I've been complaining that this year is flying by, and here I am jumping the gun. Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss's birthday, not today. But what the heck! I like to spread out birthdays and celebrate all month, sometimes.
Who hasn't read a Dr. Seuss book? My grandkids like to read along with me. At first, the rhymes are memorized. Eventually, they actually read along. I love the memes on Facebook about reading aloud to children. It's my favorite thing to do. The child(ren) snuggle in and listen intently. If I've read the story many times before and stop reading, s/he fills in the words. Or says "Don't stop."
Reading to my grandkids is as much a joy for me as it is for them. I want them to experience the magic of reading. Books open new worlds.
Books take you to faraway lands or those close by. And not just to places but times. We can go back to times past or ahead to the future. We can travel on horseback or in spaceships.
Children who are read to are most likely to want to learn to read themselves. (They complain we read too slow.) Children who read find other school subjects easier.
Stories like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish help children learn their numbers and number concepts plus colors. It makes learning fun. And isn't that what reading should be?
What about kids who get other kids into trouble? What kid (and adult) had had that experience? Good discussion openers. What would you do if...
In our house while I was growing up, I was always the reader. The others, not so much. One of my sisters found reading difficult. She doesn't "see" the scene play out unless she hears it. Audio books are so much better for her. My other sister reads a lot. Much of her reading is self-improvement or on the religious side.
No matter what we read, our lives will always be enriched by books.
Tomorrow, raise your glass (or mug) to Theodor Seuss Geisel and wish him a happy birthday!
What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
