Fairy tales, in their telling, have long been a source of fond memories between parent and child. Many have inspired countless movies and toys, providing countless hours of entertainment and nostalgia. Given how widely known these stories are, it’s not surprising that numerous life lessons can be drawn from their tellings, many of which have helped children the world over as … [Read more...]
If I can do just this one thing, I’ve won… #ParentingGoals
"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." - Anna Quindlen … [Read more...]
On Raising a Reluctant Reader…
We live in a house of books. There are books everywhere you turn. If you manage to draw your gaze past the clutter of toys, the place could easily be mistaken for a lending library. Reading with my girls is one of my favourite parts of being a mom. I sit and read with them pretty much whenever they ask throughout the day, and every night we snuggle down and read a full chapter … [Read more...]
Library with Dad
O is for… Once Upon a Time in the Land of Oz!
Of course "O" is for Oz, in this household how could it be anything else? I think most of you are already well aware of how much Rainbow and I love the original Oz books. Reading a chapter from "Dorothy-Toto" has been part of our nightly bedtime routine for well over two years now. Since L. Frank Baum's Oz stories were written over 100 years … [Read more...]
The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum ~ delightful children’s classic from the author of The Wizard of Oz
We just finished reading The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum. It's one of Baum's non-Oz book. It's also now one of my favourite children's books ever. The descriptions of the mermaids and the underwater life were fantastic, and Zog the Magician was one of the most deliciously evil villains I've encountered in quite some time. This book was a delight to read aloud and share with … [Read more...]
The Things I Want to Know Are In Books…
A book loving quote, in honour of Freedom to Read week... Courtesy of Devil's Apricot Designs "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." ~ Abraham Lincoln … [Read more...]
B is for… Books!
B is for Bedtime and Bedtime is for B O O K S Our bedtime routine is pretty standard. Battle with the girls over brushing their teeth and completing their other bathroom bedtime business. Briskly move things to Rainbow's bedroom, where we burrow in the bedsheets and enjoy a chapter from our latest book. Baum brings us to back to Oz as little sister bounces in and … [Read more...]
What Comes After The Wizard? – How to share Baum’s Oz books with your kids, & What should you read next?
Each night at bedtime I read my daughter a chapter from a "big kids" storybook. Over the past year and a half we've worked our way through all fourteen of the original Oz books, and then went on to read a handful of other assorted children's classics. However, by request we've ended up back with "DorothyToto" each night before bed. We are currently on our second go … [Read more...]
Indigo Adopt a School Program – Getting books into the hands of Canada’s kids and YOU can help.
We are a family of readers. We practically live in a library. My kids probably own two hundred books, easily. So I was shocked to discover that many Canadian children, particularly those from low income families, do not own even a single book. I cannot imagine a childhood without reading. I simply can not. Surveys show that over 42% of Canadians are functionally illiterate … [Read more...]
Storytime with Mom
Now if only I could read this book without crying... … [Read more...]
Buried in a good book (or thirty).
Bedtime Stories…
I began reading chapter books at bedtime a little after Rainbow's third birthday. We started with Winnie the Pooh. I wasn’t sure if she was old enough yet, or if it would keep her attention, but she LOVED it. The serial, cliff hanger nature, the I wonder what will happen next aspect, and the waiting to read the next chapter tomorrow, has her completely hooked. When she’s … [Read more...]