Florid's probably not exactly the right word but I don't have any flower photos to show you just yet and I'm planning to show you some words so florid seemed workable within the parameters.
For Christmas I usually get Alita a book. This year I had trouble deciding so I got her two. I realized that she didn't have any Shel Silverstein. She's been studying poetry in school and it reminded me that every kid should have Where The Sidewalk Ends. And yet, we had this long conversation about Charlie & The Chocolate Factory while we were in a bookstore. After seeing the movie (new version) she felt it would be too scary. I tried to explain without saying, "Tim Burton and Johnny Depp missed some really important things." Eventually she bought it and started reading it on the train right after. So I wanted to buy her some more Roald Dahl because every kid should have some of that, too, but do I buy her James & The Giant Peach because it was one of my favorites or do I buy her Matilda because the protagonist is a girl even though I've never read it so can't vouch for its goodness directly. I went with the peach because...TRAPPED IN A PEACH PIT WITH YOUR ECCENTRIC AUNTS, I mean, how could I not?
Apparently I did OK. She immediately began reading James and has been reading the Silverstein aloud to her mother since Christmas. Today I got an e-mail from her mom that included this Alita quote, "Aunt Kizzy knows what books to get. She gets good books!"
As far as I'm concerned there is no higher praise.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Fucking Florid Friday
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
There IS no higher praise.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Ya done great and she will get started on her reading life in precisely the right way.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, by the way - all the best to you for 09!
No higher praise.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Sister Christian.
And, by the way, JRHJr's Mom thinks Auntie Kizzy knows what books to get as well.
Silverstein rocks.
May I suggest THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH? It was one of my favorites when I was young. Back in the Bronze Age.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. You've given us (or The Boy, anyway) two of my favorite "children's" books.
ReplyDeleteI adore "Amos and Otis". It actually made me cry the first time I read it. I love the detail in the book and the drawings. It's smart and sweet.
And "The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming" is just freaking hilarious. "It's a completely different thing! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Yeah. Good books are the best best best gift.
ReplyDeleteBooks are totally the best gifts.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a little young for her now but I still read Bunnicula and laugh right out load.
Good choices on all the books!
Books are fabulous. If she likes those, she'd probably groove on The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka. He also wrote the True Story of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf's perspective.
ReplyDeleteCool Aunts are the bomb!
I love Uncle Shelby! Good pick on the books, Kizz.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my favorites are From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg and of course, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I haven't read those books in ages. I may have to go head to the bookstore myself!
Can I just say that I LOVE buying books for kids? I DO! I love it! I'm so glad that you guys love the books I've given, too.
ReplyDeleteMan, Harriet the Spy! I can't believe I haven't given her that! Also, I haven't read Frankweiler. I probably need to do that. I think she has Stinky Cheese Man but if she doesn't we have to rectify!
Oh, god, do you know what else I haven't read all the way through? The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming. I've got to come to your house, MAB, and read it to the boy so I can get the full glory of it. I just didn't have time before I wrapped it and I trusted Mr. Snicket to do the job. Whew!