The Little Prince

Rose's camp counselor started reading this to her over the summer, but when she tried reading it on her own, it was too hard. We were vaguely planning to read it together and then it turned up in the Michelle book bonanza. So, I've been reading her a couple chapters a night. I don't like it. I mean I like the indictments of grown-ups, but I don't really care about the Little Prince and his problems and so far the portrayal of the Rose as vain and stupid is really pissing me off. However, I do like snuggling with Rose on the couch even when she pouts every time I stop reading.

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe series

John is reading this to the kids. They all seem to be enjoying it. I enjoy them all being happy while I do something else. I never liked this series.

The Saturdays, The Four Story Mistake, Then There Were Five, Spiderweb for Two by Elizabeth Enright

My friend Becky read all these fabulous stories on to cd for the children in her life. We are blessed to be children in her life. We all love these stories, which is good because David has been playing them non-stop for a week now. We listened to the entire oeuvre once and are on our second time through. We were discussing fostering over dinner. Once we explained the word to the kids, David knew exactly what we were talking about--it was happening in his book!

Wayside School series by Louis Sachar

When Rose was reading these to herself last year, I thought they sounded kind of annoying, but reading them aloud to David I'm really enjoying them. What happens at Wayside School is overwhelmingly crazy. Like the substitute teacher reads your mind, knows when you don't know the answer, and then calls on you just to humiliate you. There is no floor 19, but you might get sucked into floor 19 and never return. This is no Bearnstein Bears, weird weird things happen at Wayside School.

Ghosthunters by Cornelia Funke

Boring and badly written with egregious puns and long obnoxious acronyms. David listened to this whole series on cd this summer, and that was fine. I could leave the room or tune it out. Now, I am reading it to him at bedtime. As my friend Ruth R. has pointed out, it is possible to read aloud and be thinking of something completely different, thank goodness.

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

Rose sent us on a Sharon Creech kick last year where we read everything she wrote. She is brilliant. David got this book on cd over the summer, but it was so scratched we missed whole chapters, so I am reading it to him now. John refuses to read it. I admit it's too old for David and perhaps even Rose. The protagonist is going through friendship and first love issues. I'm hoping that goes over David's head. The crazy cousin who comes to visit is where we are focusing.

Secret Special Book that I Won't Reveal by Anonymous

That's not actually the title, but Rose and I liked this book so much that several of you might be getting it for your holiday gift. It was rich with historical detail, character development was believable, exciting, scary, magical. Yup, you really want to read this. (If you want the title and we haven't exchanged gifts recently, send me an email.)