Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Posted by Greg Laden on December 18, 2009
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The latest addition to Huxley’s Library: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems. Here’s Mo:

Willems explores, through the story of a dresser in a naked world, the social angst of unconformity as it can only be explored in the milieu of Bathyergids. Wilber, a Heterocephalus glaber with a penchant for pants, is at first disdained then accepted but only after a positive word from the mole rat Patriarch.

The plot is riveting and the theme tense and poignant, but suspension of disbelief is challenged near the end because Naked Mole Rats do not have Patriarchs. They have Matriarchs.

But whatever. I still recommend it highly for the Zero to Five set.

Thank you Lizzie for giving Huxley the book!

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Comments

  1. #1 albright
    December 19, 2009

    Ha Ha Ha!!!

    I used to have a pet naked mole rat.

    No, wait, that was a hamster. Never mind.

  2. #2 Michael Spencer
    December 19, 2009

    Kinda early isn’t it, Grego? I bet you already have a baseball mitt for the little tyke dontcha?

  3. #3 Greg Laden
    December 19, 2009

    Michael: I’ve got this crazy idea that I’ll read to the kid. It is never too early for books.

    Number one factor in variation of measured intelligence: Home environment. Good diet, books at home, proper encouragement, etc. etc.

  4. #4 NewEnglandBob
    December 19, 2009

    “Good diet, books at home, proper encouragement…”

    No! Don’t teach Huxley to EAT books, Sheesh!

  5. #5 pzdumb
    December 19, 2009

    you really need to add comment moderation to your blasphemy…

    Visit:

    http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=2&subcatid=7&threadid=3449994

  6. #6 Elly
    December 19, 2009

    “Good diet, books at home, proper encouragement…”

    No! Don’t teach Huxley to EAT books, Sheesh!

    But books are full of fiber! Mo Willems writes fantastic books. My son (nearly 2) loves the Pigeon series and the Elephant and Piggie stories. They are very acceptable for adults to read 5-10 times in a sitting, which makes them highly recommended.

  7. #7 MadScientist
    December 19, 2009

    I’m also wondering why naked mole rat seems to be holding up a boy’s shirt, but doesn’t seem to be a boy naked mole rat.

  8. #8 Greg Laden
    December 19, 2009

    Most naked mole rats are hormonally suppressed sexually. Only the queen and selected drones reproduce. They are eusocial. (The only fully eusocial mammal)

  9. #9 John Kwok
    December 19, 2009

    Hi Greg,

    Thanks for this fun post. Haven’t really paid much attention in years. Had a grad school prof who had collaborated with Israeli colleagues on some research into their behavioral ecology, but that’s literally the Precambrian to me.

    Regards,

    John

  10. #10 Theo Bromine
    December 23, 2009

    Of course it’s never too early to start reading to kids. One wants to get a good start on the lifetime affliction of bibliophilia (is that hereditary or genetic)?