Weekly Reading Highlights (May 25th 2009)

 The book that the girls were most excited to hear, especially Laurel, was The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce. Laurel tells me she just loves historical fiction when it comes in the form of a journal or diary. This book is a bit intense, starting with two brothers (ages 14 - Jasper - and his younger brother Tom) being separated, one goes off on the Mayflower as an indentured servant, and one stays behind. So Jasper creates this journal to tell him about the New World. There are a lot of deaths, even a suicide, so be prepared to explain that one. If you have any concerns about too much death read the book before your child does. Overall, we really enjoyed this tale of Jasper's fascinating adventure, including him running away and being found by Native Americans. In the end (plot spoiler ahead!) he is reunited with his brother. There is a really neat historical note section at the end of the book that we all found interesting, to hear how much of the story was true and just how many of our presidents are decendants from the first settlers. 

  Another book we enjoyed this week was The Enchanted Book: A Tale from KraKow. This is a richly illustrated fairy tale of 3 beatuiful sisters in a time where most people did not know how to read. Because the youngest sister takes the time to learn, she is able to save her sisters from the evil enchanter by reading from his spell book. What great motivation to learn to read quickly, which is just what our youngest child, Ella, is learning to do.

  Ella really enjoyed hearing Green Eggs and Ham and then she read it aloud to be with great enjoyment. In fact this is the first book she's read that she has really enjoyed. The girls also liked hearing a few other Dr. Suess books, such as And To Think I Saw it On Mulberry Street, Yertle the Turtle, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Lorax.

  And continuing with Laurel's interest in the Franklin books, we read all the stories in Franklin's Classic Treasury Vol 2, the day she found it on our shelf.