Recently in Evelyn's Reading Category

Last week, Evelyn and I began a new bedtime reading routine. Evelyn would read 'Dinosaur Roar'! The book has been described (though I can't bring myself to reference the quote) as,

"...a perfect introduction to books for children. Colourful and friendly dinosaurs are matched with a bouncy rhyming text, which introduces children to the idea of opposites. Long or short, ferocious or friendly, there's a dinosaur in here to captivate everyone. It's comical, lively and extremely colourful and will leave any child roaring for more!", and it does!

"Words are kept to a minimum, but Dinosaur Roar! cleverly teaches many adjectives and comparatives as it introduces each new dinosaur: 'dinosaur clean and dinosaur slimy'".

Now, as these 'reviews' suggest, the content of the book isn't very taxing, but the brilliant thing about the way Evelyn has been reading it is her use of action and expression. As she reads, "...dinosaur clean and dinosaur slimy...", Evelyn will run her arm under her nose in a 'mock' nose wipe, sniffing up as she 'wipes'; as she reads, "...dinosaur weak and dinosaur strong..." Evie kisses her massive 'guns' (biceps) at least twice apiece. Funny!

Evelyn is currently reading Charlie and Lola, 'I will not never eat a tomato', and she is doing it entirely unaided. Jilly and I are both really proud of the way Evelyn's reading is continuing to improve over the last few weeks; and even more proud that Evelyn has begun reading to us before she goes to bed each night...brilliant!

I have been unforgiveably remiss in not reporting anything about Evelyn's reading since she started school, so I'm hoping to start making amends for it now.

I've sat with Evelyn, this evening, as she read the whole of Jelly and Bean to me. While Evie seemed to take it in her stride, I was thrilled as Evelyn read every word almost without help. Quite brilliant! And, as Evelyn really is constantly reminding me, "I know what 'quite' means, Daddy; it means 'very'!"

Jilly, Evelyn and I have been doing our Christmas shopping over the past few weeks (admittedly, Jilly's done most of it) and, on a recent shopping trip, Evelyn chose, out of all the ones on display (including the toys and clothes catalogues!), a food catalogue. When we got home, I was looking through the catalogue (dreaming of ever having the money to afford to buy all the beautiful Christmas goodies), when Evelyn saw what I was doing. Quite bizarrely, Evelyn became really upset and demanded that I stopped reading 'her book'. Fair enough?

A few days later, Jilly was in the kitchen, when she heard Evelyn in the living room, reading a story to baby Lucy (Evelyn's dolly). It turned out that Evelyn was 'reading' to Lucy from the M&S catalogue.

"Once upon a time in the city", Evelyn began, "some very nasty prawns in sauce came down and ate the baby's head (turning the page) but then, the delicious big turkey came in and saved the baby by scaring off the prawns. The end."

BRILLIANT!

The Gruffalo
And, having mentioned Evelyn's potential literary genius, I've remembered that I have planned to mention, for some time now, what Evelyn's previous favourite book is. It has been, perhaps, Evelyn's favourite book, but it is also one of my favourite books too...er...in much the same way the Disney's Hercules is one of my favourite films. If ever Evelyn and I start reading the book, and Evelyn begins to lose interest, I am always desperate to finish reading it. A little sad, I know!

That sound, in the distance? That of the flood gates of ridicule bursting open under the pressure of Jim's impending derision...