what
Shankar Vedantam👍 Recommends
…discussing how reframing setbacks helps children see them as normal parts of growth
“So there's another kind of wise intervention that you call reframing. And there's a story you used to read to your daughter, Lucy, called One Morning in Maine. Tell me the plot of One Morning in Maine and how it relates to this idea of reframing. Yeah, One Morning in Maine is the classic story from Robert McCloskey. And it's a story of Sal, who's a young child. And she is very eager to go with her father to Bucks Harbor for the day. But she wakes up with a loose tooth.”
Hidden Brain — You 2.0: Stop Spiraling!at 38:24
Listener reviews
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