The perfect balance

[porphyrin]

It's not often I can find something that completely entrances Robin the way the Commander Toad books, by Jane Yolen, do.

And those are nice, because he can almost read them himself. But they're hard for adults to read more than once, and they're so short that he insists on us reading them again and again.

We've tried a whole list of 'sit and read with me' books, stuff I loved as a child, stuff Mike loved as a child.

The Hobbit -- no attention span for it
Wrinkle In Time -- no attention span
Iliad/Odessey -- no attention span (hush, you-- *I* Loved this at age 3)
Roald Dahl -- no attention span for it
My side of the Mountain -- no attention span

...Doctor Dolittle works, but there aren't enough pictures to suit him. Likewise, Kipling's Just So stories with the original illustrations. Those work for about 20 minutes at a time.

But the perfect balance-- the book that I read to him for 90 minutes last night until I was hoarse, with Just Enough illustration that he can enjoy it, not so much that he goes off in his own head and interrupts me because he's thinking so hard about the pretty pictures?

The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1.

We finished it last night, too.

So now we have the rest, and I'm looking for recommendations of things written on a similar level.

Robin is currently watching TV with Book 2 hugged to his chest, and the two small spider finger puppets I got him at the same time on his index fingers. Lillian is trying to reach his toes to chew on them. Mike is out on a run, and I am securely hooked into my new sports bra (which has about as many grommets as can be found on your average aircraft carrier) and am packing a bag for weapons class.

Today is busy: after weapons and empty-hand, there's a party. After the party, Mike has a party to attend. I will be child wrangling and looking for those recommendations of books from you, my dear friends, as AKICILJ. :)

Comments

[ccfinlay.livejournal.com]

The books that worked most for us were the Oz books by Baum. We read and reread Rinkitink of Oz over a period of six or seven years until it was in tatters.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Narnia was what Dad and I liked, but I don't know that it has more pictures than Roald Dahl. Also Kari and I pored over the Oz books obsessively as well.

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

We haven't tried Oz (but we will!).

Narnia bores him, sadly.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a third on Oz. I read those obsessively. Also Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, and when it comes out, The Magic Thief. I read an ARC this week and I think it might hit that sweet spot for younger kids.

[pameladean]

I was totally made for the Alice books when I was six or so. They do have grand original illustrations, but they're pretty weird.

P.

[crimini.livejournal.com]

You could always start him on comics... LOADS of pictures and story. N was entranced with Usagi Yojimbo, but there is a lot of explanation of certain words like seppuku and ronin. And then there's Bone, but that also might be a little above him. Still, once the rat creatures get involved, it's loads of action and silliness.

I'm sure there's also illustrated classics like David Copperfield, Black Beauty, and so forth. I read them in these little digest books--almost comic format, illustrated page every other text page--and was introduced to Edgar Alan Poe's Telltale Heart. It was awesome. Don't know if they still make stuff like that anymore.

What about the Capt. Underpants series? I just saw those the other day.

[markgritter.livejournal.com]

I read the same illustrated classics crimini mentions--- they were abridged, of course, but that's how I got introduced to "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Treasure Island", "Oliver Twist" and I don't know what else.

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

I forgot that we'd read Usagi obessessively when he was four-- probably because Mike refuses to read him comic books. We had the 'Four Seasons' volume.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Aw, cute!

I loved the Iliad and the Odyssey as a wee thing too (and Little House on the Prairie). I've always blamed some of my weirdness on my dad having read Homer to me as a 3-year-old, though.

[timprov.livejournal.com]

Mushroom Planet books?

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Captain Underpants.

Don't pooh-pooh; they're wonderfully illustrated, hilarious, encourage children to subvert authority, and are terrific vocabulary builders.

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

These are going on the list with Oz, to be acquired via Bookmooch. :) Thanks! I'd forgotten about the Mushroom Planet books-- wasn't there a chicken involved somehow?

Books my boychild loved at Robins age and a little beyond

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

Riki Tiki Tavi (which I probably spelled wrong)

The Velveteen Rabbit

Charlotte's Web (they have big, illustrated editions at B&N in the bargain book section and smaller illustrated editions in the kids books)

There is a whole series by Bruce Colville that starts with My Teacher is an Alien and just gets sillier. These are rated for ages 4-8

A step up in Bruce Colville books is Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher.

The Little House on the Prairie books are good for boys too.

The Marvin Redpost books by Louis Sachar

Also any of the Wayside School books by Louis Sachar.