Sometimes just looking at an object, or hearing a song, can bring you back to an unforgettable moment in your life. It's no different with picture books, only my favorites instantly take me back to not just one moment, but to countless giggles, smiles, hugs, and nightly "pajama" read alouds. The toddler and preschool years go by quickly, and reading with my children during that time was an experience that I'll treasure forever. I consider it to be one of the greatest gifts I ever gave them, because even though our days of pajama nights are no more, they each still love to read. Today, I'd like to share some of their favorite books from those early years.
My daughter (I'll give her the nickname, "Strawberry Girl") loved Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline series. Written in rhyme, these books have a wonderful flow of words as you read them, and are beautifully illustrated as well. My daughter loved this character so much, that she carried around her Madeline doll constantly. It got so dirty (since I couldn't get it away from her to wash it), that we bought another one for her to alternate with. Unfortunately, the second can never be quite the same as the first, and that trick certainly did not work! That just goes to show you that there can never be anything that comes close to an original. For that reason, I will never replace my worn out copies of these books.
My son (I'll call him "Football Fanatic") loved Shirley Hughes' All About Alfie collection of stories. The illustrations in this book are truly stunning, and the stories are about simple, everyday situations that any child can relate to. Topics like separation anxiety, getting locked into (rather than out of) the house, putting boots on the wrong feet, and friendship, are just a few of the issues addressed in this collection of stories. Alfie shows bravery by giving up his cherished blanket to help a friend, as well as empathy for his younger sister during a small family crisis. My copy of this book is very worn out, and my son even scribbled in it with crayon, and I will cherish it always. Please note that the author is English, so some of the wording may be slightly different than you are used to, but such wording differences can be used as a multicultural teaching tool (a topic for another day).
I must devote another paragraph specifically to another book by Shirley Hughes, Dogger . This book is one of my favorites because it shows the power of a relationship with a sibling. Alfie is not the main character, a boy named Dave is, but the whole feel of the book is similar to the Alfie series. Dave loses his favorite stuffed animal, and his big sister comes to the rescue. I think every parent can relate to this topic! After my daughter's Madeline doll days, I know how desperate parents can become when something special is lost. Even when Madeline was later replaced with Barbie, I still found myself interrupting my sister-in-law on her wedding night to get the doll out of her hotel room for my daughter! Only a parent could understand the reason for that one...
Please enjoy reading with your child this week. The memories are priceless.