I volunteered to read at my kids' elementary school for Dr. Seuss's Read across America day. I was still running around in the morning when I asked my youngest son to pick out some books for me to take to read. Turns out they all weren't the books I would have chosen. (My favorites tend to be cutesy and sentimental.) Oh, well, I gathered my kids into the car and we were off. At school, I learned I wouldn't be reading to my sons' classes, another oh well, I couldn't change minutes before the readings. I was hoping my youngest wouldn't be too disappointed.
The first book I read was Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. Normally, when I read picture books to my boys at night, they listen quietly while we're huddled together in bed. To my surprise and delight, the third graders in class hung on every word. By a show of hands only two of them had read the book before. They gasped and commented about how mean Lilly was to her baby brother Julius. Some little girls in the class looked disapprovingly and shook their heads in disbelief as I read the story. But they were all happy with the sweet ending. It was such a roller coaster ride of emotions.
I read Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest and Anita Jeram next. This one is one of my favorites and was also new to most of the students. We all thought it was cute.
The room was full of "Oh my gosh" and shock again when I read A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon. They just about screamed or covered their mouths when Camilla blended into the walls of her bedroom, and when she turned into a pill. I chimed in, "I hope that never happens to me." And they responded, "Me too!" From their reactions, you would have thought I told them it was all based on a true story.
I left Julius and A Bad Case of Stripes for the class. They earned it since I had never enjoyed those two books as much as I did that day.
The first book I read was Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. Normally, when I read picture books to my boys at night, they listen quietly while we're huddled together in bed. To my surprise and delight, the third graders in class hung on every word. By a show of hands only two of them had read the book before. They gasped and commented about how mean Lilly was to her baby brother Julius. Some little girls in the class looked disapprovingly and shook their heads in disbelief as I read the story. But they were all happy with the sweet ending. It was such a roller coaster ride of emotions. 
I read Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest and Anita Jeram next. This one is one of my favorites and was also new to most of the students. We all thought it was cute.
The room was full of "Oh my gosh" and shock again when I read A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon. They just about screamed or covered their mouths when Camilla blended into the walls of her bedroom, and when she turned into a pill. I chimed in, "I hope that never happens to me." And they responded, "Me too!" From their reactions, you would have thought I told them it was all based on a true story.
I left Julius and A Bad Case of Stripes for the class. They earned it since I had never enjoyed those two books as much as I did that day.
Comments
Post a Comment