Bunnicula

Would you feel threatened by a fluffy Vampire bunny? 

Evy (5): "Yeah! Because he is a vampire!" 

Gabe (8): "No. Because it only eats vegetables!" 

Julia (10): "I wouldn't be because I know he would be too little to harm me. And he's only a vampire at night." 

Mom's Notes: We read this in a few nights, finishing the evening before Halloween. I hadn't read it for decades, so it was fun to revisit this semi-spooky, mostly-funny story. I laughed out loud at the dog narrator Harold throughout. 

My Father's Dragon

If you were setting out on an adventure like Elmer was, what would you pack in your backpack? (might as well recycle the question from the last reading with the bigger kids.) 

Evy (5): "I would bring my doll Meredith, an apple, and my orange computer. And my Mom would walk me there. But it would be so amazing if you could fit in my backpack, Mom!"

Mom's Notes: I read this charming classic to Evy, and Julia took over a chapter or two. Seeing those sisters snuggled up on a chair reading together was good for this mom's literature-loving heart. 

Holes

If you were at Camp Green Lake and could choose your own nickname, what would it be? 

Evy (5): "Maple Tree"

Gabe (8): "Cool Kid"

Julia (10): "HP (for Harry Potter)" 

This book tells three different stories. One about Stanley and the boys at camp, one about Katherine and Sam, and one about Stanley's "no good, dirty-rotten, pig-stealing great great grandfather." Which one was the most interesting to you? Why? 

Evy: "I like the pig one. He carried the pig up the hill and sang the song, 'If only, if only, if only...' " 

Gabe: "The pig-stealing great grandfather. Madame Zeroni was funny."

Julia: "Stanley at camp because it had more details, and it was mainly the story. I liked the Pendanski guy. He was hilarious in it." 

Mom's Notes: The big kids have seen the movie, and this has been on our "to read" list a few years. We're all glad we finally got around to it. The weaving of the three stories in this book is done so well that it really is a hard one to put down. Last Saturday we all snuggled up in the backyard to watch the movie projected on the house. It is a fantastic film adaptation that so effectively captures the hot, dusty, hopeless, then hopeful feel of the book. (And the script matches up to the book almost word-for-word much of the time.) 

The Golden Treasury of Children's Literature

What was your favorite story that we read? Why? 

Julia (10): "I liked 'Hansel and Gretel' because it sounded more realistic than the usual cartoon fairytales."

Gabe (8): "My favorite one was 'The Unexpected Party' from The Hobbit. It was funny when the dwarves were singing."

Evy (5): "Cinderella! Because I like them dancing and I like Cinderella's dress. It was yellow and it looked like big feathers were on it."

Mom's Notes: When Myra was moving out of the Durango house a few years ago, she handed this book off to us. The inscription inside reads, "To Kiera, Jonathan, Joe, and Sarah. With Love, Aunt Barb and Uncle Dan. August 1987." I took it off the shelf at the beginning of the summer and decided that many of these are valuable stories that need to be read! So for two months the kids took turns picking a story. (Some were finished in one sitting, others lasted a few evenings.) The kids truly enjoyed reading out of "the yellow book" and eagerly looked forward to their turn to choose from the lengthy table of contents. I hope they pick this book up on their own once in a while throughout the years. Classic stories are classic for good reason, and I'm glad we all met some new characters or revisited some favorites.

Charlotte's Web

Who is your favorite character in the book? 

Evy (5): "The spider, because it's nice. And I know her little babies is going look like her."

Would you want to live on a farm? 

Evy: "Yes. A farm has my friend goat. And because there's lots of cute chickens. Oh, and a bunny! And some horsies."

Mom's Notes: Dad and Evy read this before bed over the past few months.  It was Jonny's excellent suggestion and the first real chapter book she has participated in. She loved following the story. They finished the last few chapters on their first backpacking mini-trip last night. Sounds perfectly cozy and memorable to me! 

The Chocolate Touch

What did John learn from his chocolate curse? 

Julia (9): "You shouldn't eat candy all the time. Other kind of food can taste good too. You should obey and listen the first time."

Gabe (7): "Chocolate is not the best thing in the world. He was being super greedy and selfish."

Mom's Notes: I remember my second grade teacher reading this aloud. The fateful image of John kissing his mother is still fresh in my mind from all those years ago. I imagine that might be the case for the kids after reading this as well!

Fablehaven

If you could visit Fablehaven, would you go? If so, what precautions would you take?

Julia (9): "Of course I would go, because I would like to discover this part of the world and see some mystical things. But I'd never got to the lake and always stay on the trail. And I'd bring an umbrella for the ticks."

Gabe (7): "I would not go. Because if I want to be a famous soccer player I need to practice. So I'd trade that coupon to Fablehaven to someone else for 100 soccer balls."

Mom's Notes: The kids beg for another chapter most every night, no matter what book we are reading. This one was certainly no exception there! The story is definitely a page-turner and one that they are excited to continue discovering in the series. There is a lot to think about and discuss in this one, especially concerning the choices the kids make and how they grow from their experiences.

Danny the Champion of the World

Danny and his father loved each other very much, and were best friends. How could you tell? 

Julia (9): "They always were interested about each others' lives and would work together and be happy with what they had. And they shared stories."

Gabe (7): "His dad cared about Danny so much he didn't want him to go into the woods. But Danny loved his dad so much he went to the woods to help his dad."

Mom's Notes: The poaching plot certainly caught me off guard. (You wonder and wonder what Danny's Father's big secret is... so it's kind of hilarious and confusing at the same time when you find out!) But the father/son relationship and interactions here are priceless.