Little Readers

Alan will be 7 years old next month.  SEVEN!! It's hard to believe.  He started showing an interest in learning to read about a year ago, maybe less.  He would point to words and ask what they said and try to read them without really much formal learning.  So, we started working on some flash cards and phonics readers when we had the chance.  We took it very easy for months, just working on it when I had the chance to sit down with him.  He has always been very willing to read and has been enthusiastic about it.  Just like Savannah, once we got beyond the short vowel sounds and really mastered those, it's like there was no more need for formal teaching or learning other sounds and combinations.  He just started reading on his own!  We still sit down and read together a good bit, but he can read just about anything he wants to on his own now.  Even as small boy, he would sit in front of the book shelf and look at books for over an hour, studying each and every detail of a picture on a page.  (He's sitting across the room from me as I type this reading Monster's, Inc.)  We go to the library regularly and check out lots of books.  There's one library in particular, the one that's the farthest away from us but happens to be my favorite, (it's about 35 miles from us and takes close to an hour to get there) and they put all their Level 1, 2, 3, etc. readers in one section.   He's well beyond the Level 1 readers at this point, and judging from the books he's reading around the house, the level 2 and 3 books would be easy for him.  The last time we went to that library, we had to put 7 books back on the shelf to fall within the 99 book limit allowed on one card!

We were without a dishwasher for about 2 months before we just recently bought a new one.  The dishwasher hole made for a good reading nook (until things got too rowdy!)

Savannah, almost 9, has been reading since she was 5 1/2 years old, and she is rarely seen without a book in her hand.  It takes her about 1 1/2 days to read an average 150-200 page chapter book such as the Nancy Drew books, but there are days, like yesterday, when she reads 3. whole. books in one day.  It's hard to keep enough books in the house for her to read at the rate she reads.  Her favorite books by far are mystery books.  She's read most of the Boxcar Children, most of the Nancy Drew  books, some of the Hardy Boy books, most of the Trixie Belden books, and many, many, many more.  It's hard to find enough books also that I feel are even semi o.k. for her to read.  There is A. L.O.T of junk out there; it's just a small fraction of the books you can get at the library that I'll even entertain the idea of letting her read.  It's sad how most of the libraries in this area don't have a good selection of the older classics,  rather they seem to focus on every science fiction, fantasy, and Junie B. Jones-type series out there. She's reading along the lines of a 5th grade reading level, so if I can locate them, there are many classics like the Little Women series that I think she's ready to read.  She's already read part of the Anne of Green Gables series and read the Little House on the Prairie about 2 years ago.

I love the fact that all 4 children enjoy books so much.  It makes for good quiet time around the house. :)