It's been a few weeks, so I thought I would revive a fledgling feature on my blog, Story Time with Zoë. It's not that we haven't been reading much lately. Quite the contrary. Zoë has moved on to some very interesting chapter books and has thoroughly enjoyed the adventures she is able to take in her mind with these new gems. Even Zane is stepping up his game. He just doesn't realize that maybe he's not supposed to be reading as well as he is and although he will struggle with new words and how to pronounce them, he has yet to become frustrated in any endeavor. His latest undertaking is the Book the First Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events. Although he needs help with many of the words he has yet to indicate frustration and plows ahead. ... read more >>

It's funny how something as seemingly insignificant as recording Zoë reading a book can have such a ripple effect on the rest of my kids. Zane (5), never one to be outdone is selecting and reading books like a madman. He practices alone on the couch and then brings the book to me proclaiming he's ready to read go and get the microphone. He's not at Zoë's reading level yet he remains undaunted in his zest to conquer new words, unfazed by the sibling rivalry that is surely brewing. I've struggled through countless books with him and he's not become frustrated once. I pray it's a trend that continues. ... read more >>

I remember the first time Zoë read Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman on her own. It seemed to take an eternity, each turn of the page leaving her stumbling over and phonetically attempting to sound out words. I would start a word giving her the sounds and she would finish it. We repeated the process page after page my frustration level rising though not in proportion to her excitement level as the end of the book neared. "Look how much I've read, Daddy," she would exclaim after every couple of pages. She refused every offer and attempt of mine to take over the reading and let her just listen to the story. She was on a mission. By the time she had finished I was completely spent. She was totally stoked. "How many pages was that? Did you see me? Daddy, look. I just read this whole book!" Pride transformed my weariness and my frustration dissipated. ... read more >>

Last week's initial offering of Story Time with Zoë was a resounding success. Dr. Seuss is an all-time favorite of mine and Green Eggs and Ham still ranks as one of my top choices. All of my kids seem to like his works and I find that the rhyming and meter of his stories lends itself to not only an engaging active listen but also encouraging early reading. It helps that the stories are fun, timeless and bring to mind some of my most fond childhood memories. We could read a Seuss book every day and scarcely grow tired of the story. It is pure joy to be able to pass that on to my children.

This week's story also reminds me of my youth, of times when what was going on in the world around me didn't matter because there was a little place nothing short of utopia deep within the heart of the city. A place where I could lose myself and become a part of someone else's wonderful world learning to read, count and bang a drum like an animal. Wait, animal was a Muppet. Anyway, I'm talking about Sesame Street. Good times! ... read more >>

Welcome to the first of what I hope to be a recurring entry on the pages you see before you. I got the idea for this as I painstakingly labored to bring my adoring masses (all three of you) some Christmas Cheer. It was my first attempt at a podcast. Songs were mislabeled, some were left out, others snuck in there all in an attempt to provide some Yuletide Cheer. Honestly, the entire process was horribly painful and by the time I had completed the podcast, I could care less if Old Saint Nick ever came to see me or for that matter any of you. That's right. For all I cared the fat little elf could find himself stuck in your chimney only to be discovered as his rotting charred corpse began to fall into the embers of your fireplace after months of winter log burning. "Honey, you forgot to open the flue, again. No. Wait. Good God! Honey, take the kids and run, get outta here. That's not soot--it's Santa! ... read more >>