Greetings Little One

Science and literature intertwined

You’ve stepped it up, little one, combining science and literature into your evening reading habits.

Why has it taken so long for the human race to realize that books should not be read without a magnifying glass?

 

 

Reading a book (and eventually sharing your chair)

You and Gramps spent some time reading while we were visiting Aunty Emily and Uncle Michael in New York last weekend.

It was quite a cute moment, little one, despite your initial unwillingness to share the chair with your grandfather.

Reading Tuesday

This book has no words, little one. So Mommy had you read it to her.

The hilarity of Hop On Pop continues

Grateful to Dr. Seuss

Tonight I am grateful to Dr. Seuss for bringing this extreme level of joy to you, little one. 

Frankly, I think the book is kind of stupid, but you love it (and on Dr. Seuss’ birthday no less), so the man was clearly onto something.

I know you’re not actually reading, but still…

The Three Little Pigs

You’re a big fan of the Three Little Pigs, little one.

Gramps first taught you the story with the help of the Three Little Pigs houses that he gave to you. 

Then it was reinforced through repeated viewings of the story on The Wonder Pets. 

Lately we have been reading an odd, morally ambiguous but otherwise entertaining version of the story to you in which the wolf appears at the door of the brick house wearing sheepskin.

Now we hear you acting out your own version of the story quite often, with a variety of other animals and little people getting involved from time to time.    

A Charlie Brown Christmas

When your grandparents bought this book and recorded themselves reading it (which is a clever idea), the intent was for you to be able to open this book and listen to it be read aloud without the assistance of any other adult.

But for reasons known only to you, little one, you have determined that the book cannot be read alone.  Someone must “read” it to you, which means Mommy or I must sit beside you and turn the pages at the appropriate time, even though you are perfectly capable of turning the pages yourself.

Very odd, little one. Sort of defeats the purpose of the product.   

But at least you’re cute while listening to the story.  You find the last page, in which Nani inserts your name into the story, especially funny.  You almost always laugh while listening, then you ask if we can hear the Peanuts singing, right before asking if we will “read” it to you again.

I think it’s wonderful that we have Nani and Gramps’ voices recorded for you to listen to whenever you’d like. 

I just wish you’d be willing to turn those pages on your own, little one. 

Charlie Brown Christmas story, as told by Nanni and Gramps

Nanni and Gramps gave you a Charlie Brown Christmas story for Christmas, little one, and it’s a book that they were able to record the reading for you.  They alternated pages, reading the book to you, so that you will always have the sound of their voices even when they aren’t with us.

A couple amusing moments from the recording:

1. It’s clear that Mommy and Nanni are not familiar with the Peanuts characters, seeming to confuse Lucy, Schroeder and Pig Pen.

Don’t worry.  I know them well and will teach them to you. 

2.  Your grandparents didn’t realize that the Charlie Brown Christmas story also tells the story of the baby Jesus and his birth on Christmas Eve.

Not there’s anything wrong with a Jewish girl learning this story, as it’s the story Daddy grew up with, but it’s amusing to hear Gramps read it to you.

 

 

Stinky dinosaur

We have been reading  EDWINA: THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT by the genius Mo Willems.

You’ve been calling it Edwina: The Stinky Dinosaur.

I like your title better.