I’ve taken several bloggy breaks over the last three years, but I don’t think any of them have been more enjoyable than last week’s. OH MY WORD. I went to the library and checked out about twenty books, and I can’t even tell you how many times the little guy and I climbed up on the bed in the guest room and opened our respective books and then read and read and read and read.
And read.
(Hey – anybody have some suggestions for chapter books that would be fun for Alex and me to read together? He’s been bitten by the book worm in a big way, so I’d love to read some great stuff this summer. And if the book is part of a series, all the better.)
In addition to reading All The Books, I also caught up on the last two issues of Southern Living (which, in my humble estimation, is Officially Southern again – I even felt a little giddy when I pulled the May and June issues out of the mailbox), watched Kris Allen sing “Heartless” about fifteen times, recorded a podcast with Melanie and Travis that we’ll never be able to use because I sound like I’m screaming in a tunnel made of tin, had a few a-ha moments about ye olde bloggy bidness and basically just had a whole bunch of laid-back fun with my people.
I also laughed my head off at this:
Do you know what that is? Why, IT IS A TREASURE.
Finally, I’ll be back a little later today with a deeeee-lightful giveaway:
OH YES MA’AM.
Stay tuned!
May 18th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Have you and Alex read any of the Hank the Cowdog series? They were a HUGE favorite of both Sam and Ginny!
May 18th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Glad you’re back! What about the Magic Tree House books?
May 18th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
The Mad Scientists Club by Bertrand R. Brinley and Charles Geer
ANY AND ALL of the books by Beverly Cleary (he’d especially love the Ralph Mouse series)
May 18th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant is a cute book and I would recommend the Magic Tree House books too.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:49 am
How about Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
May 18th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Yes that skit was sooooo funny.
And I know at first you may not agree for a boy but my son LOVES Junie B Jones.. They are so funny and you get to read with attitude.
And I am glad you took a needed break, just slow it all down to avoid blog burn out… We love you and missed you
May 18th, 2009 at 7:07 am
My kids loved the Miss Piggle Wiggle books when they were younger. And of course Pippy Longstocking.
Oh my, the video is hilarious! SNL did a similar sketch last fall–my college-student daughter still laughs about it.
I enjoy your blog!! Count me as one of the “tens of people”who read. :)
Cathy
May 18th, 2009 at 7:08 am
My sons (and daugter) like the Geronimo Stilton series. Also, I would second the Magic Tree House Series.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:10 am
One of the first chapter books my son loved was The Boxcar Children. He has read a ton of them, but the first one is still his favorite. Also, The Tale of Despereux. The book is way better than the movie.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Welcome back, Sophie! You were missed, girl.
When my kids were little, I read “Dr. Doolittle” by Hugh Lofting to them–get the first one, although there are several in the series. I bet your guy would love that book with all the animals and adventure in it. Parts of it are a little weird, but mostly it was enjoyable.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:13 am
There are lots of great chapter books out there! All of the above listed are good. My students also liked the Cam Jansen books (little mysteries) and the Magic Schoolbus has chapter books as well.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Sounds like an awesome bloggy break. Congrats! I think I am usually a lurker as I can’t remember commenting but I enjoy your blog. I too am “shredding” although unfortunately NOT MUCH. Oh I am doing the workouts but I don’t look shredded”. Ah well!
Enjoy your books. Me and my two little guys are headed off to the library this morning. I have two year old boys so I can’t recommend Chapter books yet but I am interested to see what comments you recieve.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Well the Chronicles of Narnia come instantly to mind. Along with the Bobbsey Twins and the Happy Hollisters. How about Farmer Boy since it’s about Almonzo?
Oh and Cam Jansen mysteries are fun. Plus all the Wrinkle in Time books.
Cowboy Sam readers are great too–with fabulous illustrations. They can be hard to find, though.
Or you could work your way through the Newbery winners.
Just a suggestion or eight!
Joanne
May 18th, 2009 at 7:21 am
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett is a treasure. There are three books in the series. I remember this being the first chapter book that was read to me and it hooked me on reading for the rest of my life :)
May 18th, 2009 at 7:23 am
P.S. If he likes science the Magic School Bus books are great and informative!
May 18th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Oh, the reading makes me giddy. My girls just turned their room into a “library” and I can’t shake the warm fuzzies over it all.
I blogged a little review of Travis’s new CD today. LOVE it!!
http://www.marlataviano.com
May 18th, 2009 at 7:33 am
if you are going to read to him, the hatchet books (gary paulson)are great…boys loves them
May 18th, 2009 at 7:35 am
I have LOVED Nate the Great series as a starter chapter book series. They have lots of pictures still, but are broken up into small chapters! Very fun for little boys.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:46 am
We’re not to chapter books yet. However, I do know that K- loves Amelia Bedelia and Flat Stanley. I can’t remember if Flat Stanley is in chapter form. Sorry. As for us, at the local discounter, I scored Hooked on Spanish (from Hooked on Phonics) for a whole $4.99 and we’ll be working on that this summer. (Along with the boring workbooks, so as not to forget what we learned during the year.) Preschool graduation is tonight. I’m going to be a blubbering mess. But summer. It sounds sooo good right now!
May 18th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne- hands down the best and a great start for 5-ish o 8-ish aged people. There are over 35 of them now- each one has 10 chapters- there are a few pictures interspersed. Trust me on this- I do this for a living- you want the Magic Tree House! There’s a fun interactive website too if you’re so inclined.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:58 am
I was going to suggest Nate the Great and I see that has already been suggested. You are welcome to borrow M.K’s set. I think she has every single one and since she is 16 she has moved on in her literary choices. Let me know and I will bring them in for Howard. Or I can bring you just one or two to let him see if he likes the characters. Love ya! MC
May 18th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Ok for chapter books I have a few suggestions – Magic Treehouse(you can start anywhere), Star Wars (duh! right?) And also, Jackson has found this series of sports books by MAtt Christopher. They are always a story about that center around a different sport/team. etc. I will let you know if we find anything else good. SO far Star Wars still rules at our house.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:07 am
My son (he’s 6) has LOVED the Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant for years. We crack up every time and read them over and over. Mudge is a big dog, and Henry is his owner. Oh, they’re cute.
So glad you’re back!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Our boy LOVED Junie B. Jones when he was in K and 1st grade. Although the central character is a girl, she seems unobjectionable to boys that age. Also, the Young Cam Jansen books are a good intro to chapter books, sorta a junior version of her “older” series. And, Nate the Great is very cool.
Nate’s Mom
May 18th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Isn’t that L.Welk skit great???
Missed reading your blog but totally understand needing a break. Glad you loved Kris’s song. Fingers crossed for our gentleman from Arkansas!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Magic Tree House is a hit with my bookworm.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am
As with many of the others, the Magic Tree House have always been a big hit, as well as the A to Z mysteries. My son always liked the Sammy Keyes books as well.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Welcome back! Mys husband started reading The Chronicles of Narnia with our 3 (soon to be 4) year old son, and they are having the best time together each night. I think there are 6 or 7 different books. Highly recommended :)
May 18th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I missed you so very much! And I have been wringing my hands since Wednesday night 10 pm EST to hear what you think of Kris Allen making it to the finals! I declare that we will knock Adam out of winning! We just have to! Who’s with me?!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Dick King Smith is one of our favorite authors… he wrote “Babe” and “The Water Horse”, and a bunch of other great, funny, fun books. We probably have 20 of them. Here’s a B&N link if you want to check him out: http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?ATH=Dick+King-Smith
Also, Roald Dahl is pretty stinkin’ funny, and my boy LOVES his books. Link:
http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=roald+dahl&box=roald%20dahl&pos=-1
We have all of the Magic Tree House books, all of the A to Z Mysteries, and a bunch of Bobbsey Twins and Hardy Boys books. Love ‘em all. Also, The Tale of Despereaux is wonderful. But my son’s favorite thing ever? Are the “Boy Hero” stories that I’ve made up for him since he was 3. He’s now 9 and can tell/write an excellent story himself now (but I’m sad that he no longer craves mine). Reading to your child is one of the best investments with the greatest rate of return that you can make!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Welcome back, BooMama! I’m glad you had a much needed break. All the book series I had in mind have already been mentioned, but if they hadn’t been I would have suggested the Magic Tree House books, as well as Henry and Mudge and Nate the Great. I’m just sayin’. :)
May 18th, 2009 at 9:00 am
My kids (6 and 4) love Captain Underpants. The author also throws in some humor that only parents will get.
As a kid, I loved Bunnicula. There are several books in that series.
I’ve seen a couple of Clone Wars chapter books.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:04 am
My boy loves to read. Some of his favorites…
The Magic Treehouse series, by Mary Pope Osborne
A to Z Mysteries, by Ron Roy
Encyclopedia Brown, by Donald Solbol
All of the Henry & Ribsy books, by Beverly Cleary
Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of Nimh, by Robert C. O’Brien
The Tale of Desperaux, by Kate DiCamillo
James & The Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
Charlotte’s Web/Stuart Little/Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White
May 18th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I have two sons (12 and 11) and think it is such a a struggle to find good books for them to read. It also doesn’t help that they are not big readers… that is just until recently because we have found some books they love. I have just started following your blog and am not sure what age Alex is but here are my recommendations… The Chronicles of Narnia, The Tale of Despereux, My Side of the Mountain (there are three books in this series), The Isle of Swords and The Isle of Fire (Christian fiction), and there is also a series beginning with Redwall. These aren’t Christian books and are fantasy books about all kinds of animals, swords, and castles. My sons are on the third one and love them. There is also all the classics that are fun to read together too! Happy Reading!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:20 am
YAYYYY! You had a great week!!!
Can’t wait to hear Travis’ new CD.
And can I just say it? Please go ahead with the podcast–tin tunnels and all. Missing those “tre-mend-ressly,” as one of my teachers in high school used to say.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:22 am
The Cricket in Times Square
May 18th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Loved the SNL skit! Thought of you immediately when it started and then cried because I was laughing so hard.
Magic Treehouse is a favorite at our house. My boys also love(d) Cam Jansen, Flat Stanley and Beverly Cleary.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:31 am
My son loves the Hank the Cowdog, Magic Tree House and the Andrew Lost series. I was in my local(Tupelo, MS) Books-a-million yesterday and I noticed that they had alot of clearance kids books for $1.00.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:32 am
My boys really enjoyed the Great Brain series. I think there are about 5 books to go through. Also, the Mouse and the Motorcycle.
Happy reading!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Both of my nephews loved the Captain Underpants series. Sissy is enjoying the Little House on the Prairie books (several different reading levels available), the Magic Treehouse books and the Cul de Sac Kids (I think that’s the name).
This summer, Sissy and I are going to read the Narnia books together. Not because she needs the help, but because I want to read them again.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:37 am
In addition many of the ones mentioned, we love The Boxcar Children series. They are older books, but fun mysteries!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:40 am
So glad you are back! Burn out is an interesting animal – how does one “recharge” from being a mother of two small children when there are no breaks? Tough stuff. Love the book suggestions! I have a 5 1/2 yr old. too and need to ramp up the type of books we’re reading.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Your “tens” of readers are really coming through for you here! I appreciate the great list…maybe you should blog the results of these comments for others looking for good preschool/elementary summer reading!! (I already copied them all down for our trip to the library)
I would second almost all of these, but especially Magic Tree House, Junie B Jones, and BOXCAR CHILDREN. I heart books!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:46 am
My baby girl loved the Magic Treehouse series.
And the skit was a RIOT! Loved it!
Glad you enjoyed your bloggin’ break.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am
YAY! So glad you enjoyed your bloggy break :)
May 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am
We nearly died laughing at that skit Sat. night.
The Boxcar Children series were my favorite books at that age. But anything by Beverly Cleary is usually a hit with kids at that age, and my nephews really got into The Magic Schoolbus series.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I vote for James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My son and husband read them together and they loved them.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:02 am
OK…I’m really digging back into the archives for chapter books. Since I don’t have kids (yet), I have to think back to when we would have reading in school. Gosh, I could just sit there for hours when my teacher read to the class! How about:
James and the Giant Peach
Any of the Judy Bloom “Fudge” books (Fudge, Superfudge, etc. about a boy and his little brother named Fudge)
That’s all the comes to mind right now. : )
May 18th, 2009 at 10:03 am
My boys loved Magic Treehouse books at that age…And if you are reading to Alex, then The Series of Unfortunate Events is just brilliant. Lemony is quite the wordsmith. :)
Welcome back..
May 18th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the office! I thought it was DIVINE!!!