Expanding Her Horizons

We recently did some rearranging in our house so that Joy and Grace could have separate rooms. This, sadly, will last only for while we remain here, in this nice roomy four-bedroom house. Once Carl starts seminary and we're living in campus housing, it'll be back to sharing! For now, though, they both seem to be thriving on the separation.

Joy, in particular, delights in having her own space. One of the first things I did was take the tiny bookcase that had been removed from their shared bedroom after I found them trying to use it to leapfrog between beds (and it, shockingly enough, crashed and narrowly missed Grace) and put it in her room. Her special picture books are on the bottom shelf, tiny books like Beatrix Potter and Brambly Hedge are on the top shelf, and the middle shelf is reserved for big girl, read-aloud books. Books that Grace would lose interest in after two pages, but Joy is finally old enough to listen to while someone else reads. Books like The Secret Garden, Betsy-Tacy, The Wind in the Willows, Five Little Peppers, Swiss Family Robinson, Hitty, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, The Railway Children, etc.

This is real life. A few book jackets displaced, the Frances books on the floor because she was reading them most recently, and Bunny Douglas forlornly squeezed between the bed frame and the book case.

This edition of Anne of Green Gables took its place on the shelf on Christmas Day (Grace received Peter Pan).

The book I placed on the shelf with the most secret hope was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. That was the very first long book I ever read all by myself, and it is the book that started my lifelong love of fantasy. I so want my girls to love it as well! But I didn't say anything to anyone, not wanting to influence Joy, and in fact didn't even push any of the books on that shelf. I borrowed Little House in the Big Woods from the library and we started reading that together, but I left the middle shelf alone.

Then, one night, out of the blue, after Grace was tucked in and Carl came into Joy's room to tuck her in, she handed him The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and said "Daddy? Can we start reading this?"

Carl's never read it either, so now BOTH of them are experiencing (and enjoying) it for the first time. Both of them (separately) tend to come and fill me in on what they just read. Carl is mostly blown away with how different it is from the movie. "This is SO MUCH better!" he enthused. "Why did they even call the movie 'based' on the book, anyway?" The other night Joy chattered to me all about how Dorothy melted the Wicked Witch with a pail of water and won back her sparkly shoes, and how the Cowardly Lion isn't really scary, he just pretends to be scary so he won't be scared by everything else, and isn't it silly that there's a man made of tin instead of skin?

And I am dancing with glee.

Only a few more years before we can start reading Lewis, Tolkien, and Alexander!

If I keep thinking of more books to add, eventually we're going to need a bigger bookshelf.

Lists, Part the Fifth

Holy month of no rain, Batman! Though we're way better off here than in many parts of the country (I get more excited when I hear about rain predicted for the midwest and west than I even do for it here), we're still definitely ready to see a break in the dry spell. The farmers are in agony.

When you all need a break from the rain dances you'll be doing in your back yards, I've found some fun links for you to peruse. Just because I care!

1. This post is from March, but the message is timeless. Love it.
2. I had some serious self-confidence issues in my life as a result of being told I was nothing special as a kid, but I agree that we've gone way overboard in the other direction at this point in time, and this article was a great take on it, I thought.
3. I found this quote on an old blog post from MY old personal blog (don't bother reading most of the other posts; they're very navel-gazing), and was reminded that I still love it. Truth and wisdom, right there!
4. This book review made me want to re-read Fly by Night. A book about the power of words - the sort of thing I dream of someday writing when my craft is more honed than it is right now!
5. When hunting for fresh bedtime reading for my littles, I came across this list. Very helpful.
6. This was just about the most exciting thing I've seen in ages. Back to Star Wars basics? YES PLEASE. And then this article, too, which gives a bit more insight into Leia's role? YESYESYESYES. All my Star Wars nerdiness rising back to the surface.

It is breaking my heart not to be at Comic-Con this weekend (maybe next year!!!) (Yeah right), but I'm trying to distract myself by working hard on short story edits, more short story outlines (my goal is to be able to publish five in a collection, and one more as a bonus companion to my seperately-published novella), working on Grace's quilt, and trying not to get overheated outside while my kids play in the kiddie pool. Oh yes, and editing the photos from my MIL's wedding, because they're not going to get any less intimidating over time.

I hope your weekend is full of bliss!

Reader

A possible near-future conversation between Joy and a librarian or teacher.


Librarian or Teacher, looking at Joy's armful of books teetering nearly above her head: My, that's a lot of books! Are you going to read all of them?

Joy: Yes, all by myself.

L or T: Really? How old are you?

Joy: I will be five in November.

L or T: And you can already read all those books by yourself? How did you learn to read so young?

Joy: I got bored.

End scene.

This kid, she amazes me. I really did start to teach her to read simply because she was bored. Bored to the point where she was getting into trouble out of frustration. She struggled a bit at first because it didn't click immediately (and because I was an idiot and thought I could teach her with easy readers and flash cards - I'm sure that's all some people need, but I am a lousy teacher and needed a curriculum), but we persevered (all of us - Joy and I did the official school books, but Carl would sit down and patiently work with her through regular books, even letting her read the bedtime stories sometimes), and then, ever so slowly, it started to come together. She would recognize one word when she saw it, then two. Then five. Then she could put together sentences. Then she started figuring out the whole "sound it out" business.

Yesterday afternoon, I walked through the living room and paused. Joy was curled up on the couch with "Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea," which we had borrowed from the library last week and hadn't had a chance to read together yet, and she was reading it. Out loud. By herself. Sounding out the words she didn't know. Getting some of them wrong, but more of them right. Going back to re-read a sentence that she hadn't added the proper emphasis to before. Immersed in her own world.

I very nearly burst into tears.

She finished that and picked up "Sam and the Firefly," another library book, and read through that. Then she read through "Go Dog. Go!" She had to take a bathroom break partway through that one, and I sat in Carl's study and listened as she read all the books we keep in there for the littles to look at while they use the potty (leftover habit from the days they were potty-training).

I quite honestly had a lump in my throat the rest of the evening. Reading has shaped my life, my very nature, for as long as I can remember. It has been one of the deepest desires of my heart that my children share the same passion and love for the written word as I have. Seeing this love take root in Joy is one of the most rewarding moments in parenthood I've had thus far.

She's reading. My kid is reading.

It still blows my mind.

Now I just have to keep from going absolutely crazy on Amazon and buying every easy reader I can find. I just want to shower her with ALL THE BOOKS IN THE WORLD, but that's what libraries are for, and I don't want to deprive her of one of my other deep-set joys, which is finding those amazing books at the library, and the thrill of bringing them home to read.

Taken first thing this morning after she came downstairs. Please ignore the mound of clean laundry next to her. It was a long weekend.

I have a reader. A real live reader. Somebody pinch me!

By the way, the scene up top would never really happen. Joy hates talking to strange adults. I can't really blame her; I'm not crazy about it either.

Lessons From a Pig

picture from kristiyamaguchi.com

When I first heard that one of my long-time heroes, Kristi Yamaguchi, was writing a picture book, I was both excited and nervous. Excited because for one thing, there aren't enough books out there for kids that feature figure skating. Ballet, yes. Skating, no. Also excited because it was Kristi! I was nervous, though, because excellence in one area doesn't always translate to excellence in another. Not all figure skaters make great writers, and as a writer myself, I knew I would be hyper-critical.

I shouldn't have worried. Dream Big, Little Pig is a fantastic book! Instead of what I would arrogantly call typical inspirational tripe, gallant little Poppy taught an important lesson. You aren't going to magically be good at something and have everything handed to you on a silver platter just because you dreamed it - but if you love something, you should work hard and pursue it despite what other people say, and in that very pursuit there will be satisfaction. Awesome. My sister bought the book for my Joy when Joy just started skating, and I loved being able to read to her about how Poppy kept getting up every time she fell, and how eventually, she started falling less.

So when we heard that Kristi was writing a sequel titled It's a Big World, Little Pig, we were thrilled. And rightly so, because the sequel is just as charming as the first book. Aunt Lis and Uncle David bought this one for Joy to help celebrate her completion of her first season of skating lessons, and again, it is a fun story (with great illustrations) with an non-sterotypical message behind it. Poppy gets to go to a big international competition, and she's nervous, but soon discovers that all the competitors, despite being different animals from different countries, participating in different sports, they "all smile in the same language." I half-listened as Carl read it to Joy and Grace the first time, and I asked when he finished "But did Poppy win?" All three rolled their eyes at me. "It doesn't say," Carl said. "That is not the point."

Oh. Oops.

Not every athlete or actor can turn to writing stories, especially stories for kids, well, but Kristi certainly does. She inspires me to look at my own stories, and make sure I'm not falling into the trap of writing expected tropes, but instead pursue messages I would want my own girls to believe.

And to be perfectly honest, Poppy is a good inspiration to me, too - to not expect magical success, or to expect success to look like wild popularity or medals, but to work hard at what I love, just because I love it.

My big dreamer at her very first ice show (she's the one in front)

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for this review, and the opinions therein are solely my own. And my children's, so far as they have communicated them to me. :-)

To Sleep, Perchance ...

I haven't been doing anything terribly interesting this week, writing-wise or life-wise. However, apparently my subconscious is doing its best to make up for my dull life by WILD dreams.

The first night wasn't so great - it was actually more of a nightmare. Trapped on an abandoned cruise ship with a serial killer, me against him, (apparently I was a detective) me trying to catch him but feeling uneasily certain he was toying with me. Thankfully I woke up before the final confrontation. The overall tone of that dream was dark and creepy, even more than the events in it. Took several cups of tea that morning before I felt normal again!

The dream returned in a lighter fashion the next few nights - the cruise ship wasn't deserted, and it had more of a Peter Wimsey feel - still serious, but not creepy, and this time, I always had the upper hand over the killer. One night it wasn't even a murderer I was after, but a jewel thief.

Then last night - oh, I have no idea where this one came from, but I do most earnestly hope it returns, because FUN - my dream was a veritable sci-fi television mashup.

Started out in a green clearing, trees all around. All kinds of characters from sci-fi tv were waiting for their assignments from a platform at one end of the clearing (and no, I don't remember any of them clearly). I ended up being sent on a quest with Chakotay (from Star Trek: Voyager) and Mal (Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly). Now, I was myself - Louise - and had no idea why I was tagging along, but dudes, I was not complaining. Both Mal and Chakotay (naturally) wanted to be in charge, but since we'd only been given a direction to go in, no actual specifics as to what our quest was (bad planning, Management), there weren't too many problems at first.

Then we ran into a friend I know in real life, except something was weird about her, and then, as we were chatting, she told me that she'd downloaded her consciousness into an android's body because she'd been afraid of getting fat, and droids' bodies never change. And then she ended up coming along with us because she had nothing better to do.

Things got hazy after that (I think I was starting to move toward waking up) ... I remember a fight between Mal and Chakotay, and then a fight between Mal and my android friend (Mal, apparently, had a lot of anger issues to work out - though the droid friend started the second fight, and would have won it except I tried to pull them apart and accidentally dropped her off the cliff, but we figured she survived because, hey, droid bodies are remarkably resilient), and then just as we were getting close to figuring out what the point was of the quest, what we were after to begin with ...

thump thump thump little feet coming up to the bed, "I have to go potty" little voice whispered, and even though Carl got up and I was able to get back to sort-of sleep, the dream was gone.

I most sincerely hope it returns tonight - I want to figure out this quest now (and also, would like to know if I was sent for more than just taking notes and pushing droids off cliffs).

What sort of fun dreams have you been having lately?

Note: I have not watched any sci-fi shows in the last several weeks, and the only sci-fi book I've read has been A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which is more science fantasy than science fiction, nor have I been reading/watching anything related to mysterious happenings aboard a cruise ship, so I really, really have no idea where these dreams are coming from. But they are, with the exception of that first nightmare, immensely amusing to me.

Favorite Children's Books

My girls are 4 and 2 1/2, and I thought I'd share some of their current favorite books, in case there are any parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/close friends who are interested in good books for very small people.

Anything by Beatrix Potter. Their current favorites are the nursery rhyme books: Cecily Parsley and Appley Dapply. They also like The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes, Jemima Puddleduck, and Mrs Tittlemouse (Grace goes around all the time saying "Sank 'oo, 'sank 'oo, mouse*," in a very credible imitation of pompous Mr Jackson).

White Rabbit's Color Book. This is one of Grandpa's stories that he keeps for the littles. Grace asks about it the entire car ride whenever we go and visit (that's four hours straight, by the way). They love learning about the mixing of colors, and I think they both (especially Grace) identify with the inquisitive White Rabbit.

Along those same lines, The Color Kittens is another favorite. I've been slowly increasing our collection of Little Golden Books; this one they like the best so far. We can't get through a day without one or both of them asking me what color comes from mixing _____ (insert any two colors of choice here), and then correcting me if I get it wrong.

Joy more than Grace loves this Classic Fairy Tales book, another one that Grandpa picked up at the used bookstore and gave us to take home. Carl reads this to them often, and Joy knows most of the stories well enough by now that she can go through it by herself and recite the stories.

Footprints and Shadows is lovely. I found it at a used bookstore and couldn't believe someone had sold it. The littles love the quiet rhythm of the words, and I get enchanted by the illustrations. It has actually inspired me to attempt more picture books, and I even have a plot simmering in the back of my brain for the next one!

Any of the books in the Stranger in the Woods series are perennial favorites, adored ever since the littles were babies. They are especially fun in the wintertime.

They are both just starting to appreciate the wacky humor of Dr Seuss. Grace loves her ABC book, and I bought Joy One Fish, Two Fish for Christmas, and this is ONE present I'm fairly certain (rap wood) she won't reject after opening.

Jan Brett is another one whose books the girls love - any and all of them. On Noah's Ark and The Owl and the Pussycat are their favorites, but now that Christmas is coming, I suspect they will want to read The Gingerbread Baby over and over (and over and over) again.

Grace is still a little young for them, but Joy enjoys Madeline and Babar, and they both like Curious George (although the first time I re-read the first book since I was a kid, last year, I was horrified at it - the Man in the Yellow Hat kidnaps George, and then George gets arrested for accidentally dialing a wrong number because the Man in the Yellow Hat just goes off and leaves him alone and loose in the apartment (AFTER KIDNAPPING HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE) ... the whole thing is dreadful. Give me Babar's communism any day).

Finally, they also both like listening to the CD of the Jesus Storybook Bible (GREAT for long car rides), and even though I find myself choking up at various stories when I try to read it aloud (Abraham and Isaac? BAWL), they also like to have it read to them by Mamma or Papa.

So there you have it! Any books little people in your life adore that I ought to look into adding to our collection?

*that translates to "Thank you, thank you, Mrs Tittlemouse."

Carl reading Winnie-the-Pooh to Joy when she was about a week old, starting what we hope is a lifetime habit of loving good stories.

A First!

I have won my first-ever blog award! Many thanks to Laura Josephsen for presenting me with this:

I see also that I have picked up a few new followers - welcome to all of you! I'm afraid real life has been creeping into my writing time lately (we are potty-training our youngest, which means I pretty well collapse into bed by 9:00 at night and don't think or stir until the littles wake me up the next morning, plus we are preparing for a week-long excursion to my parents' house while my husband travels to Chicago to visit schools), but I hope soon to get back to writing semi-interesting posts, as well as getting back into my actual MS writing.

In the meantime, I could use some opinions from you all. We are currently reading through the Winnie-the-Pooh stories at bedtime. What would you recommend for when we are finished with them? The girls are three-and-a-half and (nearly) two. Oh, and something with plenty of pictures is a must - we thought about The Wind in the Willows, but my edition has very few illustrations (though the ones it has are beautiful).

So, what would you suggest for good longer, read-over-a-period-of-weeks, bedtime stories with lots of fun illustrations for littles?