Friday, November 23, 2007

The gift of reading

Our neighbor Oleg turned ten earlier this month, and I got him a copy of The Indian in the Cupboard. He may have thought it was a rather lame present--his first language is Russian, and I don't think he's really a great reader, though he tells me he's doing well in his reading group at school--but I thought of it one day when he brought his army men outside, and I think he'll enjoy it.

This is a partial list of other books that I've given as presents:

The Happy Hocky Family, by Lane Smith
Lifter by Crawford Killian
Guards! Guards! (and other Discworld books) by Terry Pratchett
A two-volume set of Diana Wynne Jones's first four Chrestomanci novels
Cordelia's Honor and Young Miles, by Lois McMaster Bujold (to Tom; he hasn't read them yet)
The Bishop's Horse Race, by Blaine and Brenton Yorgason
Barnyard Dance, Doggies, and Hippos go Berserk, by Sandra Boynton

Then there was the year that Peter and I got each other Dirk Gentley's Holistic Detective Agency for Christmas, completely unplanned. That was a surprise.

I'm thankful for parents who raised me around lots of books, and I'm thankful to be able to share the love of reading with my daughter. Sometimes at night, after we've read a few of Kate's books, I'll read to her from whatever book I'm currently in the middle of. I have so many wonderful stories to share with her as she gets older.

I posted a children's book first line game on Two Peas, but haven't gotten anyone to play with me yet. Perhaps the ones I picked are too hard.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't know any of those first liners but I've read most of them. Guess I'm not a first liner kinda gal. Reading is a great thing to do with a child. Jaylene loves reading together.

Anonymous said...

Since I'm not a pea yet, I'll answer here.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were looking for a place to live." - Make Way for Ducklings

"Farmer Brown has a problem." - Click Clack Moo
I just love Duck! I'd vote for Duck! :)

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrub, and he almost deserved it." - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"Taran wanted to make a sword; but Coll, charged with the practical side of his education, decided on horseshoes." - The Book of Three

"He came into the world in the middle of the thicket, in one of those little, hidden forest glades which seem to be entirely open, but are really screened in on all sides." - Bambi

Anonymous said...

Wow! Julie Beth, I'm impressed!

Love, Kathey

Mimi said...

I usually give books too! What a sweet gift.