April Book Club

 No school Friday meant that BOOK CLUB could happen Thursday night.  Our read this time around was Harriet the Spy.  I must say, the LRHB and I had a tough time biting on this one.  In fact (sigh), we didn't finish the book.  Nope.  First one we didn't finish.  After watching the movie, I asked if he wanted to keep going and he said no, let's just move on.  I said we had plenty of time, due to crazy spring commitments, to finish before starting the next one.  "What's next?"  he asked.  I hadn't decided was my reply.  "No, I really am not interested in it, Mom," was the come back.

Okay.  I could beat myself up.  Or I could relish the fact that the others in the group discovered that after the first Harriet the Spy, there were others and they've moved onto those!  Yep, that's what I am going to do.  Love the fact that my club readers are finding more to love about reading.

And I introduced my boy to Amelia Bedelia tonight, by reading some of it to him. He took off and finished the first and a second book.  Yes, it is below his "reading level," but the laughing from him over her antics just warmed my heart.  My reader found more to love about reading tonight.  Isn't that what my PROMISE to him is... keep him loving reading?

Momma Holmes

Book Club Updates

We read the classic My Dog Skip by Willie Morris.  I love that this was a non-fiction read for the kids.  It took them back to a time when kids ran through their small town community with their friends, growing up together and having adventures without worrying about "predators." Yes, Mr. Morris addressed issues of the time like WW II and equality among different races, however, he touched on it as if it were truly through the eyes of a young boy, not an old man recalling his life.  Oh, did I hear about it though, for choosing this book.  The vocabulary was QUITE IMPRESSIVE and daunting for a few of us!  So be warned, if you decide to tackle this book, you can 1) keep a dictionary by your side OR 2) skip the big words and insert your own word OR 3) some of both.  I would skip a few, change a few or use the big words and just show my boy how to learn the meaning of the word from its use in the text.

I will say this, I had a hard time getting the movie for our read.  The library had one copy.  I got it and promptly had to return it.  Whoever took it after me, kept it and payed fines because I was number one on the waiting list for two weeks!  So the day of book club, I was a bit in a panic.  The other copy still hadn't been returned.  None of the box stores near me had it, but Barnes & Noble did, so I was off to buy it when I passed a Blockbuster Store.  WOW!  I didn't even know they were still in business!  Would they have it?  I looked and looked and looked.  On my way out empty-handed, I mentioned the title I was looking for.  SOMEHOW I HAD OVERLOOKED IT!  So I now have a new Blockbuster Video account.  And since it is Spring Break, I think we'll be renting some videos.

The other thing was that no one finished the book (partially due to the vocab, partially due to inability to find the book) except me.  So when I mentioned something about how it ended, the moms, wine glasses in hand, were quite alarmed at how their girls would handle it.  Sorry.  I mean, it is a book written in the 90's about a dog that lived in the 40's - it wasn't hard to predict the ending.  And in the movie, as in the book, it was handled delicately and gently and appropriately.  So don't let that be a deterrent from reading the book.  We needed an upbeat read next, so Harriet the Spy it is!  

Book Club Update

I love our book club. Moms sharing life's joys and struggles while our munchkins watch a movie about a book we've read to them.  It's been awesome.

The group is growing; unfortunately for my boy, it's growing with girls.  Last month our read was Matilda. Many of the kids had seen the movie, but not read the book and they were pleasantly surprised how much the book was like the movie. And I think having a picture of Trunchbull in their mind, at least for my boy, helped make the book a bit less scary.

Next up, My Dog Skip. 

I got permission to photograph the group, but by the time the movie had finished, our crew was ready for bed, so that will happen next time.  In the meantime, happy reading!

Momma Holmes

Movie Book Club Update

I’m a bit behind on my Reading Promise Book Club updates so forgive me for that. 

In November, we met to discuss From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler written by E.L. Konigsburg and watch the movie based on the book, The Hideaways. This group does love their books for the details that they provide. “Way more details than a movie,” commented one young reader. “I like picturing it in my mind,” responded another.

Our group was horrified by the idea that running away would make anything better, much to the delight of their parents. They found the movie a bit lacking as it failed to hold their attention at times, but gushed enthusiastically about the book. When my older boys were younger, we were able to watch the movie version with Lauren Bacall with the same title as the book, however my library no longer carries it and I found it on Amazon.com for a mere $180. Ha! 

Our holiday read was A Dog Named Christmas written by Greg Kincaid. Our family did this one backwards: last year we watched the movie and this year we read the book. It is a great family tale and I highly recommend it! The other three families (yes, we had another one join our group!) thoroughly enjoyed the story and the kids loved watching the movie tonight, snuggled under fleece blankets and cuddled up with stuffed animal friends. One thought the cougar scene was too detailed in the book and liked it better in the movie. The rest thought the book was better, of course. 

We’re choosing a favorite for next month, Matilda by Roald Dahl. Many have seen the movie, but not read the book. 

Happy reading in 2013! 
Momma Holmes

The Reading Promise Continues...

During my search for other families taking on their own reading promises, I came across a post on the blog 52 Weeks, 52 Resolutions, 1 Mom by Momma Holmes. This is her second guest blogger post about how The Reading Promise has inspired her. (Catch up with her first post here.) Check out the unique twist that she has given her reading promise to share the love of reading with her sons.

It was a beautiful Friday evening and as the hour of seven arrived, so did sweet, fresh-faced, pajama-clothed friends. They came with cocoa and popcorn, brimming with excitement. They had finished reading Indian in the Cupboard and were eager to discuss this tale. 

Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Was this story the same or different as the books we read over the summer?

Same… great imagination! Different… no animals/bugs were main characters! 

Did you like the ending?
Yes, this was causing so much trouble for them! No, I wanted them to bring more people to life! 

The great discussion was followed by silence minus the munching of popcorn as they settled in to watch the movie of the book we’d read. They felt the movie was true to the book; in fact perhaps the most accurate of the ones we’ve read.

As the small people watched, the adults conferred on the next tale. “Really, we’re okay with you choosing the next book,” they insisted. All of the kiddos had given suggestions. I reached into the hat and tossed out two of the suggestions. Another mom drew the title from the remaining two ideas.

Next month, we’ll be reading and watching From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I am very excited as this book was a favorite from my childhood and the copy we own is MY copy.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Our reading promise of reading to our young readers continues another month.

My dilemma is that the other moms have requested a Christmas tale for December. I am looking for suggestions of Christmas books that have been made into movies that would be appropriate for my crowd of 6-9 year olds.

Thanks!
Momma Holmes