Often times, mom could be found at the kitchen table with her scriptures open, and a class manual close by. She had shelves of books, with her name written on the inside covers. Classics. Children's books. Family Development books. Church books. My mom studied diligently; with mechanical pencils, blue and black BIC pens and highlighters. Notes in the margins of her textbooks, the Ensign, her Scriptures, the Joy School lesson manual. Meticulous notes. Thoughts. References. Promptings. She was studious. I remember picking up novels and looking for the ones with the most notes...those were the ones I wanted to read under the covers at night...I thought her notes would make me more smart. Or tell more of the story!
For years, my father would sit at the top of the stairs on the landing and read to us from Black Beauty. Robinson Caruso. Little Women. Swiss Family Robinson. We were treated to a chapter or five, if we were good, as we lay in bed and he read. We listened. And asked questions, that he'd sometimes answer. Sometimes clarify. And often he'd hush us and say, "If you'd listen, you'd know." Most men have a den or a man-cave, but my father has a library. Walls of books. And stacks of books. And rows of books. He may need to start keeping a ledger where we check out his books...because for a long while, I had a stack of his books on my own nightstand. It started out as just a book or two, but by Christmas, I returned a good eight books to him.
I love reading. I love to sit on the floor in my boys' room between their bed and the closet and organize their books ...slowly... because I read them as I put them away. I'm kindof a nerd like that. Kortlen has picked up my love of books, and I often find him sitting in the middle of the hall, or kitchen table, or IN his closet, flipping through the pages. He will put it down and get another. And another.
I have a collection of books on my piano...some which I've read, others that I hope to. Most of those are thrift store finds, but classic nonetheless. Lovingly read and yellow-paged. They smell of old books. Together, Ryan and I have shelves and boxes filled with books that we've devoured. We have even kept our text books from college...we're that in love with books. You never know when you'll need to reference something to Food Science, Interior Design, or Business Management! Come to think of it, we even have books stacked in the corners of our bedroom closet.
This summer Tanner, Taylor and I read "Tom Sawyer". Every time we got in the car, they'd beg me to read it to them. I'm embarrassed to say that we haven't finished it...but when they see it, they love for me to read a few pages. My goal is to finish that book with them, but AFTER I finish our current read.
Our school district just started a special project called "One District, One Book". Every family received a free copy of a 'mysterious' book...as the book's title was unknown until yesterday at a special assembly. The youngest child in each family that attends school was sent home with this book, and a reading schedule, so the book can be discussed in class, and as family and friends.
Last night we read Chapter 1: Sam. Aloud. Because we all know that "reading aloud for just 15 minutes a day can provide children with a lifetime of benefits"...says the flier sent home with said book. I agree.
I think we're really going to like this book! It's adventurous. Clips along at a good pace. Has Tanner captivated, and Taylor interested. The chapter lengths are just right. And Tanner is noticing some of his frequent words and points them out.
While I can snuggle with a blanket and a good book and read away my time...for hours on end...I really enjoy reading to my children. Especially when they listen. I like making the voices....changing the inflection with the story line...and critically thinking with the boys about what just happened, what will happen next, and so on.
I challenge YOU to read aloud to your children, if you don't already do so...they will fondly remember those moments, and it WILL benefit them in SO MANY WAYS!
Have YOU ever read "The Trumpet of the Swan"? Did you like it? What is your favorite childhood book?