BRAW*

Dylan,

While you revel in the repetitiveness of reading the same board books night after night, I long for the time when I can cuddle with you in bed as we make our way through a children's novel night after night, chapter by chapter. Don't get me wrong, I cherish the reading time, and you've taken to it so well, often climbing into bed to get a head start on your own and "reading it in my head" as you say, while I tear myself away from the post cooking clean-up to come in your room and settle in with you. But I'm anxious to get to Harry Potter and the likes.

A couple weeks ago I came across a collection of short stories brought back from Scotland for you last year by Aunt Lisa's Mom, Nora. I had set it aside for some time in the future when you would be ready for a book without pictures and many paragraphs per page. As I looked, I wondered when that would be, and ultimately decided to give it a try soon.

Climbing under the covers I explained to you we were going to read a different kind of book, one for older children. I reviewed the no pictures and lots of words on the page thing, explaining that you had to just listen to the story and imagine the pictures in your head. I also explained that the stories in this book were all written by authors living in Scotland, and that some of the language and words would be unfamiliar to us because different countries have different expressions for the same things. I worried that all this was a little abstract to you, but you took it in stride and seemed eager to start.

Reading through the first story, you listened intently, and not once did it seem you were bored or having any difficulty following what I was saying. I was really impressed, while at the same time excited about the possibilities your ability might bring to our reading sessions. I was also a little frustrated with myself for not trying this sooner. I enjoyed the story, and it was fun to explain to you the language variations it presented. A few days later you asked for the same story again, describing the general plot of the story so as to help me understand which story you were referring to. Now I was very surprised. Your comprehension and retention were truly impressive.

Now we're slowly making our way through the book, and I'm on the prowl for "series books" for the 5 and up crowd.

I'd love to entertain suggestions...

Love,
Mom

* BRAW is a network of Scottish children's writers and illustrators, who originally came together to promote books, reading and writing, by authors and illustrators living in Scotland, to Scottish children and young people.