Bedtimes are fairly predictable here, the time may change (7pm bedtime seems to have run off with the dummy fairies) but
the general process is the same. Bath, little play, four stories, into bed. Pavlov's dogs (except really they stuff around and demand songs, food, drinks etc).
Four stories is no big deal when Pamela Allan and Mem Fox are entertaining you with Green Sheep and Potato People, but as Fancy Nancy and Charlie and Lola have also been read to death I went searching for something a little more.
There was little I could find to suit a sensitive Kinder kid until I spotted my old favourite, Pippi Longstocking. Now re released with images by Lauren Child (who is Charlie and Lola). There are pages with no images but so far it seems to be the perfect solution. We read a chapter each night, it is filled with silly imaginary stories, nothing scary, just kids having adult free discussions. They spit pear pips, drink coffee and roll out the dough on the floor, the best place to do it when you are making hundreds of ginger snaps. Pippi is strong, scared of nothing, a nine year old girl whose mother is an angel and father is king of the natives, who can sew her own dresses and lives with her monkey and horse.
Popps is loving it. What a fabulous female role model Pippi still is, more than 65 years after first being written.
What were the first chapter books you remember reading or having read to you? Will you read them to your own children?
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We have Pippi on dvd, which is a big hit here. I'll have to track down the book too. The Chapter Books I am most looking forward to reading will be anything by Roald Dahl (Fantastic Mr Fox was the first chapter book I read myself), and the Little House on the Prairie series - they are my #1 faves from childhood. I still have all my very very dog eared tatty old copies, I love them. And the more I think about it, I also loved Bottersnikes and Gumbles... and so many more. I am looking forward to that stage!!
ReplyDeleteI never knew little house was a book, thank you, I will be tracking some of those down next.
ReplyDeleteOh how I loves Pippi!! I remember dressing up as her for some school do or other, complete with sprayed red plaits sticking out of my head.
ReplyDeleteI loved Astrid Lindgren when I was a kid. What else can I remember? The Little Prince is still my favourite.
ReplyDeleteMy children are into Winnie the Pooh at the moment (even though we never get past the first chapter, they always insist on starting the book from the beginning the next time.
I have that beautiful copy of Pippi - waiting till the time is right. I thought the idea of her parents being dead might freak my sensitive (almost) kindergartener too - but actually she's so obsessed by death right now that maybe this is the right time LOL!
ReplyDeleteWe've enjoyed Wind in the Willows (she's a big animal lover), and she's loving some modern fairy books set in Sydney by the comedian Wendy Harmer right now, the Pearlie series. Her Nanna gave them to her for xmas - huge hit.
Also, she loves Enid Blyton (well I did, so now she must!)
Thanks for the reminder of Pippi!
Oh I remember Pippi! I hadn't thought of her in a very long time. I must dust her off to read with my little miss.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this when I saw your pic on instagram. I was a mad keen reader as a kid (still am as you know) and I loved Pippi, Trixie and all the Enid Blyton gals too. I always identified with the girls more, even then. :) This book looks so great, sadly I don't think the Bebito will be a Pippi fan. I need me a daughter. :) xx
ReplyDeleteOh Cat,
ReplyDeleteI think little boys would love Pippi, she has Tommy and Mr Nilsson and the horse. All with adventures boys may enjoy too.
Well, that's it. I'm looking for Pippi because she sounds fabulous. And nope, I don't remember her. I remember dark fairy tales, but then discovered Enid Blyton. I've never looked back. Thanks for sharing the loveliness of your night routine. Often it's great to get the kids in bed, but they often turn out to be the most special times. xx
ReplyDeleteWell, that's it. I'm looking for Pippi because she sounds fabulous. And nope, I don't remember her. I remember dark fairy tales, but then discovered Enid Blyton. I've never looked back. Thanks for sharing the loveliness of your night routine. Often it's great to get the kids in bed, but they often turn out to be the most special times. xx
ReplyDeleteJust watch Anne of green gables , and remember the fun l had watching it the first time, and miss horse mad enjoyed it as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember being read to. I used to gobble up any Nancy Drew books I could find and I went through all my brothers boy mysteries too.
ReplyDeleteSqueal!!! One of my favs (and one of kiddos favs!!). Actually one of the kiddos is named after a pippi character :-)
ReplyDeleteWe are reading the far away tree at the moment...kiddos are enthralled!!
xxxCate
I loved the Faraway Tree, but my absolute favourite was (still is) Roald Dahl. That man was a genious. Hilarious, wonderful characters, great story lines, imaginative use of language. Can't beat Roald Dahl. I bought a set of his books last year, can't wait to share with my boys.
ReplyDeleteClearly I am not a genius, because I can't even spell it. :)
ReplyDelete