Reading the Classics - and Loving every minute

Gone are the days of reading Goodnight Moon and Dr. Seuss before bed. Part of me is thankful that Dylan can read to himself because it gives me time to do other important things like wash dishes and pack lunches. However, there is a big part of me that misses laying next to him and reading aloud - the Mommy part.

Dylan has quite a fascination or should I say complete love of reading encyclopedia type books. Anything that he can read and memorize some fact or figure is what he thrives on. Do I want to read about facts and statistics before bed? No.

I can't even begin to guess the number of animal books or reference books this child has in his room. Even as a toddler, he wanted reference books - not some story about a bear who lived in the woods with other animals.Trust me - I tried and finally gave in to his desires.

Now that he is in the 3rd grade and reading more, his teacher has actually banned him from reading 'animal-reference books' as part of his weekly reading. Oh, the horror for him was unimaginable! That was until I came across some books in the $1 bin at Target.

Classics. Books I knew he would enjoy because they were about animals - but not a reference book. These books would take him to far off lands and give him a new love of reading. I love that he wants to learn something when he reads, but I also want him to know the pure joy of reading a story that has a beginning, middle, and end. Maybe even a moral to it.

The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and  Moby Dick - these are now on the same shelf with his encyclopedias.

I never read these books growing up, so reading them together is even more enjoyable. I want to find out what happens when I turn the page as much as he does. Last night we finished our first classic novel together and Buck will forever hold a special place in our hearts - just as he did for John Thornton.

As for the next book on our reading list, well, that's up to Dylan. I have a feeling it will be White Fang. Whatever book he chooses, I am just happy that I get my 'mommy time' back at night and that he is finding a whole new love for reading.

Of course he still loves his animal encyclopedias. Somehow they still end up in his bed at night.

Do you read to your children at bedtime?