I love to read with my kids.
Really.
Trouble is, the adjustment to four kids means that at any given moment I could count at least 4 things that have to be done next: Feed the baby, change the baby, make breakfast, lunch, dinner, do dishes, laundry, teach violin, get Annelise dressed, change another diaper, Boys' piano practice, Peter's math lesson.....you get the point.
The other trouble is that I was raised with the mentality that leisure should ONLY happen when all other tasks are done. Well, folks? Guess what. My jobs are never done.
So, a few weeks ago when I was gathering up library books to return, I started to realize that I had hardly read any of them with my kids.
I was sad.
At that point I made a goal.
Do you want to hear my goal?
My goal is that, whenever one of my kids says, "Mom, can we read this?" I will try to stop whatever I am doing and read with them, if I can. After all, how long does it take to read a kids' book? Usually not more than 10 minutes. And then I can carry on with the endless barrage of work I have to do.
So, it's been going pretty well so far. As I said, it is only a goal. That doesn't mean I am always successful. Sometimes I am doing something I can't put down. Or that next thing to do really is the next thing I have to do. In fact, now that I have a heightened awareness of the occasions on which my children ask me to read to them, I have realized that there is no earthly way I could possibly always keep up with Annelise. (That may have something to do with her crush on Steve from Blue's Clues and the fact that we have a Blue's Clues book from the library that she wants to read over and over and over again.) But, in general, it has increased the frequency with which we read together and I am happy about that.
So, with that said, I've been wanting to tell you about two of our faves. We discovered both of these at the library and when we had to return them, I just clicked right on over to Amazon and ordered my own.
Orangutan Tongs by John Agee is, quite simply, hilarious. We repeat them, we laugh about them, we have some of them memorized. I have difficulty trying to comprehend how anyone could come up with anything...indeed, so many things, so clever. We have several favorites, not the least of which is....
"Walter and the Waiter"
Walter Witter called a waiter: "Waiter, over here!
I want some water, waiter. Water, waiter! Is that clear?
The waiter brought some water. Walter Witter shouted: "WRONG!
This water's really watered-down! I like my water strong
The waiter brought more water. Walter Witter was upset.
"This water's dry!" said Walter. "I like my water wet!
Bring me wetter water, waiter!" Walter Witter said.
The waiter brought a pitcherful and poured it on his head."
I want some water, waiter. Water, waiter! Is that clear?
The waiter brought some water. Walter Witter shouted: "WRONG!
This water's really watered-down! I like my water strong
The waiter brought more water. Walter Witter was upset.
"This water's dry!" said Walter. "I like my water wet!
Bring me wetter water, waiter!" Walter Witter said.
The waiter brought a pitcherful and poured it on his head."
I Did It, I'm Sorry by Caralyn Buehner, is a favorite of mine for a different reason. It teaches basic moral principles in a fun and interesting way. Each story outlines a different scenario with its own unique moral dilemma. This is followed by a multiple choice offering of what the character should do. Once the children have thought over the options, they choose if the correct answer is a, b, or c. Then they check to see if the answer was correct by searching for the letter hidden somewhere in the illustration. They don't ever seem to tire of this game, which I love, because it gives us lots of opportunity to talk about making correct choices.I'm always open to more suggestions on top-notch books to read with my kids. Knowing there are offerings like this out there, I just want to find and devour them all. What are your favorites?
