The reason? They both (the older two) had their noses firmly planted in a book. At first I was put out. Who wants to listen to the sound of her own voice? Then I reviewed the facts: My children are ignoring me because their noses are firmly planted IN A BOOK. Ian was reading Rapunzel's Revenge
for possibly the fifty-third time. Eliza was reading Babymouse #8: Puppy Love
(Dear Jennifer Holm: Thank you for writing a book that had my emerging reader engrossed for the first time ever. As your undyingly grateful servant, I will be happy to bake and deliver a Black Forest cake at your command. Sincerely.)
So I went off happily to plant my own nose in a book. Namely, the first Amelia Peabody mystery: Crocodile on the Sandbank. Plucky and intelligent Victorian heroine? Check. Historically and geographically appealing setting? Check. Writing that's a joy to read? Check. I'm in!
Here's what else we're reading these days:
Read-Alouds (mostly to the girls):
The Apple and the Arrow
(Well-told story of William Tell)The Fledgling (Just finished. A total pleasure. Discussed with the kids: Is this fiction or fantasy?)
The Canterbury Tales
(A Geraldine McCaughrean retelling.)Tales of Wisdom and Wonder (Folktales from around the world)
We All Went On Safari
(One of several African picture books we're reading as part of this month's study of Africa. This one teaches the numbers in Swahili.)Koi and the Kola Nuts : A Tale from Liberia
(and others by Verna Aardema, African folktale queen as far as I'm concerned)Ian's Reading
Otto of the Silver Hand
(Just finished; downloaded for free on Kindle for iPad)Marco? Polo! #16 (Time Warp Trio)
The Trumpeter of Krakow
The Action Bible
(Ian LOVES this. LOVES it. Have I made myself clear? He'd hit a roadblock in his reading through the Old Testament (don't we all?) and when he got his paws on this nicely done graphic novel version of both Old and New Testaments, he was glued. Laugh if you wish about a Biblical graphic novel, and we can still be friends, but my son yearned for his daily Bible reading, and to me, that's a good thing.)Eliza's Reading
Plodding her way through a my-first-chapters version of Little Women.
Caroline's Reading
Just finished Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
.Audiobooks for the Car and House
Heidi
- downloaded from Audible.com (a childhood favorite that's still beloved albeit slightly saccharine to my adult ears)All-of-a-Kind Family
(another childhood favorite that my girls vow they LOVE)My Own Reading (besides already mentioned)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
(interesting science-leaning nonfiction bestseller with plenty of human interest)One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
(worth savoring)Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
(yup, still. Also worth savoring)The Dog Listener: Learn How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation
(a suggestion from the Comments, since I have no clue)The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)
(because I love my son)Yes, I'm reading all of those at once. Is there a problem with that?
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7 comments:
Thanks for the book lists! My kids seem to be studying the same historical period as yours ... and reading the exact same books. I'm enjoying this version of The Canterbury Tales: http://www.amazon.com/Canterbury-Tales-Retelling-ebook/dp/B00452V2X8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1297472200&sr=1-1
No, not a problem, i like reading at least 5 books once. "...Henrietta Lacks" is on my wishlist, I am so spoiled with my Kindle and free downloads, it takes a lot for me to fork over 9.99 but i know i will cave soon. Thanks for sharing your list!
Love your lists, keep em coming!
Remember how cool it was seeing that Erik has the same puzzle that Ian had? Well get this--Henk had the exact same Action Story bible, only in Dutch translation! He loved it as a boy too :-)
Ooh, I will definitely have to check out The Action Bible. It sounds like just the thing for some people here.
I read Percy Jackson because I love my kids...and also because I actually liked it! :-) Later the older two and I also tackled the one about the Egyptian gods (the title escapes me at the moment), which is is a little more mystical. And then recently we read The Lost Hero, which, FYI, seems to aim for just a slightly older audience (i.e. more boyfriend/girlfriend stuff).
I love cake.
>Happy to help<
--Jenni Holm
This is one of your posts I will save for the day my kids are your kids' ages :)
How is the Canterbury Tales? That was quite a selection if I recall in my British Lit class.
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