I have been reminded of this one over the past few months with my youngest. Emily is 5 and quickly approaching the end of kindergarten (how did that happen???). Her reading skills have really taken off. As I sat on her bed with her one night, she struggled with a word, but was determined to figure it out. She sounded out each letter, then put them together and said the word. Her eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face. "I did it Mommy! I read it!!" She takes such joy in her new found reading ability and it is a wonderful thing to witness - just as it was when my older two girls went through it.
There is one sad thing about it, though. This is the last time it will happen in this house. Emily is the last one who will experience all the "firsts." When it comes to reading, that means there is a whole bookshelf full of well-worn books that will very soon be too easy for the all readers in this house. Board books, Clifford books, Little Critter books, Biscuit books will soon begin to gather dust or be relegated to a box in the attic as all the girls move on to more difficult, more exciting stories.
As a former preschool teacher and a lover of words, these books have a special place in my heart and I hope, someday, they will grace the bookshelves of my home again as I read them to grandchildren!!
On that note, here's a list of my 10 Favorite Children's Books:
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