January 30, 2007 by Barbara.

With Ken and me both sick with pneumonia, our morning routine has been a bit lax and we read no books in the morning. In the evening we read:

• A-tisket a-tasket by Ella Fitzgerald, with alternate words for the song;
• The Sheep Fairy: When Wishes Have Wings by Ruth Louise Symes, an odd little tale about a sheep who wants to fly;
• Mama Cat has three kittens by Denise Fleming. Reid’s eyes lit up when she saw the front cover of this book and then asked to hear it a second time;
• Row, Row, Row Your Goat by Bernard Most, a book that has been hiding in Reid’s room for a while and was welcomed back to our reading round;
• Snoozers: 7 Short Short Bedtime Stories for Lively Kids by Sandra Boynton, rollicking rhymes with a focus on sleeping; and
• Good Night, Little One: A Lift-the-Flap book by Salina Yoon, a book that we used to read all of the time but which I pulled out of circulation to give other books a chance to shine.

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January 29, 2007 by Barbara.

We started the day with Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine, a good first-thing-in-the-morning book that describes the somewhat wild clothes that Ella Sarah wants to wear and the reactions of her parents and older sister. Ella Sarah sticks to her guns and ends up appropriately attired for the event that happens at the end. We also read Hippos Go Beserk! by Sandra Boynton.

At naptime, we read A Tune Up for Toby twice and througout the rest of the day, we read:

• Knuffle Bunny: A cautionary tale by Mo Willems, Reid chooses this one often;
• Olivia’s Opposites by Ian Falconer;
• Olivia Count by Ian Falconer;
• Belly Button Book! by Sandra Boynton, I just noticed that Boynton uses exclamation marks in her titles, funny what slips by you;
• Emma in Charge by David McPhail, a book that shows how grown ups boss little ones and how well we are observed;
• If the dinosaurs came back by Bernard Most, a very positive take on what would happen;
• We’ve All Got Bellybuttons! by David Martin, I never leave a bellybutton book on the shelf when I see it;
• Because I Love You So Much by Guido van Genechten, in which the little bear teaches that sometimes Mama bears have ideas that aren’t necessarily accurate;
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, a book that came from Danielle’s library I think. It has lovely broad, bright illustrations of a little boy enjoying a snowy, city day; and
• Where is Your Smile Crocodile? by Claire Freedman, a book that we returned to the library on Saturday morning but Reid found another copy to bring home.

At bedtime we read:

• Going on a Field Trip, a Read and Roll book;
• A Tune-Up for Toby, a Read and Roll book;
• Which Way to School, a Read and Roll book; and
• Benny’s Bus (no author).

There was definitely a theme to our bedtime reading ;+)

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January 29, 2007 by Barbara.

We started our day with My Beautiful Child by Lisa Desimini and illustrated by Matt Mahurin, a beautiful book with a lovely story that Amanda gave us in May 2004 and Where’s That Cat? by Eve Merriam. Once downstairs, we read:

• Mealtime for Zoo Animals by Caroline Arnold, which offers photographs of zoo animals and text that tells what they eat;
• Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, a book with opposites and juxtapositions and bright illustrations;  and
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems, twice before 9:00 am. We read this book a few months ago but it didn’t seem to appeal at the time but the story about the little girl who lacks the words to tell her daddy what has happened to her toy now resonates.

After Kindermusik, Reid and I went to the Centrepointe Library - it’s bigger, newer and in a better neighbourhood than our library. They have a family storytime that Reid and I have tried twice but each time she has wanted to leave within the first couple of pages. I don’t know why. She sits for circle time at daycare and loves books when we read at home and when Shannon reads at Kindermusik. It’s not a big deal, just a puzzle to me. We chose a whole bunch of books - two bags full - and three videos and checked out. There is a fountain in the lobby that Reid wanted to look at closely. I was only barely standing upright. I thought that the antibiotics were making headway against my pneumonia but between Kindermusik and the library, I knew that I was far from better. Reid had all of the energy a two year-old should have and I was far below the level of what I needed. Reid was insisting I tell her about the rocks and water and the ins and outs of them. I was ready to stomp my feet and cry to get her to leave. Instead, I explained enough to get her moving and we went to the car. We ate hamburgers from McDonald’s on the way home so that we were ready for our nap as soon as we got home.

 Over the afternoon and evening, we read:

• Caillou Says No! by Joceline Sanschagrin, this one Reid handed to Ken, in spite of or because he doesn’t really like Caillou. He thinks Caillou is whiny;
• NFL 1-2-3, this one Reid handed to me, since I am obviously the football expert in the house ;+);
• Le temps, a mini boardbook that features “Winnie-Pooh” and friends in various kinds of weather and anything that has Winnie the Pooh is fabulous in our house right now;
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Reid knows all of the food, even Saturday’s feast;
• Disney Babies at the Big Circus: A Book about Opposites, twice, and then I balked at a third time. Ken did his two readings as well;
• In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming, a book with good illustrations and good sounds;
• The Wildlife ABC & 123: A Nature Alphabet & Counting Book by Jan Thornhill, with lots of familiar animals and some unusual ones, too;
• Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins, of Maisy fame. It has the same brightly coloured illustrations and hand-lettered words; and
• Maisy’s Rainbow Dream, also by Lucy Cousins. Ken’s assessment was that the author was tripping on something.

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January 29, 2007 by Barbara.

We started the day with Ken reading The Count’s Poem by Ray Sipherd.

Later we read:

• One Day, Daddy by Frances Thomas, twice, once by Ken and once by me;
• Your Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton, a new addition to the series that meets expectations;
• Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, Reid and I continued to enjoy that spunky duck’s daring to try the bicycle;
• Mon gateau d’anniversaire by Olivia George, in which it turns out that getting what you want is not as good as getting a cake that your mom makes;
• Count! by Denise Fleming; and
• Jasper the Cat (no author), a book we have been reading for a couple of years now.

At bedtime, I read:

• Going on a Field Trip, a Read and Roll book;
• A Tune-Up for Toby, a Read and Roll book;
• Which Way to School, a Read and Roll book;
• all of the stories in Munschworks 2, The Second Munsch Treasury, including:
• Pigs, about which I am not sure given the words the little girl uses but I like the message of not underestimating others;
• Mortimer, and who can resist the “Clang, clang, rattle bing, bang;
• Purple, Green and Yellow, I’m not sure about reading a story about a girl who colours people with markers but if Munsch wrote it, I read it;
• Murmel, Murmel, Murmel, a story I definitely like because the little girl is strong and the truck driver is the hero; and
• Something Good, which is a bit far-fetched but shows that Daddies know that their daughters are indeed “good”.

I couln’t believe that Reid sat still for all of the stories and I thought some of them were maybe over her head but sit she did. After we read all of these stories, we took another trip to the bathroom and Reid settled down to sleep.

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January 29, 2007 by Barbara.

Reid has been providing lots of positive feedback lately, to herself and to Ken and me. It is cute to hear her “I did it!” when she gets on the toilet all by herself. But it’s a bit funny to hear her say, ”Mama, you did it!” with a great big smile when I something like open a jar lid. Reid is a positive force in our lives, of that there is no doubt.

 Reid is also aware of people’s roles in life. As we left daycare on Friday, I told her that I needed her help to pick up some groceries. Reid giggled and said that she was going to get groceries by herself. I offered to help but she said “no” and giggled again. After we exchanged a few, “I don’t think so” and “Det groceries by self” with lots of laughter, Reid said, “Daddy det groceries” and dissolved into giggles. I laughed because Reid’s sense of the absurd is so strongly developed. Had she said, “I don’t think so, Vern,” it wouldn’t have been any clearer. She knows that Daddy doesn’t like going into the grocery stores. He is still scarred by all those hours working in grocery stores while going to school. It’s a good thing she sees both of us doing most other chores, though I am not sure she has ever seen me do laundry.

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January 26, 2007 by Barbara.

We read Caillou Sounds by Frances Morgan and Jemima Puddleduck by Beatrix Potter in the tub this morning. I wonder how long Reid will enjoy bath tub books. These two are so simple that there is much to talk about and they’re never the same twice.

The latest Scholastic Book order at daycare came in. We managed to limit ourselves to only eight but three were packaged as a set. There’s no question where our money goes.

We read:

• D is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine, an alphabet book that introduces concepts and artifacts relating to the Chinese New Year. There is also a recipe for “New Year’s Dumpling Delight” that I think that we will try;
• Skidamarink: The “I love you” song illustrated by Jacqueline East that features winter images of bears being loving, from a mother taking a child’s temperature and a father singing and playing the piano with a child;
• World’s Greatest Mom (no author), from our collection; and
• The Cow who Clucked by Denise Fleming, a library book that must soon go back but will be visiting our house again soon.

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January 26, 2007 by Barbara.

I’m sure that one of use read something to Reid but I am afraid that the excitement of me going to the Emergency Room and being diagnosed with pneumonia has blocked my memory. Ken was alone with Reid until nearly seven and they always spend time reading but he doesn’t record the books and I have to watch them like a hawk to know what he is reading. I don’t think he feels too much like he is being stalked ;+)

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January 26, 2007 by Barbara.

We often start the day by reading to Reid while she uses the potty. It helps her relax to do what she needs to do and makes for a nice transition between sleeping and rushing to get ready for daycare. I read The Shy Little Kitten by Cathleen Shurr and then jumped in the shower. Ken read and then started The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch before being shutdown with a “No, Daddy” and got a little bit further with The Count’s Poem by Ray Sipherd. She did allow him to read Hippos Go Beserk by Sandra Boynton. I think she’s heard this one most days in the last week. I need to rotate the bathroom collection.

We also read:

• Best Father of All by Peter Horn, with lots of pond animals and insects;
• Farmer Will by Jane Cowen-Fletcher, a book that I picked up at a close-out bookstore when Reid was tiny. It has beautiful watercolour illustrations and is a real tribute to a child’s imagination;
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems and Reid and I looked for the “clues” in the illustration as to what happens to Knuffle Bunny once we found out that she was in the washing machine;
• The Farm (no author) (twice) that Reid likes for the googly-eyes that one of the characters on each page shares. I’m a bit of a snob as I wrote about the inaccuracies already but Reid likes it and the pictures offer lots to discuss; and
• Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin Jr and illustrated by Eric Carle I don’t think that it reads as well as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? perhaps because the animals aren’t familiar enough for Reid to predict but as we read it, I guess she’ll learn them. It’s about endangered animals and so that will us something to discuss in years to come.

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January 22, 2007 by Barbara.

We got back to more of our normal routine today. We read:

• Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore’s House by A.A. Milne;
• Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch out of one of our Munschworks Treasuries;
• Where’s That Cat? by Eve Merriam;
• Chirp, Bedtime Fun issue of Reid’s first magazine;
• Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin, the author of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type and others in this theme that are all a delight to read;
• Olivia’s Opposites by Ian Falconer, twice and then I refused to read it again and instead convinced her that Olivia Counts, also by Ian Falconer, was equally good because I have trouble re-reading books I can recite;
• Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett, a beautifully illustrated board book that has main illustrations that match the text and then a side story that is told in the margins. Oddly, for me, the words “Run, run as fast you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man” never appear; and
• Maisy at the Fair by Lucy Cousins, which Ken read a total of five times, in two sittings. He likes the straight-forward text and Reid seemed to agree.

A  number of the books above were hiding in our basement just waiting for Reid to be bigger enough to follow their stories. I brought them up on Sunday. I will have to set aside some board books that are too simple for her, soon. But not yet.

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January 22, 2007 by Barbara.

With Grandma Joyce and Uncle Roger here until Saturday, Reid had books read to her whenever she even hinted that she might want a book read to her. Unfortunately for the purposes of this book diary, I have been feeling crumby and so haven’t done a very good job at recording what was read. Today, the cleaners came and and put the books I had piled up according to the day we read them onto the shelves. Normally, seeing the books lined up on the shelf makes me happy. Darn them and their tidy tendencies.I have some pretty vivd memories of Grandma Joyce reading Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain many times over. I am not sure what inspires Reid to choose this book but she often does and she listens intently to the story of Sister Bear and her loose tooth and Brother Bear and his check up and cavity to be filled.

I did note that we also read the following:

• Hippos Go Beserk by Sandra Boynton;
• I Love My Daddy Because .. by Laura Porter Gaylord;
• Chitter Chatter by David Crossley;
• I know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson;
• Won’t You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder;
• Giddy-up! by Susan James;
• Mirs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm by Joy Cowley;
• Animal Serencade by Susan James Frye, one of our new Kindermusik books, which tells the story of a number of animals and has a song for each. Reid is fast-learning the text and words between me reading and singing and listening to the CD as she travels to and from daycare. I am really not a good singer but she doesn’t mind;
• Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems (who also wrote Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and other fun books featuring the pigeon). Leonardo is a monster who isn’ta very good monster but who is a good friend to a sad boy. The art work is minimalist and the book hand-lettered;
• Where’s Your Smile Crocodile? by Claire Freedman;
• Cluck O’Clock by Kes Gray;
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems. I had forgotten that Mo Willems also wrote this book about a trip that a dad and a kid and a stuffed animal take to a laundromat where the bunny is lost. As the little girl (I think) tries unsuccessfully to communicate her problem to her dad, she is “forced to go boneless”. I love that phrase and also the depiction of non-traditional family life in that they live in a dense urban setting; and
• there were many more that I didn’t get recorded.

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