Dear readers,
Welcome to Title Talk, 05.2018. You might remember, I started this year hoping to participate in 3 reading challenges. Silly me, what was I thinking? As we approach the half-way point of the year, I am only reading books for 2 of them. Have abandoned the third one completely. Barely hanging in on those two. Life keeps encroaching on my reading time. And when I do find myself with a few quiet moments, I haven’t been able to focus.
For now, I am still reading books that follow the Book Girl Magic reading challenge prompts. As you can see below, our prompt for May was to read a book with a woman heroine. Which is what a heroine would be. A woman.
Except in the case of Matilda, the book I chose to read, in which the heroine is a little girl. Decided to use children’s books for the prompts in this challenge since 1 adult book is about all this librarian can read a month. And I am reading all grown-up books for the Book by Book challenge.
BOOK GIRL MAGIC READING CHALLENGE, 05.2018
Did you ever have a teacher who, by reading a book aloud to the class, could make the characters come alive and the story seem like something you were watching on a big screen in the classroom? I have had the pleasure to work with several teachers like that. In each case, these teachers sometimes selected books to read aloud with their students that I thought the kids would never sit still long enough to get through. Nancy read Mr. Popper’s Penguins. I think it was Susan who read Matilda, and Lorena read Amelia Bedelia. After finishing those books with their students, I would have a run in the library for those titles or others by the same author. Books I thought to be too old and outdated, and irrelevant to today’s children were given a new lease on life! Couldn’t keep them on the shelves for months afterward. That’s just one of the magical qualities of a good teacher!!
In Search of a Hero(ine)
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I turned to Amazon to help me decide on a book with a little girl heroine, and Matilda popped up. I knew something of the story already because the movie version of Roald Dahl’s book, had been shown in bits and pieces, in the library during P.E. on inclement weather days. The children always loved it. But I had considered weeding the book from the collection, and many of Dahl’s other titles (with the exception of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), because the books were written in British English. My students struggled enough to learn American English. Most of my students would have found comprehending the humor and the fifth grade reading level very difficult.
Read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach by Dahl as a child, myself. Loved them. Loved how they took me to impossible, imaginary places just like Alice and Wonderland had. This month, the child in this 60 year-old grandma thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kate (“The Titanic”) Winslet’s narration of this rollicking, romp of a read.
I’ve been listening to Matilda on my morning walks, as I iron, and continue with spring cleaning. The book and Kate Winslet’s lively narration have made even these dull tasks enjoyable. However, walking around the block, chuckling out loud to myself, has probably earned me more than a few questioning looks from neighbors. But it’s been totally worth their mumblings and sideways stares.
Looking for something fun to share with your children this summer? Try the Audible version of Matilda. Readers of all ages will find themselves cheering on this young heroine in her quest for what is right and honorable. Then follow it up with the movie starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman. Perfect way to kick off summer.
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Your Turn
So, with Title Talk, 05.2018, that’s another month down! Do you have a favorite book with a heroine? Did you read any of Roald Dahl’s books as a child? Maybe you’ve seen the Johnny Depp movie version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Or, the one with Gene Wilder. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. So. Good. If you enjoyed any of those, you will love Matilda. Maybe you can bring this story to life for a child you love. Or visit my other Book Girl Magic posts, here, to find suggestions for other terrific children’s books.
Heading to Albuquerque tomorrow and then flying with Lucia and Lauren to Cleveland on Tuesday afternoon. Lauren has her first appointment at the Cleveland Clinic at 7 am on Wednesday. Not sure what my Internet connectivity will be or how much time I will have for blogging. But will be home Saturday, 05.26, I hope, and back on track.
Enjoy a restful long weekend. Happy Memorial Day!
Hugs and kisses,
Dara
My 4th grade teacher read us a lot of Roald Dahl and she was great at it!
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
Matilda actually scared me as a child. Really, a lot of Roald Dahl books are kinda creepy to me. Haha.
Joanne Long
I just started How to Eat Fried Worms as a read aloud. I captured their interest with photos of gusanos de maguey from Oaxaca. One of my favourite series with a heroine is the Cara Black books that are set in Paris. Or try the Maisie Dobson books by Jacqueline Winspear.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Safe travels, Leslie! 🙂 I vividly remember my 1st grade teacher reading us Charlotte’s Web. It’s fun to watch the kids reactions when their teachers read books aloud to them, I’ve witnessed it in Nathan and Autumn’s classes over the years. Books are so much more! Thanks for sharing this sweet post!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Daenel T.
I know my kids read his books. And I’m almost certain that I must’ve read them to the kids at some point but, for the life of me, I cannot remember it. How sad is that? I do remember watching the movies with the kids though because I still watch them and they make fun of me. LOL
Jodie
Sending tons of love and prayers. Reading used to be my get away, but I’ve found it harder to do lately. I blame social media…ha ha!
But my all time favorite used to be Nancy Drew!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com