Read Aloud Thursday (June 2015)

We’ve been reading to Tirzah Mae since she’s been born, but even now she still isn’t tremendously interested in paying attention while we’re reading.

Erm… she’s not tremendously interested in paying attention while *I* am reading.

Papa was quite capable of keeping her entertained by reading The Wind and the Willows to her, complete with distinct snuffly mole and rat voices, while I was making dinner one night. I can already hear our children’s voices down the line, “Why don’t you read it like Papa does?”, to which I will be forced to reply that I simply haven’t the skill Papa does.

Tirzah Mae and I read board books checked out of the library.

Baby Shine A Tiger Tales Book

I thought this the biggest dud of all the books we checked out at the end of last month – pages contain a single word with a graphic or two, all in white, black, blue, green and metallic green. The words have little to do with one another, the book has no apparent theme except its color scheme.

But Tirzah Mae loved it. The metallic green caught her eye and fascinated her, especially when our distorted reflections showed up on its smooth surface. Go figure.

Opposites by Brian Wildsmith

This was a smaller-than-usual board book with one or two pairs of “opposite” illustrations (and the corresponding “opposite” words) on each double page spread. Wildsmith is known for his nature illustrations, and these are delightful. In addition to the opposite words, there are plenty of things to point out – many different animals to name, certain animal behaviors to point out as normative (two young tigers wrestling) or as NOT (a pelican with a hippopotamus in his bill).

I will probably be checking this one out again when Tirzah Mae is older – I think she’ll enjoy it better when she can understand what we’re talking about. For now, the muted colors of the illustrations mean she frequently looks away while I’m reading.

Hide and Seek Harry at the Beach by Kenny Harrison

A plot. Oh how I enjoy a plot, however simple!

Harry is a hippo, playing hide and go seek with his human friends at the beach. Being quite large, he never quite manages to hide completely (just as many toddlers and preschoolers have a hard time hiding themselves completely) – so he’s easy to spot.

Toddlers will no doubt enjoy the gentle silliness of this tale; and moms can also point out the various beachside gear found within the pages. Tirzah Mae, of course, was not quite so amused as a slightly older child would be.

Clare Beaton’s Nursery Rhymes

Familiar and unfamiliar rhymes, one to a double paged spread, are accompanied by lovely appliqued and embroidered illustrations. I loved the illustrations (if I had the time and energy, as well as fewer projects already in my queue, I’d stitch up some similar pieces to ornament the nursery walls.) Tirzah Mae loved the cadence of the nursery rhymes (and that I played “This Little Piggy” on her toes when we got to that rhyme – one of her favorite games.)

Baby Loves to Boogie! by Wednesday Kirwan

This psychedelically colored book asks the question “Who likes to boogie?” before introducing a variety of animals who love to do a variety of dances (apes that orang-o-tango, moles who “dig it”). I enjoy dancing and think puns are fun, so I thought this was terrific. Tirzah Mae loves it when her mama rocks her about or dances with her, and enjoyed it when I drew out the “WHOOO likes to boogie” while squeezing her tight. Of course, we learn at the end that BABY likes to boogie.

For us, this book is just right. I find it enjoyable, Tirzah Mae finds it enjoyable, and it has just enough potential to keep it interesting as Tirzah Mae grows (learning about all the different animals, naming the different background colors on every page, learning about and maybe even doing each of the different dances – EELectric slide, anyone?)

Check out what other families are reading aloud at Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is the Word.