Those Wild Things…
by:Rachel
One of my favourite things to do with my baby girl, Aria, is to read stories. Because we seem to be constantly uprooting ourselves, she doesn’t have as many books as I’d like her to, but we enjoy the ones she has. One of Aria’s favourite books is Where The Wild Things Are. I gave it to John on the first of his birthdays we’ve spent together and Aria has, of course, inherited it. Once we’re through with the story she inevitablely wants to hear it again. I try to remember to pull out TWO books instead of just one so that we can have a bit of variety.
Some of her other books include some classic fairytales, The Giving Tree, A Summertime Song (one of my personal favourites), quite a few of the Beatrix Potter tales, a couple Eric Carle board books, and a few others.
I enjoy reading so many different types of books. Just because I’m an adult doesn’t take away the delight I find in a well-written children’s book. Creative illustrations are great too. I think that a children’s book, even one written for a baby like Aria, should be well-written. I don’t mean that they should be too complex; does complexity always add to a book?—sometimes (okay, often) I feel that simplicity can have just as much or more value. I do mean that children (and adults) are constantly learning and a good book, even for a baby, should help them to grow in the knowledge of beauty, and of all that is good and of worth—even if it is as simple as using some creative way to teach the child his or her colours. Not that they should be shielded by the evil that is around us. Even the fairytales have evil ogres, monsters, and stepmothers. But good prevails—it always will; I believe this with my whole heart.
July 11th, 2006 17:41
Good books are really special and I’m so glad you’re helping Aria enjoy them too. Books have always been friends to me and I can see from books we’ve inherited from Dave’s family, that they were special to them too. I’m glad you kids all enjoy reading. Actually I still enjoy reading a good kid’s book. Although we can’t collect many cause we travel too much, I still buy the occasional one, like today at a second hand store, I picked up one of Beatrix Potter’s.
July 12th, 2006 00:52
I think it must have been you who instilled the love of books in us, Mum, as I know you read us many stories. I was trying to remember ones that we would read and one of my favourites was one about an owl—I think we got it in England. Owl was a little odd and did such things as make tear-water tea, and let in the wind during a snow storm. He was an eccentric, that’s for sure.
July 13th, 2006 16:39
That’s wonderful that you’re giving her a love of books. Both my kids have it too. I sort of figure they have not choice in the matter since we read to them so much! But I love it when my 15 month old picks a book, brings it over and looks entreatingly at me to read it to her. We just discovered the Milly Molly Mandy books and love them. They are older, British stories about a sweet little girl and her family and friends.
Happy Reading!
Rebeca
July 14th, 2006 06:16
I’ll have to check out those Milly Molly Mandy books—the name sounds interesting for sure! I love that children can learn to love books at such a young age.
July 14th, 2006 07:53
We are huge book lovers. Marcie laughingly calls them the “Nerd Herd” because you’ll often find them both sitting thumbing through books. We love the Wild Things book – so much potential for fun voices and actions! Madi had a British nursery rhymes book we wore out when she was little – now she can rattle off all these old obscure nursery rhymes. And when she went through a phase of being scared at night I picked up a book from Blessings taht taught her a Bible verse to say when scared – and now almost 2 years later she can still recite it from memory. Books are definitely good friends.
July 14th, 2006 10:30
I too love books… in fact, every time I go to move (quite often!) I keep thinking I should cut back on my stuff, but I just can’t bring myself to get rid of my books, especially the older ones, for some reason. I hope that when I have children that they too have a healthy love of books. (An excuse for me to read kids’ books, right! Not that I ever really needed on anyway!)