Bookworms

I love books. I think this is a genetic component. My sister loves books...my brother loves books...my father loves books. In fact his MO when he comes to my house is to immediately walk to my coffee pot and make a pot of coffee--check in with the grandkids on how their lives are going--and head to my bookcase to check out the selection. It makes me laugh, because I am just like him in this way. If people have bookcases in plain view in their houses, I will check out every title on the shelf. Even if I was just there last week and I am sure the selection hasn't changed, much.

This genetic trait has been passed down to the next generation--but only to part of it. My daughters, also, seem to have an inate love of books. My twelve-year-old is a mini-me. She would just as soon read as breathe. She would read at every meal--if I would let her--and all of her books look like they were purchased at a used bookstore (Some of them were, but that isn't really the point, is it?). Not because she doesn't take care of them, but because they have been read--by her--so many times.

My five-year-old loves books, as well. She has carried around books and "read" them since the day she could coordinate her fingers to hold on to one. When she was two, she got a bitty baby for her birthday. Bitty Baby came with--you guessed it--a book. That daughter of mine immediately pulled the baby on her lap, opened the book and proceeded to "read" to the dolly. She takes books to mealtimes, as well. And not just picture books. Usually, they are big chapter books.

Last weekend, "Pampa" and "Grandma Sue" came for a visit to see my oldest son play football. He would be half of the next generation that this "book" gene skipped. It isn't that he doesn't like to read. It is just that he is a newspaper, comics, internet blurb guy.

Anyway, my dad did what he does--made coffee, talked to the grandkids, and perused the bookshelf. We had a lengthy conversation about books, which led to a conversation about churches, which led to a conversation about this, that, and the other. Anyway, when it was all said and done, Dad was at the kitchen table, browsing through two books.

My five-year-old was not to be outdone. She announced, "I like to read. I am going to read...THIS!" and she pulls a book off of the shelf.

"Oh, wow! Are you going to read Wuthering Heights?" Grandma Sue asked her.

"Yes!" she replied. Now you have to understand that this wasn't just a random book choice. My bookworm baby had a very specific reason for selecting this particular title. The cover is pink.

"Do you know what that book is about?" Grandma Sue asked.

She gave all of us in the room that LOOK. You know, the one that Baby Princesses all over the world have perfected. The Are you kidding me?? Watch me wow you with how wonderful I am!

"Yes," she stated with certainty. "It is about the WEATHER. And this girl." She pointed to the picture of the girl on the front cover. "And probably her parents."

Well, there you go--"Jobaby Notes" for Wuthering Heights. English teachers all over America will be so happy!

She then opened the book and proceeded to spend the next half-hour reading all of the one-syllable, short vowel words on the first page of Wuthering Heights.

Which went something like this:

I..have...just...a...to...my...(what's that word???)...oh, the!...that...I...beh...(BEE)...oh, be!...is...a...In...You get the idea.

Of course all the adults were cracking up and we were still getting that LOOK from the baby. My dad held up Jane Eyre. "Maybe when you are done reading that, Little Bit, you can read this--written by her sister."

I can't wait to hear the "Jobaby Notes" on that one!!