Our plan this summer, is to go to our library, weekly, or almost every week. All three kids, yes, there are 3 of them (9 year old Amy, 5 year old Anna, and 3 year old Andrew), have signed up for the summer reading program at the local library.
Amy surprised me, by signing up to read 11 (eleven) books by the end of the summer. I don’t think that is a plausible goal, but, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and left her to her own goals. So, for the past 10 days (we didn’t get a chance to go back this past week), she has been reading EVERY SINGLE DAY! Amy found a series of books, that she can read, and that interest her. She has decided to tackle the American Girl Doll series, this summer. Of course, she had to start with Meet Kit Kittredge, because of the movie that just came out.
She will read, and then, stop and tell me all about what she had read so far! She is so excited about reading. You do not know how big this is for us. This is a child who has struggled so long, with reading, that, I had almost given up hope of her knowing that joy, when you open a book, and become absorped into that world in between the pages. Knowing, that you should have turned the light out hours ago, but, you just want to read one more chapter, then, hours later, you only have a few to go, so, you want to finish the book, even though it is almost 3 am. Finally, having that ability to be able to read those funny characters in that book, by herself, has opened up that door!
So, thank you, Kit, and your American Girl Doll friends! I hope that we learn all about each of you! I hope that Amy picks up the Little House on the Praire books, and gets to read all of them, and The Boxcar Children are more than welcome anytime. Later, Nancy Drew, are you still around? Maybe even one day, she can read the Harry Potter books that I totally devoured over the past winter. And, Heidi, oh, I hope she can read all about you, too!
Reading is more than being able to get through school, it is a neccessary part of life. And, it can be a wonderful recreational, relaxing activity. I have so many wonderful memories, of all the books that I read as a child, and as an adult. I can get lost in a book. I hope that Amy will continue this wonderful new adventure!
