Snippets: Read Aloud Thursday edition

Here are two of the books that I've recently read with Bookworm1 (age 3 3/4) over the course of the past month. I figured I'd just share both and a quick opinion and link it up to Read Aloud Thursday over at Hope is in the Word.

LIKED

We read Penny and Peter , by Carolyn Haywood and both enjoyed it. (It certainly didn't help that there is a picture of two little boys catching crabs on the front cover!) I had mentioned that I rediscovered a favorite childhood author, Carolyn Haywood, recently. I picked up a copy of Primrose Day (linked to my review) and Penny and Peter at the same time. I decided to see how Penny and Peter (both boys) would go over with Bookworm1.

I'm happy to say it went over well. It tells the story of two little boys who were adopted by their Mommy and Daddy. (Ok. Already we can find something to identify with!) The story is set in the late 1940's and recounts the adventures of brothers Peter and Penny as they spend their summer vacation at the beach, interact with their neighbor and friend's dog, and spend weekends in a log cabin. (Again, we can find things to identify with!)

The story is laid out in an almost simplistic manner, with simple sentences, making it sound like a picture book. I think that helped draw Bookworm1 into the story because it was told in a manner that he could easily identify with and connect with. There are ten chapters in this 141 page book and I think we spent about a week with these boys. I asked Bookworm1 if he liked it in the end and he replied in the positive.

I like it because it honors family and fun times. I highly recommend Haywood for a good story!

DIDN'T LIKE

We first attempted reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle (linked to my earlier remarks) back in JUNE! We gave up about half way through as we both just found it hard to identify with. I know, I know, it's Beverly Clearly and I think that means we're supposed to love it but we just didn't. The book just had an attitude that parents were stupid and inconvenient and I just didn't really care what happened with Ralph.

Bookworm1 is having some second thoughts about reading chapter books of late though so I offered a bribe to read through one with me and offered up The Mouse and the Motorcycle as one of his reading options. He selected it based solely on the merit that we were already almost halfway through with it.

In the end, we were both glad to be done with it but for different reasons. I hate starting books and not finishing them so I was glad to make it to the end. Bookworm1 was glad to obtain his promised treat for having completely read through yet another chapter book.

I don't think I'll push another chapter book on him until the new Tumtum & Nutmeg comes out (in just a couple of weeks!) and that won't feel so forced because we BOTH love those particular little mice.

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To see what others are reading aloud with their kids, visit Hope is in the Word - and/or play along yourself!