Christmastime Reading with my Toddler (1)

When I was growing up I loved Madeline books. I get excited to introduce my beloved childhood books to my daughter. It's wonderful to rediscover children's books as an adult: I see why they found a place in my heart, but sometimes the classics seem a lot weirder than I remember (What's up with Curious George's rendezvous with ether?!). 

For the past 3 weeks Madeline's Christmas has become a household favorite. My 2 year old asks for it at bedtime saying, "Madeline". She has several favorite parts of the story--

Ludwig incorporates this tiger page (see right) into several (if not all?!) of his Madeline books.  This repetitive motif is great for young readers to become attached to the character of Madeline.  The book reads, "[Madeline] was not afraid of mice, She love winter, snow and ice, And to the tiger in the zoo, Madeline just said....'POOH, POOH!'" What a great line! My daughter love saying pooh, pooh! to the tiger.

My daughter also loves the rhyme throughout the book. A rug merchant, also a magician, stops by Madeline's French boarding school. It's a big hit when he says, "'To sell my rugs was silly! Without them I am very chilly." I love when we get to the page and my daughter starts saying, "chilly, chilly."

Of course, there are many aspects of the Madeline series for parents (and teachers) to like. The author, Ludwig Bemelmans, consistently refers to Madeline (the smallest girl of all the girls at the boarding school) as being very brave. The rug merchant also has to be brave when he takes his medicine. I appreciate this message of encouraging our kids to be brave in the face of challenge, especially when my daughter is going through a (very normal) developmental phase of being scared of all things new-to-her.

I also love how Bemelmans creates rhyme using subject/verb inversion. It makes for some interesting read out loud writing:

"Why, these," said Madeline, "Would be so neat
For our ice-cold in the morning feet." 

and...

Said she, "I've cooked a dinner nutritious,
Will you please help me with these dishes?"

The plot of this book is a bit odd, and not quite straightforward...but I still love it!

Hope you've found some holiday books to share with your loved ones this year! We do celebrate Christmas in our house, and I hope to share a couple more of our favorite Christmas reads over the next couple of weeks.

If you have a holiday/Christmas book you love to read every year, I'd love you to share it in the comments section below.

I'm linking up at Hope is the Word.

Happy Holidays! Be well! Read on!

Let's Hear it for the Moms!!

On this Mother's day, I want to celebrate my mom- who took me (along with my 3 siblings) to the library, read me bedtime stories, gave me good snuggly feelings about reading, and treated words like they were treats to discover. She was my first (and best?) teacher- thank you mom!!

I'm the 2nd from the right left, with the gang

Here's a poem my good friend sent to me.....how wonderful and true it is:

THE READING MOTHER

by Strickland Gillilan

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms!

How did your mom encourage a love of literacy in you? And if you're a mom, how do you try to encourage a love of literacy in your child?

Recently I moved the books off the bookshelves in my daughter's room. Now, I try to leave books around the house (in the living room, my bedroom, my daughter's bedroom), instead of tucking them away neatly. I noticed they get used more now that I moved them to places at my daughter's level.

Take a minute and leave a comment- I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Read On!

Today is Dia de Los Ninos

Today is Dia de los ninos (Kid's Day). Many of my student's family celebrate this holiday. Later this afternoon I am going to watch some of my students do a traditional Mexican dance in honor of Dia de los ninos. I suggest you snuggle up to a child today and read him/her one of your favorite books.

About Dia from ALA.org
Children's Day/Book Day, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), is a celebration of children, families, and reading held annually on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Día is an  enhancement of Children’s Day, which began in 1925.   Children’s Day was designated as a day to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children.   In 1996, nationally acclaimed children’s book author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy to found El día de los niños/El día de los libros.

Check out this useful book list-
Dia de Los Ninos Book List

Visit this website, explaining Dia de Los Ninos
Website about Dia de Los Ninos

Read On!

Picture Book Review: I am a Bunny

Happy Easter! I just picked up this book for my daughter's Easter basket. I love any chance I get to give a book.  Many of the displayed books were Easter-themed, but poorly written (and honestly, not even interesting). After 30 minutes of browsing (I can be so indecisive), I came across I am a Bunny, by Ole Risom (Illustrated by Richard Scarry). This book is a classic- I've seen it around, but I don't know if I'd given it a read. It's delightful. The pictures lovely. The writing simple, yet beautiful. Next time you need to stuff an Easter basket, check a book out at the library for your toddler/preschooler, or buy a baby shower gift- consider this book. You'll love it.  I can't wait to introduce my daughter to hollows and toadstools and the four seasons. I hope she loves it as much as I do!

I love the detailed illustrations. Scarry uses repetition (see snowflakes, raindrops, butterflies below) throughout the book to create visual interest.

Product Description from Amazon-

I am a bunny. My name is Nicholas. I live in a hollow tree.In the spring, Nicholas likes to sniff the flowers, and in the summer, watch the frogs in the pond. In the fall, he watches the animals getting ready for winter, and in winter, watches the snow falling from the sky. This beautifully illustrated, gentle story is one of Golden’s most beloved titles.

Random House Children's Books (2004) - Hardback - 26 pages - ISBN 0375827781

Watch the book being Read Aloud here-


What book would you stuff into an Easter basket?

Read On!