Bookworm

Little Bookworm

Guusje's post about her daughters graduating from college had me so teary that I couldn't even leave a comment. "Motherhood is never really over," Guusje said, "but I can definitely close the volume one. I wonder how volume two will read?" It moved me so much because my own little daughter, age 6, is just starting to open volume one. Sure, her physical life started six years ago, but her real life is just starting now. She is discovering the joy of reading. Last September when she started kindergarten, she was still a little shaky on which letters went with which sounds. Just the other day (the same day, in fact, that I read Guusje's post) she declared, "Mom, I want to read some chapter books." I don't think I have words to express how much this means to me. So here's a picture of my precious little bookworm.

Little Bookworm

posted by Julie on 5/24/2005

13 Comments:

  • Excellent! And Junie B. Jones to boot!

    posted by Blogger doulicia on 8:33 AM  

  • It is interesting that you mention that your daughter's life is just starting now that she is reading because that is how I remember my life too--my older sister has early visual memories from when she was 2, but I swear I can't remember anything about my life before I could read. I suspect that this means that my sister got away with 4 years of merciless teasing without me really registering it...

    posted by Blogger Kate on 9:21 AM  

  • I love this picture. And such a good book too.

    posted by Blogger Liz Miller on 11:00 AM  

  • Awesome post. I love bookworms. :)
    PS. I read Junie B. Jones too...

    posted by Blogger mrsd on 12:16 PM  

  • Yay! This reminds me of, well, me -- I love to read while I'm eating.

    The Junie B Jones are great; I hope she enjoys them.

    posted by Blogger Suzanne on 8:53 PM  

  • Not to be argumentative, but...I can't STAND Junie B. Jones. It REALLY bugs me that she doesn't use proper grammar. "Runned" instead of "ran," etc. So what if that's how some 5yos really talk! Why reinforce it?

    That is very interesting, Kate. How many memories do most people have from before they were four? That is, you were pretty little when you learned to read. Perhaps if you hadn't learned until 1st grade you'd have pre-reading memories. On the other hand, maybe learning to read does change something in your neural pathways.

    Suzanne, yeah, reading & eating is one of the pleasures of life. I'm planning to write a post about that pretty soon.

    posted by Blogger Julie on 10:08 PM  

  • 'Not to be argumentative, but...I can't STAND Junie B. Jones. It REALLY bugs me that she doesn't use proper grammar. "Runned" instead of "ran," etc. So what if that's how some 5yos really talk! Why reinforce it?'

    But isn't the author writing 'in character'? Junie B. talks like that. She's not really into grammar. :)

    posted by Blogger mrsd on 7:05 AM  

  • Well, for one thing, Junie's grammar is exaggeratedly bad. I don't think I've ever heard a kindergartener say "bestest." And for another, these books are meant to be read by kids who are still learning proper English. Let's set them a good example.

    True, the author is writing "in character." But you can capture the character of a 5yo without resorting to bad grammar. Example: Beverly Cleary's books about Ramona.

    posted by Blogger Julie on 7:25 AM  

  • I've had more parents complain about Junie B. than about anything else (I'm a school librarian). I tell them that all the kids I know who have read and loved Junie B. Jones books have learned to speak just fine. I'm not crazy about the books personally but it seems to me if they catch a kid's interest-- and Junie B is a vibrant and very lively character-- that's more important than grammatical concerns.

    Also, now that I think about it, Junie's exaggeratedly bad grammar probably helps young readers feel superior, which helps them like it-- most of them are pretty insecure about school & reading in K & 1st grade.

    Yeah, when it comes down to it I think Ramona's better. But the Junie B. books can be a good bridge to the Ramona books or the Nora books or others.

    Whew! that was longer than I meant it to be. Sorry!

    posted by Blogger elswhere on 2:25 PM  

  • Our little ones will follow what we model for them. And she's following her mommy's footsteps. :)

    posted by Blogger Sleeping Mommy on 4:29 PM  

  • It's awesome that she's already reading Junie B. Jones at age 6 - most kids don't tackle her till the end of second / beginning of first grade!

    posted by Blogger Unknown on 5:21 PM  

  • You're right, Elswhere. I'd rather have her reading Junie B. than nothing. :) And I know she's not going to grow up with bad grammar just because of a few books she read when she was in kindergarten. But still, I don't like it. I don't like Elmo on Sesame Street for the same reason: he talks baby talk.

    Yeah, Sleeping Mommy, they do follow what we model. That's the really scary thing about parenting! We don't always realize what we're modeling.

    Guusje, she had an awesome teacher this year. And, bless her heart, Lena is the most persevering kid I know. When she sets her mind to learn something, nothing will stop her. You should have seen her as a toddler, learning her colors. She set about it so methodically. Same thing as a preschooler, learning the alphabet.

    posted by Blogger Julie on 7:46 PM  

  • Oh My, I better forewarn you b4 I post for my daughter's high school graduation. (It's not the current post.)

    More books for my list. Thx, Bookworm Julie :)

    posted by Blogger Gel on 2:01 AM  

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