As I’ve made my way through the Little House series, Claire has looked at the illustrations on the cover (I ONLY read the books with Garth Williams’ illustrations), hopped into my lap and asked me to read her a story. So I’ve obliged her. In the first instance, I read a very detailed recounting of little Laura watching Pa make his bullets and clean his gun and also about how, you know, he could easily be mauled by a cougar or a bear in the Big Woods so he had to carry his gun with him. Surprisingly, Nick, who is a hunter, looked at me and asked if I really felt it was appropriate to read that to a three year old. “Of course it is. It’s Laura Ingalls Wilder!” I replied indignantly.
If you don’t think a three year old should be listening to a discussion about bears killing people or the sometimes casual and sometimes overt racism of the Little House series, I recommend Claire’s current favorite books. She’s still attached to some board books, but we’re starting to move on to longer story books.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
By Shel Silverstein
Goodnight Moon
By Margaret Wise Brown
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
By Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
The 1000th Voice 