My Little Opposites Book: 12/13/06
Who can resist a book with a giant green dinosaur on the cover? In the case of My Little Opposites Book it was the dinosaur that attracted Sean over the summer. He picked it up at one of the BookCrossing meetings from the library discard shelf that the Dublin public library maintains at the Starbuck's where we meet. From the wear and tear on the book it was clearly a favorite among many young readers. Now that he's reading, he likes it because it's one of the few books he can read to himself with no help. He even has read it to me a few times.

I like it for its bold colors, big shapes and use of gradients to define the shapes. All of the drawings have that same happy and friendly expression that the dinosaur has. It gives the feel that all the characters are enjoying being in the book. With all the smiling its hard not smile while reading the book even though it's just a simple list of opposites.

Gratitude #13: Literacy:
I'm grateful for the ability to read and I'm thrilled that Sean is now learning how to read. I'm happy that he loves books as much as Ian and I do. Hopefully Harriet will feel the same way. Unfortunately Sean's love of reading is mixing with the usual preschooler goofiness. Sean and his friend Zaki have found a way to "beat the system" at school so they can have access to the books without having to share them with their classmates. All they have to do is get put on time-out. Then while the other kids are outside for recess, they are inside in the library reading books to their hearts' content.

If books are the goal, then taking away books is the punishment. Last night was the monthly BookCrossing meeting. Sean had to go to bed instead of joining me for the meeting. He was heartbroken. As it turns out, his friend Connor was also at home on time-out for misbehaving. So it worked out in a perverse sort of way.

Hopefully today Sean and Zaki will have a better day. I really don't want to hear Ms. Christina say: "He had another rough day" when I go to pick him up.

 

Steps: 10000