So, it's been worky worky worky around here lately, but one of the reasons I wanted to move to working for myself was to actually have more time available for my family. To date, that's kind of a no-go, but once my kiddos get off the school bus (with The World's Nicest Bus Driver - I love her and she is welcome to get off with them, although an abandoned school bus in the neighborhood might raise some eyebrows), my time is devoted to them.
One of the first things we do when we get home, after they have put up bookbags, gotten out school folders, and grabbed a snack and drink, is read. I've felt convicted in the past year or so that I just don't read enough with my kids. I made a decision this year to treat us all to a 30-minute read time before we start to tackle homework. Read Time meaning I read to them. The first book we read was "Indian Captive" by Lois Lenski. That was good and actually kind of PC for having been written in the 1940s.
Then we found "Island of the Blue Dolphins" a few weeks ago and tackled that one. I've heard of this book forever, but had never read it until I read it this month with the kiddos. We all loved it. The protagonist is a girl, as it is in "Indian Captive" but the boys did not mind at all. Both books were full of enough adventure to keep them captivated. Next on the list: "Caddie Woodlawn." LOVE that book, and I can't tell you how many times I've read it. Yet another book with a female main character. Yet another Newberry Medal/Honor book - this was unintentional, but I love that all three of these children's books that we are reading/have read are "classics."
Now one for the grown-up girls! I am a huge Elizabeth Berg fan and have never met a book of hers that I haven't loved. Her characters are so well developed and realistic. Despite not being a 59-year-old author/widow, I really identified with the main character in this book. It didn't get very good reviews on B&N website, but that's just because all their buyers are on crack. Kidding! How does it get better than this? The main character says: "Eleanor didn't have many rules about child rearing, but one of them was this: Never interrupt reading." She's an author with a brilliant agenda!
We do quite a bit of reading around this house but it's been a long time since I read out loud to my children. (Was it a year ago? Can't remember.) Sure, the kids read and are good readers but I just realized how much I missed those days when they were little and we'd snuggle on the couch or their bed and I would read them a story. You have inspired me to start again! Thanks! :-)
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