Wednesday, March 28, 2007

more bookery type thoughts

My last post was about the first chapter book we read in its entirety to The Boy. The Boy is less than two months from being four years old, and if I remember correctly, it would have been about this age that Big Brother also became interested in chapter books.

I hate the term "chapter books" but I don't know a way to differentiate between the picture heavy books of the very young and the more text centered books that we're moving toward. So I'll hate the term and use it anyway.

This is an exciting time for me as I consider all the books we will soon be able to read. I don't want to suggest I'm tired of the picture books. We do have some clunkers that the boys have both loved and that I've had to read more than I could ever have wanted. But we also have some really awesome books with great stories and beautiful art.

All this is also not to suggest that we are making a break, that those picture books are somehow going to disappear into a void. Those books will find their way into the rotation still, but we'll get to add so many more books.

Tonight perhaps we start a new book. Part of me leans a little toward Little House as it's always a good time for a new person to fall in love with Laura and her family. Part of me is trying to remember when exactly we introduced Big Brother to a certain Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. He wasn't much older than The Boy is now, and he absolutely loved it.

I'd be curious to hear stories about this sort of thing from others. Name some books, tell us those gems you have or are looking forward to introducing to your kids. Did you read the first couple of Harry Potter books with that dear child only to have your child outgrow being read to then fight you for the new ones? Were there candy factories and big friendly giants? Did you read of kidnappings and escapes through the Scottish highlands?

1 comment:

Michele said...

Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" stories, see below.

"Edward Tulane" Kate DeCamillo

"The Secret Garden" (But to my daughter, who loves birds, especially talking ones.)

I'm anxious to read them "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende, but they have very little patience, or understanding of deeper meanings. I imagine your oldest would love it. Rife with meaning. If you haven't read it, don't go by the movie. It only covers the first third of the book. It's really about a boy who gets everything he could ever want, and what he learns from it.

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand(just kidding) Although it is nice for pressing flowers.

"Mathilda" Roald Dahl.