The Power of a Picture Book

It may look like just a book...

OH, DADDY! by Bob Shea

But it's not. It's really magic.


Because this kid...

Kid B. Pulling a "Bieb". 

...loves OH, DADDY! Loves it.


And every night, as Sam is tucking him in, Kid B reads some of the words in the book. 


Like: 


"Is THIS how you eat carrots?"


"Oh, Daddy! No, THIS is how you eat carrots!"


I hide in the hallway outside his room and listen. Because if you're familiar with Kid B, you know how rare it is to hear him speak.


Often during the day, he is unsure of the right words, and even more unsure of how to put them together. And too soon, he becomes frustrated. Hopeless.


But at night, he is confident in these words. And he speaks them loudly.


It's heaven. 


Do any of your kids respond to a book like this?  

One Last thing I'm Thankful For... And Compiling a Holiday Book List

Hey y'all. Happy December.

Kid C had an assignment to write one thing he's thankful for, inside a drawing of a candy corn.  Here's what he turned in:

I'm kind of proud of him, because I've always told him to "Think outside the candy corn."

My favorites:

the unavers and space (the universe and space)

a home and corn and tirky and a god and chikin and food

and pincek (pancake)

And for the big finish in the lower right had corner....

the world and pets and peple and Ham

In that order. 

The thing I learned from this (besides someone needs to work on his spelling) is that even if a kid can't speak at age five, you may reach a point at age seven where you can't shut him up. For that, I'm grateful.

As the holiday season begins, may we all think outside the candy corn.

Before I go, (I'm at my computer, I'm not really going anywhere) let's think of good books for people to buy as presents this month.

I'll go first:
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. 

I just read this yesterday, for the first time, in two sittings. Loved it.

Now, your turn. (Or you can leave a comment and just say hi.)