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ne of my fond memories from my childhood is my parents, especially my dad, reading a story to my sister and I before going to bed. Being my sister is five years younger than I am, the stories were generally more geared for her age. My favorite book when I was young was Tikki Tikki Tembo
by Arlene Morsel, a Chinese folktale of story of how the Chinese decided to give their children much shorter names, rather than long names, as in this story of Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo! I loved repeating that name, as quickly as I could, getting the giggles with my sister. We’d make up various names of what our name would be like if we had such long names. Of course, this is a book our family owns and loves.
Today I am participating with the Parent Bloggers Network and Highlights Magazine in writing on “Blast from the Past” and how we as parents engage in activities with our children that we did as a kid. Reading for me is definitely a big one. Though my parents would read Bible stories, they read the fluff, meaningless books too. Sometimes as a homeschool mom, I can get caught up in having the kids read books that will teach them something and/or of a strong spiritual sense. It’s fun to just break away from that and read some nonsense, meaningless books – which make for some fun reading time, making memories and giggles galore. Here are few we just found recently that our younger kids loved.
This delightful book, Snog the Frogby Tony Bonning, is a twist on the story of kissing a frog and it becoming a prince. Instead, this frog, Snog, goes about asking a cow, a sheep, a snake and a pig each for a kiss, and the replies include “Who? You? No! Go!” and he does not get a kiss from them. But what happens when a true princess kisses him? Though a silly book, and we did have to discuss about name calling from the story, we also were able to learn a lesson in be accepted the way God created us.
Here’s another fun book, Diary of a Fly, by Doreen Cronin. Okay, so it’s hard for me not to mention homeschooling, even with a silly book, but this is a diary – or journal, of a fly, and it’s inspired my younger children to write in their journals, even if it’s silly things at times, or when they don’t have ANYTHING to write! This frog writes about his first day of school, getting stuck on a strip of flypaper, and many other adventures. Each page is dated for his journal. The only hesitation I have with this book is mention of “superheros” which is our personal conviction of only one Superhero / Superior in our lives. (But shhhhh . . . for the homeschool mom in me . . . you can learn things too . . . like flies have 4000 lenses in each eye and wings beat 200 times per second!) There are other books by this author, including, Diary of a Spider and Diary of a Worm.
No, David! by David Shannon has been one of our favorite silly books lately – because we can relate so well to it, especially with a one year old baby! So, when we read this book, we insert our baby’s name instead, or when we are in a real silly mood, it’s one of the older kid’s names (or maybe even daddy – of course, not mama!). In this book, David tracks mud through the living room, gets into the cookie jar and various other adventures! In one picture you see a very nice vase on a coffee table, and the next page – it’s shattered on the floor. Beware! There is nudity! A typical little boy escaping outdoors with nothing on, running down the street. (Yes, I have had one of these embarrassing moments with my children.) Despite all the repetition of “No, David” throughout the story, at the end, you find his mom hugging him with the final words of “Yes, David . . . I love you”. We have discovered other books by this author as well, including more book about David titled, David Gets in Trouble; David Smells: A Diaper David Book!; and Oh David!
What are memories of your childhood that you share with your children now? Was Highlights Magazine a part of your childhood? Though I never had a subscription to one, I always enjoyed reading it at the doctor’s office or at school. My favorite part of this magazine was finding the hidden pictures. Highlights Magazine is now celebrating 60 years of publication and are now introducing a new magazine called High Five, geared for children ages 2-6. Also, take a look at the Parent Bloggers Network and read other bloggers “Blast from the Past” memories.
~ by Loni on March 7, 2008.
Those are some of my son’s favorite books.
I remember reading Hightlights Magazine as a child. I didn’t have a subscription either, but also read Highlights Magazone at the doctor’s office.