Book Worms

A few weeks ago, I had to run a quick errand with the girls before taking them to get their promised Orange Leaf on a Saturday.  As we were walking back to the car, Grace noticed a vanity license plate on the car next to us that said Book Worm.  And then, for the next several minutes as we drove over to get some frozen yogurt, she went on and on about how we should totally get a license plate like that for OUR car.  And how she wants to get one for HER car when she gets older.  Now, of all my children, if you would have asked me even a couple of years ago, I would have said that Grace was my least likely child to EVER proclaim herself a "reader."  And yet, here we are today, with Grace outpacing everyone in the house (minus me) and labeling herself a book worm.  Hahaha.  As a book worm myself, it pleases me to no end that the majority of my children love a good book.  :) And just what are some of those "good books" the kids are into these days?  Well, let me fill you in...

Jane has finally found herself a "chapter book" series that has captured her interest and tickled her funny bone as well.  "Franny K. Stein" is a mad scientist, and Jane loves these books!  They're the perfect length and level for her, and I'm hoping they will help to bridge the gap in her mind between picture books and chapter books.  She's been super resistant to reading any chapter books up until now, because I think she has psyched herself out into thinking that "they're too hard" or "too long" even though she's actually a really good little reader.  I'm hoping that once summer rolls around, we can branch off into finding some other series that she will like as well.  :)

Some other favorites from Jane and Alex are the Fly Guy series and the Little Critter books.  During last summer's summer reading, I think we probably checked out every single book the library had in those categories!  Alex, of course, also checked out every single superhero book he could find.  But the funny thing was, they were all a one checkout wonder.  He never wanted to check the same one out ever again.  Hahaha.  Once was enough for him.  :)  

For the older kids, Ethan really liked John Grisham's Theodore Boone "Kid Lawyer" series.  He's not the hugest reader these days, but in general, he does seem to like mysteries and realistic fiction.  Grace, on the other hand, seems to be on a roll with science fiction/fantasy and I couldn't be more surprised if I tried!  Hahahaha.  Her top favorite books of all time, she says, are The Hunger Games series, Divergent series,  and the Percy Jackson series.  She tore through the Percy Jackson books in about a week and a half recently and really, really liked them.  It's becoming really hard to keep up with her!  Whenever she's at the end of a book or series, she starts badgering me to help her come up with something to read next.  And I'm running out of ideas, because 9 times out of 10 she doesn't want to go with my suggestions!  Haha.  Sophie leans more towards realistic fiction, with a sprinkling of historical fiction on the side.  She really liked "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" (that she got for Christmas) and "Wonder" is her favorite book of all time.  

 In lieu of a bookshelf, Grace just lines all her books up at the foot of her bunk bed.  {With an emoji pillow standing guard.  Hahahahaha.}

With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, and summer on the horizon, I better start searching for some new material for this year's summer reading.   :)