I thought I’d start something a little new on the blog. It is not photography related at all but it will be something fun for me to blog about besides recent sessions. Not that I don’t really love posting my sessions but this will be something different.
I thought I’d blog about books that I’ve read my children or perhaps even blog about books that I may be reading right now or that I’ve finished.
You wonder, why the heck would she want to do that? Well, my New Years Resolution is to read more books. I used to be an avid reader. Almost a book worm, if you will. I remember being on family vacations in Michigan where everyone would be frolicking in the lake or rolling down the massive sand dunes and there I was totally immersed in a book. Hardly noticing the world around me. Of course that was the time of Stephan King and all his fantastical stories. Since I’ve had children and started this photography business I have had NO time to read and if I do it’s a photography book.
All children are mesmorized by books when they are little. What happens as they get a little older that they lose interest? Does the fast paced world with stimulating “eye candy” make it difficult to focus on a book to learn the story that slowly evolves. Reading is a magical part of a childs life and I’m determined to keep that magic.
So let me start off by saying that I am by no means a literary critic, I did not do very well in English! The one thing I do know is if I like the story and the way it’s written I can’t wait to tell other people about it…the same for my children.
This week I’d like to highlight a book that has captured the hearts of my children like no other book they have ever received as a gift.
The Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
From page one the story and pictures are absolutely captivating. The story is easy to read with a nice rhythm which children love. There is also a part on each page that is repeated which I make into a song. Now my children sing along with me throughout the whole book. It is a story of a Gingerbread boy in search of new friends. He has quite an adventure along the way. I love the way that Jan Brett has taken the nursery rhyme of the Gingerbread Boy and wound it up in her story. My 6 year old even caught onto that and compared the nursery rhyme to the book. At the end there is a great surprise that will make even your grouchiest adult smile. It’s a book not to miss.
Here is a link to Jan Brett’s website. She is one of my favorite children’s authors so you may be hearing about her again soon.
If you are thinking about purchasing books for yourself, children or as gifts may I be so bold to remind you to buy locally? As a consumer in this wiltering economy it is important to support our local merchants so they can keep a place in our community. There is nothing worse than a community that loses it’s life to big box stores. My favorite place…. Phoenix Books. If you are looking for something specific make sure you call ahead since it IS impossible for them to have every book stocked on their shelves. Take a gander through their rows of beautiful books, it’s much better than surfing Amazon =)
Happy Reading,
Louisa
