James and the Giant Peach

If you were stuck inside (or on top of) a gigantic fruit, which one would you wish it to be? Why? 

Julia (9): "A pomegranate or a cherry, because cherries are really juicy and delicious and so are pomegranates. And the pomegranate would have a ton of little tiny homes for each person."

Gabe (7): "An apricot, because it's my favorite fruit."

Which insect did you like best? 

Julia: "I like the Spider because she's really kind, and dark and smooth."

Gabe: "I liked Centipede because he's funny and he likes being a pest. He says, 'I'm a pest and I'm proud of it.'"

Mom's Notes: Now we have another incredibly imaginative and expectedly wacky Roald Dahl tale under our belts this year. There's just something completely unforgettable about picturing a giant peach sailing through the sky. And the crazy cloud men!? RD's first very first chapter book for children was as big a hit as his others in this house. 

Gone-Away Lake

Imagine you were given an amazing old house to use as a club house. What would you name your club? What would you do in your club house?

Julia (9): "I would name it 'The Great Gone-Away Explorers.' We would find new ways to use the plants in Gone-Away and we would decorate the house in our own type of way."

Gabe (7): "I would name my club "Wu Crew" because the people in the club would master their Spinjitzu like in Ninjago."

Mom's Notes: Elizabeth Enright is a favorite author of mine. She writes kids so well. You feel like you know (and want to be friends with!) Julian and Portia. Her books may be dated, but the way the kids act and think is relevant. I remember reading this as a girl, and though I'd forgotten much of it, the atmosphere the book emits stuck with me. We'll read the second one next summer!