Literary Little One

When I was single I read a book a week. I have a library card from every city I've lived in. I love the library. Lucky for the me my kids do too. I don't remember when I started reading books to Riley. I do remember the first time a Mommy friend made a comment about it and I felt guilty for not reading enough, she's was about 5mo old. It was a few months later that Riley began to "look at books" rather than solely teething on them.

Riley reading at the doctor's office. About eight months old.

Perusing the junk mail. Nine months old.

Like most other milestones she's on the fence about, her friends really encouraged her. They all love books. Riley has never harmed a book on purpose, except for one moment of frustration when she was teething. Sometimes she turns a page a little too enthusiastically, tries to move a piece of the pop-up image that doesn't move or wants to know where the fuzzy part of the book is coming from. She has never torn out pages, pulled covers off or colored in a book. She loves them and Mommy talks to her alot about not hurting books. Only 1/3 of her big brother's books survived his toodlerhood intact. He loves to read, but displays little respect for books themselves. I digress, Riley's friends all enjoy books.

Reading with Boo and Mr. C, the 3 musketeers. Eight months.
We used a pop-up book to lure all the babies to the couch for pictures of them in the Valentines shirts I made. Seventeen months.

Boo and Roo checking out Boo's favorite book,Dog. Eight months.

Riley started independently looking at board books. I had all the other books out of reach so we only looked at those together.

This set of sea themed board books were her first favorites. Ten months.

First priority book, second diaper. Eleven months.
Dr. Suessin' it up, eleven months.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar eats double lunches, plus snacks just like Riley! Starting on the classics at Grandpa's house. Eleven Months.

When Riley's first birthday came and two important thing happened: 1)She got a ton of great new books 2)We finally weaned. I decided she was old enough and moved all of her books within reach. I encouraged her to look at them by herself or with Mommy. Weaning actually reached completion a few weeks after her birthday, but books were a huge part of getting her to bed without nursing. Books became an important part of nap and bedtime routines.

Reading one her new birthday books with Grandma. Twelve months.

Reading the reigning favorite of all the books she owns, Giraffes Can't Dance, with Ya-ya. Twelve months.
My genius brushing up for the Scrabble world championship. Fifteen months.

Riley really started growing up fast after her birthday. She stopped breastfeeding entirely, started walking and got her big girl car seat. Sitting upright and facing front is a much more conducive position for reading. Also, much better for snapping pictures from the passenger seat.

Considering Little, Big on the way to a play date. Sixteen months.
Reading That Kind of Mother at seventeen months. Apparently it's so good it makes her toes curl.
Notice the tiny fingers and tuft of hair of my little book worm. Also, she's reading a library book resting on a library book. Reading in the waiting room while I had my MRI on St. Patty's Day. Notice her shiny pick tote bag, stylish.
One more from the same day. Yes, she's reading an Avon catalog. We brought four books, but apparently she was low on lip gloss. Eighteen months.

One of the toys Riley played with most was a hand-me-down musical book that plays nursery rhymes. It was a lifesaver in the car or waiting rooms.

Boo and Roo looking at the musical book together. Almost seventeen months.

Riley's daycare has "book time" after snacks and meals to give her daycare provider time to sweep before she puts the babies down. It started because there was a little one who won't sit still for stories so she started reading to the kids when everyone was strapped into their highchairs.

Riley reading at daycare. Almost seventeen months.

Riley and I read together a lot. Before naps and bedtime she insists on at least two renditions of a book. Good thing Mommy's a classically trained actress. During the day she'll pull one off the shelf and run to me signing or saying "peez" (sometimes both). Books and donuts are the things I consistently hear please for, she must be mine.

Reading a pop-up book at the children's museum. Sixteen months.

Reading the lift the flap book about the zoo together and realizing I have no idea what sounds giraffes and peacocks make...Eighteen months. Riley's tie for favorite book she owns I Love You, Stinky Face. Eighteen months

Switching to a big girl bed only intensified the need for reading before sleep. It was the part of the routine she liked best. I tried to keep things the same to ease the transition.

First order of business in her new bed? Read an Elmo book. Eighteen months.

Guest bedtime story reader, Aunt Jessie! Yup, that's Stinky Face, again. Eighteen months.

After any bedtime story worth its ink it is sleep time and sometimes during! Right now we're loving the How Do Dinosaurs series especially How do Dinosaurs Say Good Night.

Apparently, she fell asleep during one of Corduroy's more thought provoking adventures
It runs in the family. Isaac age eight years.