Sunday Letters With Big Time Literacy

I'm linking up with Michelle at Big Time Literacy for Sunday Letters. You should too. It is fun!

Dear Chessie,

When we brought you home I was doing it to appease my daughter's desire to have a cat. Oh sure, I wanted a kitty too. It's just I wanted a cute little kitten of 8 weeks. You weren't that cute. You were rather big. I think you were older than six months. I felt sorry for you living in the back of Petco for months. 

Now when I look at you, I see the most beautiful cat in the world. The way you hold your tail straight up  like an exclamation point makes me smile. I adore the way you greet me when I come home. Throwing yourself at my feet begging for attention is just a blessing. Your silly antics with yarn and turkeys fills me with delight. 

Some day very soon I'm going to read you the book Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag. For good reason, it is the oldest American picture book still in print. Perhaps it would have won the Caldecott in 1929. Since Caldecott awards didn't come into existence until 1938, it had to be happy with the Newberry! You'll love the repeated phrase, "...hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions, and trillions of cats." So, dear Chessie, I want you to know that I have seen a lot of cats...maybe a few less than a million...but you are the kitty for me. Your sweetness and unconditional acceptance of me makes me happy to be in your presence. Thank you for choosing me to be your person! Love, Momma

Dear Couch,

I love long naps and cold winter days. I love the way you hold me and support me after long and sometimes trying days at work. Thanks for always being there and catching my coins and crumbs for later. I promise a massage with the vacuum. Just not today. I'm busy napping today.

You got my backside, Me

Dear Kazumi Guy,

I am still amazed at the way you caught that egg in your hat. I wonder if you've ever forgotten it's up there. Has one ever broken? I wonder if a chicken sat on top if that egg would hatch. I know that's impossible, but it is fun to think about. My friends and I loved the way you could shoot saki into our mouths without getting any on our faces.  Do you spend long hours in front of a mirror practicing? Your talent amazes me and I now see why your place is such a popular eatery.

Growling,

A Hungry Tummy

A Ferdinand Tree

My family and I just got home from an adventure in London, Paris and Southern Germany. It was as wonderful as it sounds. I'd be happy to give more details to anyone who asks! My favorite part was staying in a small town in Germany hiking, biking and spending time with my family.

The power of literature has had a far reaching affect on my family. The way literature has woven our lives together amazes me. We still recommend titles to each other, but the books that have had the deepest impact on us as a family are the ones read aloud by me or my husband when they were too young to read to themselves. (and even when the could!)  My children and I share so many inside jokes related to  children's books I read them when they were much younger. Now that my oldest is 21 I felt so rewarded by the hours I spent reading to her when she turned to me and said, "Doesn't that tree look like Ferdinand's tree?" When all three of my kids burst out with this quote from Millions of Cats after seeing yet another cat in our small German town my heart surged with pride..."Cats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere. Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats."

One of the best experiences on our trip was in London. We had tickets to see The Tempest at the Globe Theatre. My son loves The Tempest. We have all loved watching the BBC production Merlin on Netflix together. Colin Morgan, who plays the role of Merlin, took on the role of Ariel. My son badgered asked me to read the play before we left. Did I? No! When we got to the theatre we went to the gift shop before waiting in line for two hours in order to get good groundling "seats"! There in the shop was an easy to read chapter book of The Tempest. It was so much fun sitting and waiting to get in while reading aloud a child's version of The Tempest to my grown children. The play meant more to me because I had read the book and even more because I had shared it with my children.

Keep reading to children! It gives them connection. It gives them memories. It creates and strengthens family bonds!