Book readers

When I was pregnant, Travis and I went to see Alice in Wonderland in theaters. On the way home, I talked about what a lovely and wonderful book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was, and how I couldn't wait to read it to my children, etc, etc.
And Travis said, "You know, some kids don't like reading. What if they don't want you to read Alice in Wonderland to them?"

I sobbed uncontrollably for the next few hours.
HOW COULD HE SAY THAT TO ME?

I don't believe in children disliking books. As Emilie Buchwald famously said, "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
Children of book lovers are book lovers themselves.
Anyway. The point of this:


Imagine my joy (and tiny bit of crying) when my sleepy boys came out of their room after naptime. They looked around and saw that all their books and toys were put away, and they both went straight for the basket of books. They hefted it out together, each picked out a few books and carried them to me. Then they settled down on my lap and we read for a while.

Sure, they would get up from the book half-way through and go pick out a new book.
Sure, they wanted to sit by themselves and look at books without their brother touching them or me reading, but it was just so sweet! And we had such a nice afternoon. 

I love that they want me to read them stories. They'll even sit on my lap for upwards of five or ten minutes while I read to them from my own books.  They sit and listen to books without pictures. They study my face, the words on the page, the room around them.
They don't have too much patience for it, but they are toddlers, so it's okay.
And five to ten minutes is longer than some adults can last, frankly.

I'm building a library of children's books. I'm arranging them by age.
When you are three, I will read you The House on Pooh Corner. 
When you are four, I will read you The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. 
When you are five, I will read you Stuart Little. 
When you are six, I will read you A Wrinkle in Time. 
When you are seven, we will begin Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 
When you are eight, I will read you The Hobbit.

And you will love them. I am sure of it.

And if you're wondering, we have more books for little children than for grown-ups.

Oh, and aren't those little onesies ADORABLE? There will be a giveaway for an I Can Be Tee Onesie early next week, so remember to check back!

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