A Curious Choice for an Idle

 

"This is George.  George was a good little monkey and always very curious."

Today Beau decided to take a nice LOOOONG nap, so I was finally able to get some reading done!  I read 100 pages!  Now I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but when I haven't been able to get through more than 10 pages in one sitting for the last seven months, it is pretty much a miracle.   

When he was awake I decided to look through his books.  Yes, he has an entire bookshelf in his room, and it is FULL!  I do realize that he is 7 months old, but the love of reading starts young!  The problem is that he only likes 1 series of books.  Curious George.  

Now, I don't know if this is because his dad is tall and skinny like the man in the yellow hat.  Or if I should be scared about the fact that he will soon be mobile.  I mean, if George is his idle, I have a lot of messes, small disasters and mini adventures in my future.  This could be bad.  Very, very bad.  

I am leaning towards the man in the yellow hat theory, because I know that although George always causes a problem, he always helps fix it!  He accepts responsibility.  He is helpful, and polite.  George has a love of learning.  That is why he is so curious, right?  He just wants to know about all these different things he has never seen before.  This is exactly how I want Beau to be!  Turns out George is a great idle!  I just never thought of him that way before today.

So bring on those messes and the mini adventures. I'm ready.  I just really don't want to wear the big yellow hat.

George has had a lot of adventures over the years.  There is one of everyone.  Here are just a few of George's exploits.  

                                          Curious George Gets a Medal                                         

Curious George Takes a Job

Curious George Goes to School

Curious George Makes Pancakes

Curious George Feeds the Animals

Curious George Goes to a Costume Party

Curious George Takes a Train

Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory

Curious George and the Firefighters

Curious George and the puppies

Curious George  Visits a Toy Store

Curious George and the Dump Truck

Curious George and the Birthday Surprise

Curious George Goes Camping

Curious George Visits the Library 

Curious George in the Big City

      

I need to go the bookstore

While my little man was napping I decided to look around on Pinterest.  I know.  I should have been reading, but oh well, that ship has sailed.  BUT I found another great reading list!  This time for my little man!  I was so excited!  

Growing up, I loved sitting in my room and reading.  I had this grate on the floor that the hot air would come out of in the winter.  I would wedge myself in that corner, feet on the grate, and wait for that wonderful, warm air to turn on and make my little reading nook all toasty.  

I read everything in that corner.  I was introduced to both Narnia and Hogwarts.  I fought crimes with Alex Cross, Lindsay Boxer and Kay Scarpetta.  There were so many stories devoured in that corner, that I can't even remember half of the books I read.  (So now I have a list on my computer.  It is just easier to keep track that way.) And ever since I found out I was pregnant, I was hoped that my son would have the same love of reading that I have always had.  That is why I am hoping that this amazing list will help little Beau grow in his love of reading.  

This list is courtesy of chasingsupermom.com.  Let me know what you think about it.  Are there any books that you loved as a child that are missing?

1. Matilda by Roald Dahl

2. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

3. Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary

4. Holes by Louis Sachar

5. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

6. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

7. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

8. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

9. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards

10. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

11. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

12. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

13. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

14. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

15. 5 Children and It by E. Nesbit

16. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien

17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

18. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson

19. The Borrowers by Mary Norton

20. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson

21. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

22. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

23. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

24. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

25. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

26. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

27. Stuart Little by E.B. White

28. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater

29. The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain

30. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

31. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

32. The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth

33. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

34. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

35. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

36. Ramona and her Mother by Beverly Cleary

37. George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl

38. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

39. Frindle by Andrew Clements

40. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

41. Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

42. Mandy by Julie Edwards

43. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

44. All-of-aKind Family by Sydney Taylor

45. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

46. Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand

47. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

48. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

49. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol

50. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

51. The Field Guide: Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

52. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

53. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Crowell

54. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

55. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

56. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

57. Loser by Jerry Spinelli

58. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

59. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

60. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

61. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

62. The BFG by Roald Dahl

63. Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker

64. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

65. The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

66. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

67. Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

68. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

69. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

70. Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary

71. The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit

72. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

73. The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

74. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

75. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

76.  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

77. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

78. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

79. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

80. The Great Brain by John Dennis Fitzgerald

81. Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

82. The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Sciezska

83. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

84. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

85. Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White

86. Sounder by William H. Armstrong

87. The Littles by John Peterson

88. Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

89. The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick

90. A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

91. No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

92. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

93. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies

94. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

95. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

96. Henry Reed Inc. by Keith Robertson

97. Tornado by Betsy Byars

98. Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith

99. The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

100. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett    


I have highlighted the books on the list that I remember reading.  Turns out I did not read that many children's books as a child.  Murder mysteries were just a lot more interesting I guess.   

My little spit fire and my never ending "To Read" list

I have not posted in almost 6 months.  I have not been able to read more than half of a novel.  I AM HAVING WITHDRAWALS!  Now, my inability to read has not been for a lack of trying.  I blame this guy.

But he is so cute, you say.  And so sweet.  Yes, he is.  But he is also the world's smallest, most powerful ball of energy!  He does not like to sit still and be read too.  He does not like to play by himself for more than 2 minutes.  He likes to have a running conversation all day every day.  And it is for that reason that I have only managed to read half of A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin in the last 6 months.  He is currently learning to play a bit more by himself, so hopefully soon. I will be able to get back to some of my hobbies.  I will try and keep you updated on a more regular basis.

Sadly, I have a giant list of books sitting on my night table waiting for my attention.  This list includes:

1. Clockwork Princess
2. A Storm of Swords 
3. A Feast of Crows
4. Dead Ever After: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel
5. Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood Novel)
6. Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood Novel)
7. City of Fallen Angels
8. City of Lost Souls

See?  I told you it was a large list.  Before my son was born this would have been my summer reading list.  Now my goal is to get it done by the end of the year.  Fingers crossed, right?  

If you were a demigod...?

Statue of King Neptune (Poseidon) that is found at the oceanfront in my hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Each year the city has a Neptune Festival to celebrate the end of the summer season.
Courtesy of http://www.virginia-beach-vacations.com/King-Neptune.html.

Lately Beau and I have been reading a lot of Rick Riordan, who writes about Greek and Roman mythology in a modern setting.  And it got me to thinking, if you were a demigod who would you want to be your godly parent?

One of Riordan's main characters, Percy Jackson, is descended from Poseidon, so he is able to control water, talk to horses, and has a cyclopes for a half brother.  I think my favorite of his abilities is that he is able to breath underwater.  Could you imagine?  There are so many amazing things that you could discover!  You would be able to swim with sharks, or search for the most amazing seashells.  It would be like watching the Discovery Channel all the time!

But Poseidon would have to be my second choice. (Sorry, King Neptune!)  I think if I was a demigod I would secretly hope that my godly parent was Athena.  Yes, she is the goddess of wisdom, but she is also the goddess of pottery and CRAFTS!  I love a good crafting day!  Currently I am knitting my son and husband both new blankets!  Last week I made Christmas trees out of my old wine corks.  And although, I am still a novice when it comes to knitting, it is definitely one of my favorite past times.

As goddess of wisdom Athena also advocates reading, which we all know is where my heart lies.  I currently have three books on hold at my local library, and I am in dire need of new bookcases for my guest room.  All the extra books are littering the floor in my basement.  My husband says I am a book hoarder, but even after I read a book, I can't part with it.  

So who would you want to be your parent if you were a demigod?  I have attached a list that is just some of the Gods worshiped in Ancient Greece and Rome.  Keep in mind that if you can't find a god on this list there are many lesser gods such as Khione, the goddess of snow.  

This image can be found on http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Mythology/.  Once you are on this website, you can clock on any of the gods to find characteristics about them.  This image also shows the gods' family tree.  If you wish to learn more about the gods, goddesses and their stories there are many websites and books to help you out.  Riordan's stories are a great way to introduce mythology to your little one.  At the end of each novel is a glossary of terms to help you keep the gods, goddesses, and lesser mythological creatures straight.  

 

My New Fascination With Reading Aloud

I have always loved reading, but hated reading aloud! My brain ends up going faster then I can speak, and I end up getting EXTREMELY tongue tied.  But now my six week old little man loves hearing mom's and dad's voices, so despite my better judgement, I have had to take up reading aloud.   So far we have participated in A Game of Thrones and searched for an identity with The Lost Hero.  Currently we are living in a Southern small town surrounded by love, witchcraft, and Beautiful Creatures.  From time to time, I feel strange reading mature books to my son, but then I wonder if the more difficult story lines will grow his imagination or if the more mature vocabulary will allow him to develop a larger vocabulary.  Will the Greek and Roman mythology in Rick Riordan's stories seep into his growing little brain and allow him to learn ancient history while hearing an amazing story of heroism for young adults?  I truly hope so!  I hope that the reading time we have already begun will allow him to develop a love of reading that will only grow as he grows.  Fingers crossed!     

The books mentioned in this posting are:

• A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
• This is the first novel in "A Song of Fire and Ice" series, and is now a television show in it's third season on HBO.  Each of the novels is around 1,000 pages long, but the story is defiantly worth the time it takes to get through each novel.  This one was difficuly to read aloud because of the difficult names involved, but it was worth it.    
• The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
• The first novel in "The Heroes of Olympus" series is the second series by Riordan that features the Greek demigods attending Camp Half-Blood.  The first is the best selling Percy Jackson series.   I recommend starting with the Percy Jackson series (You will not be disappointed), and then moving onto the Heroes series (Some of the characters and story lines overlap).  I am really looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Son of Neptune.  Riordan also has a third series entitled "The Kane Chronicles" that features ancient Egypt.  I have yet to read this series, but I wish history class had left my on the end of my seat as much as Riordan's stories do!    
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• I picked up this book because of a pin that I found on Pinterest (Yes, I follow libraries on Pinterest.  It is a great way to find new book recommendations).  It recommended reading this book before the movie comes out on Valentine's Day 2013.  Although Beau and I have only just begun the first novel in this best selling series, we are already really enjoying it.  It is a fresh change of pace to read a novel with a love story line told from the male's point of view.