My two-year-old is at that age where he loves to read the same books over and over again. And I’m happy to oblige. Reading aloud has been one of my favorite activities for many years now. So when Jadon brings me a book, I try to pause what I’m doing if at all possible and read to him. I know I won’t get to feel his little curly head leaned up against my shoulder and see his little upturned face as he turns back to the beginning and waits for me to start over again. As long as you read the right sorts of books (as C. S. Lewis would urge), than re-reading 50 times a day is not only worthwhile, it becomes endearing with repetition. (At least, most of the time.)
I know I’ve recommended a few of these books before, but they are worth mentioning again.
Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.
So he said to his mother, “I am running away.”
“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you.
For you are my little bunny.”
Ah, The Runaway Bunny. Can a parent read that line and fail to be moved? Can a Christian parent read that line and fail to thank God that He is such a Parent? Talk about good for the soul! The whole book follows the story of a bunny who resists and runs, and the patient mother rabbit who follows and finds. Excellent stuff. And Margaret Wise Brown is a favorite of mine.
“When Jack McTavish married sweet Marion McGillicuddy, they counted their money and talked things over seriously. ‘We can either afford a speedy new car that never breaks down, or we can have lots of children,’ said Jack McTavish. ‘What a pity we can’t have both.’ ‘Perhaps we can have a few children–just six or seven—and get by with an old rattlebang,’ suggested the new Mrs. McTavish.”
The Rattlebang Picnic is a great pick! Coming from a large family, I especially love this book. It details the adventures of a family whose family quirks and creativity ultimately come to their rescue when they must escape from a volcanic eruption. 🙂 Zany family fun at its best. 🙂
Despite the creepy cover, Fanny’s Dream is a really great book. I like this review I found online: “Fanny is a hard working farm girl, who dreams of marrying a handsome prince. But when Heber proposes, Fanny decides to give up her dream. She and Heber are happy, raising children and laughing by the firelight. Then one night, Fanny’s fairy godmother shows up. Fanny’s Dream is about shedding girlhood fantasies and working to fill real life with love and laughter.” Amen.
And this is not a kids’ book, but it’s a nice one to have if you can find it. I found mine at a book recycling program, so it was free to me. But it’s not too expensive on Amazon, etc. It’s a book from 1950 that has some great ideas for how to have family fun. The advice is well-grounded and reading it, you feel like you really CAN do something with your children besides plop them in front on a mobile device to watch netflix! 🙂 Relevant ideas for those who want to live simply. It’s not too expensive, either. Check it out here or here.
That’s all for today! Stay tuned for more book recommendations in the future!