Family Chatter

We  ♥ (Recorded) Books

This month, in a tribute to the recently deceased Bil Keaton, creator of the "Family Circus" carton, I am going to let Katherine (9) and Robert (6) write the column. They love to read after all, and if Billy could "draw" the cartoon once in awhile, surely my two kids can "write" this for me. Here goes!

Hi, this is Katherine! Reading is wonder($#){J$@:!!N<>>>>>>!!

rObert tyPINGNOw. THE LiBRraY is gre**()))####!!!

All right, never mind, they couldn't handle it—pushing, shoving, and a laptop nearly on the floor was all that came of this experiment. Come to think of it, I was never all that impressed with Billy's efforts, either...

Back to the topic of reading and libraries, where should I start? I'm a library lover from way back (free books! free music! free movies! Everything there is free, free, free--what's not to love?!) Since they were both tiny babies, I've taken Katherine and Robert to the local library on a regular basis and we regularly emerge with stacks of books (traditional and on CD) along with a few movies.

"Good for you," you may be thinking, "with your two happy readers...my kids are reluctant to read." I have three words for you: books on CD. Tell them the car DVD player is broken or just "on vacation" and pop a recorded book in the next time you are out and about in the car. Not only will the kids be listening to great stories, so will you! In fact, you choose the books...or at least that is my rule. We've enjoyed stories about Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald, all the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, a few Magic Treehouse books by Mary Pope Osbourne, and many more.

Granted, we had to start out with a few more "baby-ish"' books when Robert was a new five and we were just beginning to try recorded books. Some Seuss and Mercy Watson were on the repertoire at that point, but it was a brief phase and I've been surprised at how much he understands of the more difficult books I now pick. Sure, we have to pause the stories pretty regularly so that he can ask questions but all I have to do is remind Katherine that our alternative is a return to "Mercy Watson!" (stories about a pig who loves buttered toast) and she is usually willing to put up with the interruptions.

And, yes, there've been a few poor choices on my part...most recently I tried My Friend Flicka and discovered that none of us liked it much. But for every miss, there are numerous hits and we find that the time in the car passes much more quickly when Ramona, Fudge, or Horrible Harry is keeping us company. Unlike the fate of parents who have to listen to the DVD blaring behind them, I can also enjoy the story and fully understand it.

Quiet kids in the back seat, happy mom in the front, wonderful stories to enjoy while driving around town or on longer road trips... and it's all free, free, free. Thank goodness, I say, for the library, and for all the fantastic stories it has shared with us. Here's to many more hours spent meeting new friends and having new adventures thanks to books on CD.

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