summer reads

Alybug and Em just about always have their little noses in books these days. I was worried about their slow progress with reading, and that was unnecessary. Last fall they were at Frog and Toad level, and now they're both reading 3rd grade level chapter books.

Their independent reads they've liked-
Little House easy reader chapter books
Pony Pals (they've both just about read every book in this series)
Betsy-Tacy (4 in this series)
Thornton Burgess Animal Stories
Pippi Longstocking (3 in this series)

Sitting on the bookshelf-
Beverly Cleary Ramona books
Boxcar Children
Twig

Our Recent Read Alouds-
Thimble Summer
The Saturdays and its 3 sequels
Strawberry Girl
The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane

Sitting on the bookshelf-
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Caddie Woodlawn
Swallows and Amazons
Journey to Mythaca
The Magic Finger

Pumpkin is not a fan of listening to chapter books, although she did like Strawberry Girl. I think it was the Old Florida cracker accents. She's often heard saying, "Naw" just like Shoestring. She is reading/memorizing the Biscuit and Puppy Mudge easy reader books. She enjoys picture books, and her recent favorite is The Three Little Horses by Piet Worm, which is a very odd book.

I read Half the Sky to discuss with a group of women. It's an intense book and has me hugging my girls tighter these days. How fortunate we are to live in this country! After reading it, I need to find a plan of action- giving money, writing letters, something to support women around the world. I tend to learn of such things and overwhelm into inaction, but I don't want to let that happen this time. I want to find a way to make a difference for the better. I'm rereading As A Driven Leaf (a novel I read in college for a Jewish tradition class), and next will come The Red Tent. Alybug and Em's fall school unit will revolve around the Torah and ancient Hebrews. It feels right to explore Judaism in fiction for me right now alongside my prep work for them.