Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A New Favorite Book

In my attempt to further cut back on screen time, I began reading "The Indian In The Cupboard" to R. I'm not sure why I hadn't tried reading a book like this to him before. I started reading it during lunch one day. We made a picnic on my bed and I read to him while he ate, instead of turning on the TV. We read a lot, but it has always been picture books, and I wasn't sure how this would hold his interest. I was pleasantly surprised.

This book is by Lynne Reid Banks and is about a boy that gets a plastic Indian, a cupboard and a key for his birthday. Eventually, he discovers that he can bring his plastic toys to life using the cupboard. It was one of my favorites when I was younger, and it is sure to be one of R's. He sat on my bed and listened intently, often forgetting to eat. Eventually he laid back and started to zone out. If I quit reading he would protest and so I continued to read until he was fast asleep. He fell asleep with his sandwich in his hand, smashed between his little fingers.


He slept soundly and I wondered if he was dreaming about his own toys coming to life. When he woke up, he looked around and asked me why I wasn't reading. He didn't want me to stop! We've continued reading chapters here and there, mostly at lunch and before bed. He doesn't fall asleep during our reading anymore, but listens eagerly until its time to close the book. He looks forward to the next time we'll get to read it. This is going to be a lasting routine. A routine that we are both thoroughly enjoying.

What do you read to your children? What were your favorite books when you were a child?

4 comments:

  1. Great suggestion - I should add this to our list. Right now we're reading Little House in the Big Woods. My son loves hearing about life outside the city. But he never falls asleep like R.!

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  2. I'll have to put that book on our list! It was one of my favorites. I think next we will be reading Charlottes Web because a nearby city shows classic movies on the outside of the art museum. You bring lawn chairs and whatnot and watch. I would love to finish the book and then go watch the movie, outside, laying in the grass! I should also say that I didnt remember "The Indian in the Cupboard" being so violent. I admit to sensoring it a little as I read. Which I feel bad about in some ways, but the mention of scalping just didnt sit well with me for R. I didnt sensor all the violence away, but I didnt want it as graphic either. I dont know. What do you think? And R hasn't fallen asleep like that since. That would have been wonderful for naptime!

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  3. This book is on my list. I like to post our favorite books, too. You might enjoy joining the weekly book link up at Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns. People always have great suggestions. http://learningwithmouse.blogspot.com/search/label/weekly%20reading

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  4. Thanks for the suggestion Mom and Kiddo :)I'll check it out.

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