Parents of children who use scissors inappropriately may want to note a scene wherein the main character uses his mother’s scissors to punch holes in the lid of the jar he’ll use to catch his fireflies in. Knowing of his mother’s displeasure should she learn of his unauthorized scissors use, he acts stealthily and without permission. Having found my own children cutting (and consequently destroying) a wide variety of household items, this page made me groan and quickly add a warning to my own youngsters. If their misdemeanors have taught me anything (other than hide the scissors up high), it’s that the boy in question is acting in an entirely believable fashion.
Nostalgia for adults, familiarity for children, and the emotive flowing quality of Brinckloe’s work are clearly the winning ingredients that have allowed Fireflies to withstand the test of time. Having lived too far to the west to have grown up with chances to catch fireflies for myself as a child I now feel a vague sense of regret for having missed out on what is clearly a quintessential experience in the lives of many youngsters.
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