Book Review: Little House in the Big Woods

The good news: I finished a book. The bad news: It was a children's book. The better news: It wasn't a picture book or board book.

Our first book of the year for book club was Little House in the Big Woods. We decided to read it as our classic for the year. The first time I read this book I was in fourth grade. I always remember it as the book I first got in trouble for reading in class when I should have been doing something else. Do you remember the scene in Anne of Green Gables when she has a book tucked inside the lesson book? That was me. Happily reading Little House when I should have probably been doing math problems. I remember loving the book then though.

I started reading it again a few weeks ago. I got a few chapters in and lost complete interest. It was boring. I was surprised at how interested I had been as a child. I ended up finishing it on audio, which was actually really good and kept my attention well. I will say that I love the way it is written as a series of vignettes and it is very descriptive.

It's funny when you reread childhood favorites as an adult - it's not what you remembered or it's boring. I actually felt this way when I reread Anne of Green Gables. I wasn't as impressed as I was the first time around. I'm finding that a lot with any book lately though, not just a children's classic. There are very few books I can reread that I seem to not like the second time around. Maybe it's my life at the time or my age but it almost makes me never want to reread a book again because I have such fond memories of it. The only books I have reread and loved every time are The Great Gatsby, Cheaper by the Dozen, Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons, The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and probably a handful of other ones. 

There were items I picked up reading Little House as an adult that I never did reading it as a child or at least don't remember. For instance, there are a lot of lessons in this book. Listen to your parents. Don't cry wolf. Pay attention. Do what you are told. And so many others. I felt like as an adult I noticed these so much more. I also noticed pieces of the story that in today's culture might not be as accepted by parents as when the book was written. I notice that in picture books that I read as a child that I'm not reading to Carter. The example that comes to mind in Little House is an entire chapter titled "The Rifle." It was just a completely different time. Life was so much more simple.

I'm so glad we did read it. It's definitely a book I had fond memories of reading as a child and that's what I choose to remember not my feelings about it as an adult. Make it a weekend goal coming up when the weather maybe gets rainy or even snowy again - reread one of your childhood favorites. Don't be disappointed if you don't feel the same way though.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday Ten: Bucket List

I love making a bucket list. I haven't checked that many items off my bucket list though - obtain a Master's degree, get married, have a baby. The majority of my bucket list has to do with the travel. I'm just bursting to get out and see the world with Dennis and Carter. Here are 10 more items on my bucket list for today's Tuesday Ten:

[Photo Credit: Pinterest]

At the rate I'm going this will have to be a retirement goal...my goal lately is to be able to read 20 books a year.

[Photo Credit: Pinterest]

Live by the beach or the lake! 

I want to be able to wake up and see, smell and hear the water.

Visit Thailand and swim with the elephants!

I pinned this on Pinterest but I also saw it on my favorite show from maternity leave - Better Late Than Never. 

Take a photo every day for a year!

I need to get back to my photographer. It's kind of taken a back burner. Carter has me taking a lot more though.

[Photo Credit: Pinterest]

I could cross two things off my bucket list if I went to the Olympics in Japan.

Attend the Kentucky Derby.

This is so doable! I just want to dress up, drink mint juleps and pretend I know what the heck is going on during a horse race.

Travel first class.

Three checks on the bucket list if I travel first class to Japan for the Olympics.

[Photo Credit: Pinterest]

I need this to happen so bad. I love New York City so much and want to see the tree so bad.

Visit all 50 states.

I would love to see the entire country. I'm at 25, so half way there!

These are only a small part of my bucket list! What's on yours? I'd say these today are pretty doable.

A Little Change of Pace...Board Book Review

 You probably aren't surprised that Carter and I read together. A lot. We read during playtime when he starts to get bored with his toys and we read at night before bed. He's a little more alert during playtime since he isn't in the process of falling asleep. We read our library books during playtime. This week we read City Blocks and Hooray for Hat.

City Blocks by Christopher Franceschelli

OK, OK...I know you shouldn't just a book by its cover but I totally did for City Blocks. Maybe not so much the cover but the size because it's very unique. The book is about as thick as a normal adult book but board book size. The bold, colorful artwork was eye-catching and attractive when sitting on the shelf next to other books.

The book is a journey through the city with pages that open up to show a city block, cut-outs for windows on the subway and different shaped pages that give a preview of what is to come. The book is geared towards preschool and kindergarten not really meant for a baby but we read everything! It would be very interactive for a preschool child as the reader travels through the city on various forms of transportation to different landmarks, such as the museum, stadium and farmer's markets. The landmarks are all recognizable to most cities, so preschool children will be able to relate with places around their home. I was disappointed because the library is not a place the book mentions. Instead when finding a good story, the reader is led to a bookstore.

Carter did sit through this book surprisingly but it fidgeted more, mostly due to the length. It's a very cute book and I would recommend it to any parent of a preschool aged child.

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

This book on display, which is why I picked it up for Carter on my lunch break at the branch down the street from the office. I had never heard of it but thought it was worth a try.

The book starts with a grumpy elephant who is surprised by a box of hats on his doorstep. He decided to share it with his animal friends who are all grumpy as well. The last friend that hats are shared with is giraffe who isn't feeling well. Everyone is happy and feeling well enough for a party at the end of the book complete with lots of hats.

The book is simple and colorful with the various animals and hats. The emotions are also familiar to young readers - grumpy, excited, not feeling well. It also illustrates the importance of sharing happiness with others and providing a reason for others to smile.

Again this book is better for a preschool aged child, however Carter giggled at this one. Granted he was probably laughing at me yell, "I'm grumpy" but it was still showing interest in the book or listening to it being read.

In the last few weeks, I have noticed that Carter pays much more attention when I read to him. He looks at the pages and listens more intently. Read to your kids! It's so important!

OK, I'll get off my reading soapbox now. Head to the library and check these great board books out!