Thursday
Mar222012
Three of our Very Favorite Read-Alouds
Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 5:00AM Some favorites from my daughter's younger years were pulled recently for bedtime read-alouds.
What my seven year old son enjoys now, my almost eleven year old daughter loves to hear again as well.
Isn't this what makes a good story? ~ that we WANT to hear it again and again?
You need to muster up a good Italian accent to read these books aloud!
Strega Nona is one of our all time favorites! When I read it this week, my daughter wondered if this story was related to The Sorcerer's Apprentice.... good question. (I'll have to Google that one.)
Once you meet Big Anthony, Strega Nona's trusted assistant, you will want to learn more about him. Big Anthony, His Story must be the next book you read. Big Anthony is a lovable, well-intentioned boy who tries to get things right, but it never quite works out for him!
Finally, Strega Nona Meets Her Match is a good way to round out this threesome.
We fell in love with Tomie dePaola long ago.... but last year we really enjoyed the 26 Fairmount Avenue series... we read the entire series in just a couple of weeks. I have to thank Amy for recommending them on her blog.
These three stories are filled with little bits of Italian and pieces of history and geography. As always, the pictures are marvelous and there are lots of giggles as I read each book.
"Reading is important because if you can read you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything."
~Tomie dePaola
I hope you can take a minute to watch this clip of Tomie dePaola talking about the importance of reading... it reinforces to me the importance of my role as a MOTHER who READS to her children!
Reader Comments (9)
It is a modern retelling of Sorcerer's Apprentice! We learned that last year when we studied Ancient Greece and listened to Sorcerer's Apprentice on Maestro Classics.
I have never read Strega Nona Meets her Match. We love many of his books.
Blessings,
Dawn
Oh, Tomie DeP! Love his stuff! We just read one of his Irish tales for St. Patrick's Day last week. He is certainly prolific! Thank you for sharing the video!
We have Strega Nona, but to be honest I don't remember a thing about it. I wish I did. I really wish the books weren't upstairs, the kids might read more and I might visit the bookshelf more. Sad, right? I have never heard of the other two books.
I am interested to know what your typical school day looks like. I know you have blogged about it a lot recently, but I would like to know how much time you spend and on what.
Love Tomie DePaola. We enjoyed the Fairmont Ave. series last year but I haven't done Strega Nona with my 5 yr old. I should get them out of the library soon! Thanks for the reminder.
I love all these and also Charlie Needs a Cloak.
I am a big fan of dePaola's work. I have read Strega Nona but not the other two titles. Thanks for the suggestions.
Mary,
I have to agree w/you regarding a love of Tomie dePaola books. My kids have read several of his books and they absolutly love them. I am looking forward to my youngest learning how to read so he can also have the pleasure of enjoying some really "great reads."
We just rowed The Clown of God and it was wonderful! I'll put these on our library list. Thank you! We LOVE good read alouds and Tomie dePaola!