I take a book everywhere. I’m sort of a compulsive reader. I read in the shower (doesn’t everyone read the ingredient list on their shampoo bottle?), I read my car’s owner’s manual, I read instructions to all my gadgets. So, leaving on a trip without a book would be unthinkable to me.
The day before our trip, I made a quick run to the library. The last minute decision to go on the conference made it impossible for me to research, make a list and put books on reserve like I normally do before I hit the library. This trip, I just had to grab something that looked good.
Familiar authors are one thing I scan for when I’m choosing something quick. Another thing is a good-looking cover (yeah, I judge books by their covers) or a catchy title.
I grabbed The Story Sisters because I had read Alice Hoffman before.
I read it during the few naps Tess managed on the way. It was really good.
When I turned around once on the trip and saw my daughter reading a Hannah Montana book, I inwardly groaned. That’s what I get for not picking out their books in the library.
When we stopped a Walmart, I went to the book section. Again, a familiar author caught my eye. Kate DiCamillo. We loved reading Because of Winn-Dixie and then we listened to the audio book The Tale of Despereaux. I was excited to see one we hadn’t read, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
I offered it up to my daughter excitedly.
Later, I noticed she had only read the first few pages. On the way home, I finished it myself and made a decision to read it aloud when we got home. I knew it was something all the kids would enjoy.
Over at the Homeschool Post today, I talk about why I still read aloud to my kids and how, left own their own they would rarely choose a good book to read.
It can be discouraging because I always assumed that since I love to read, my kids would too. But there is something to be said for reading aloud. The pleasure we get from hearing a book together is like taking a trip together. We all experience it at the same time, and I think, though I don’t know for sure just yet, but I have a feeling it will leave a more lasting impression.
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