Reading

We have been reading the book The Five Little Peppers And How They Grew. The girls (and I must admit I too) have really enjoyed it. We are on the last few pages which will be read later today during reading time. I have written before about how mature this book is in the vocabulary and sentence structure. It is not written like anything any public schooled child would read today. And it has been a WONDERFUL time of questions (and learning) as the girls ask what certain words mean, why things are done a certain way, and of course, trying to understand the sentence structure! :)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE old books! Especially old children's books. They have great vocabularies, are not dumbed down, and usually contain great morals and virtues to be learned. It is sad that more and more of these types of books are being burned (simply because that is what they do with old books). If the book is a great classic (like Heidi or Pollyanna or Little Women), then it is made "modern" by dumbing it down and taking away some of the rich vocabulary as well as morals and virtues within. One book we recently read had changed the witch in Hansel and Gretel into a repentant witch who has then good to all the little children.

What I love most about reading to the children is the bonding that happens between us. Yes, it is fun and exciting now that I have one full time on her own reader (who can read most anything and is finishing up the Old English abridged version of Pilgrim's Progress with FULL comprehension) and I have one part time reader (who can read books like The Cow Who Clucked - her FAVORITE and other children's books as she continues through her reading lessons). But they still beg Momma to "please wait to read, I have to get something first!" They still LOVE to listen to Momma read. And what a great time of bonding!! We are able to transport together to "the little brown house" and watch as Polly helps her Mamsie with the mending (what responsibility!). And then months later to be able to say "Do you remember when Polly did ...."

Daddy reads to the girls most ever evening. There are nights when he works late, but even then, he always tries to take off to at least read to the girls. And now JJ has taken his place beside Daddy, with the biggest of grins, as he too bonds with Daddy as he reads of the Millers and the responsibility needed for the young boy to get a rabbit.

I would not trade that time of bonding with the children for anything!