Now that summer is just around the corner, I’ve started hearing people talk about what books are on their summer reading lists. The Today Show {my primary news source} especially likes to talk about this topic. So, I listen to all the hype about the season’s most-read and must-reads… and, I think… “Wow, I’m out of touch.”
Because, if I were to be interviewed and asked the question, “What’s currently on your nightstand?,” I’d have to answer with the following titles:
This is the Toddler’s current favorite. That little mouse on the left must be carefully fed through a tiny slit on each page as he looks for his missing cheese. The story line is a bit weak {until the mouse runs up Mr. B’s nightshirt}, but the illustrations and the clever use of the cardboard mouse make it a worthwhile read. Spoiler Alert: In the end, the mouse narrowly escapes death by a mouse trap {set up by the family cat} and has to start the search for his cheese wedge all over again.
It should probably be old news by now, but the Toddler {and sometimes still the Preschooler} often need a reminder that being a “big sister” means we get to practice things like being gentle… being patient… being kind… sharing… etc. This book does a fine job of making the role of “big sister” sound like a pretty fun deal. My only concern is that after many readings, the gender of the baby in this story remains a total mystery.
The Anna Dewdney books are wildly popular among the preschool crowd, but this one stands out as a favorite. I may even like it more than the girls for these great few lines in the middle of the book, “Baby Llama, what a tizzy! Sometimes Mama’s very busy. Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama.” I find myself relating very well to Mama Llama and her issues with tizzies and drama. If you’re in the mood for a series, I’d also highly recommend, Llama, Llama Mad at Mama.
This, of course, is an original and a classic handed down to us from Uncle Ju-Ju. The Preschooler loves it. Her favorite thing to do is to memorize where Waldo is on each page and then ask her sister to “read” it with her so she can seemingly outsmart her by instantly finding him in each scene. I’m not sure if that’s mean or smart, but Where’s Waldo doesn’t usually end well. I will say, though, this is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an exercise in patience.
If you’re not familiar with the Max & Ruby series on Nick Jr., you’re missing out on some of the best in children’s programming… at least according to my children. We have to read this particular book several times a week. Seeing that it’s May and not October, I tried to hide this one on the very back row of the bookshelf where it wouldn’t be discovered for awhile. But, when the Toddler gets something on her mind, a simple rearrangement of a few books isn’t going to stand in her way. So, we read it tonight. It has no plot and no point. But, apparently, it’s very entertaining to some 3-year old audiences.
And, finally…
This is another favorite of the Toddler. You can’t tell from the picture, but the reader has to put his or her hand through the mouth of the cow and become something of a puppeteer for this one. On each page, the illustration surrounding the mouthpiece changes from a cow to a duck to a pig to a farmer, etc, etc. It’s all very clever. But, a word of warning: due to the fact that this book requires the reader to use a hand to move the stubborn rubber mouthpiece while simultaneously doing a rhythmic chant of tongue-twisting lyrics from start to finish, I cannot recommend this for nighttime reading. It requires too much energy. Far, far too much energy.
So, there you have it… my reading list. It may not be impressive or inspiring, but it’s tried and true. And, if there really is a benefit to repetition, we should be well on our way to reaping it.
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