Since I've been reading to my nearly 15-month old daughter pretty much every day since she was born, I've seen her interest in books and reading grow. She enjoys looking at and touching the pictures, listening to me read in different voices, and flipping pages. Over the past month, I've noticed that our reading time has been gradually getting longer and longer. When she started walking, I was lucky to have to her sit still for five minutes, but recently, she's been sitting on my lap for about 15 minutes at a time, getting us through two to three books.
And last night for the first time, she initiated reading time. She walked over to the bookshelf and started pulling books off and putting them in floor (not an unusual occurrence as I'm constantly putting books back on the shelf.) However, this time she sat down in the floor and started going through all of the books. Then she picked two up, brought them over to me, and sat on my lap. She WANTED me to read to her, and she CHOSE the books she wanted read!
What were these books? Princess Baby by Karen Katz, and Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi. We read Princess Baby twice and Everyone Poops once. Then she climbed off my lap with Everyone Poops still in her hands, sat down in the floor, and started "reading" out loud to herself. Her favorite page in that particular book seems to be a two-page spread of a whale, which incidentally does not have a picture of whale poop.
So, while her favorite book seems to be a book about poop, last night I felt a little lump in my throat as I watched my daughter choose her own books and "read" for the first time.
Oh! What a wonderful thing to experience! I recently had that moment with my son (18 months) and sat watching him in amazement... Your daughter will grow up, no doubt, to be quite a reader!
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool, Jill! What a great milestone. As for it being a book about poop, well, think about it this way. You didn't censor her first self-selected title, and she's on the road to a lifetime of making her own choices.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, Jill! I remember this moment with both my kids. It's a special one :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, it's my turn... I remember Jill starting to read books at a very early age. I would read to her over and over again and by the time she was 2 she had memorized several books and was reading them out loud. She could talk very good at age 2. Therefore, I know my granddaughter will grow to be an advid reader just like her Mom. I am so touched by this. However, I'm so sad that I'm not close by to be part of this experience.
ReplyDeleteI love you Jilly. Read my baby - "Grandma Calls Me Beautiful" Especially from NONNA
Jenny, Jen, and Kelly--thanks for your kind thoughts. It was definitely a wonderful experience.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mom--thank YOU for helping me grow into a lifelong reader. I love YOU, and I will absolutely read "Grandma Calls Me Beautiful."
What a great story! I can't wait for that moment with my daughter. At five months, her main interest is putting books in her mouth. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy...we went through that phase, too. Actually, my daughter still does it from time to time. You'll have that moment with your daughter soon enough!
ReplyDeleteI love Everybody Poops! And this brings back my son's toddler years so much. He used to throw a book onto my lap and say HOP UP! READ BOOK! :)
ReplyDeleteDewey,
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute...right now my daughter says, "bu, bu" and shoves a book in my face.