Summer Reading with Kidzilla
Summer reading programs are simply awesome. As far as I’m concerned, any program that gets kids reading and introduces them to new books is awesome.
Like many children, Kidzilla participates in our public library’s summer reading program. She loves books. She loves to read. Hitting the library opens up a whole new world of reading for her without breaking our budget any more than her reading habit already does. (Not that I’m complaining…)
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Our reading sessions are fantastic – no matter what we’re reading. More often than not, when we read, Zilla will ask questions about words and what they mean or how a certain circumstance would be possible or why a character does something. We have great conversations over books and I hope that continues. Sometimes, our book discussions take an entertaining turn and Zilla pops out a winner comment.
Zilla selects her books so many different ways – sometimes it’s because it’s her favorite author or illustrator. Sometimes it’s because the book is about a dog. Sometimes it’s because the cover it pink. Last week, we picked up a fun book – Oh My Darling, Porcupine and Other Silly Sing-Along Songs – because it sounded funny. We were right – it was a hoot.
Oh My Darling, Porcupine by Bruce Lansky and Stephen Carpenter takes all those familiar songs of childhood and reinvents them with silly new lyrics. I found myself laughing along with Zilla and loving the funny rhymes while recalling the original versions and teaching a few to Zilla.
One in particular sticks out in my mind…the poem was titled “The Top of My Hot Dog” (by Robert Pottle) and is sung to the tune of “On Top of Old Smoky.” Here’s how it went:
The top of my hot dog
is no longer bare.
It now has a topping
I didn’t want there.
Because the English teacher in me can’t help herself, I went straight for the prediction and reading comprehension skills…
Me: Zilla, what do you think might be the topping on the hot dog?
Z: I have no idea.
Me: OK, let’s keep going.
I ordered my hot dog.
I ordered it plain,
without any toppings.
I ordered in vain.
I explained the phrase “ordered in vain.” Then, trying to connect to real-world experience, I continued my inquiry.
Me: Zilla, what do you like on your hot dogs?
Z: Ketchup. Keep reading.
Well, I started eating,
then looked up in the air,
A seagull flew toward me
and gave me a scare.
Me: Why do you think the person would be scared of the seagull?
Zilla: Probably because they have big beaks. Sing.
I covered my hot dog
a second too late.
What fell from that seagull’s
too gross to relate.
Me: What do you think is the gross topping that fell from the seagull, Zilla?
Z: Ketchup.
Me: Ketchup? When have you ever seen ketchup come out of a seagull?
Z: Never.
Me: Plus, is ketchup gross?
Z: No. Keep going.
The top of my hot dog
is no longer bare.
It now has a topping
a seagull put there.
Me: OK, Zilla, now what topping do you think the seagull put on the hot dog?
Z: Ketchup.
Fab Hub: Bahaha….ketchup.
Me: Zilla, seriously, think about what kind of topping would come out of a seagull that is not supposed to be on a hot dog. Something that would be gross if it landed on your hot dog.
Z: Spit.
Fab Hub: Pfffffttt!
Me: Not spit. Try again…
Z: Poop?
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!!!
Perhaps this is one of those conversations that are better firsthand. But the Hub and I were in stitches. First, Zilla is a sharp kid – I wasn’t sure exactly why she couldn’t get past literal hot dog toppings and into the obvious. Second, the idea of ketchup coming from a seagull was, well, pretty funny. But perhaps most amusing was the look of absolute concentration on her face as we read through the poem and she thought about what was happening. So serious, this girl of ours. And her delivery…her timing and delivery…are just spot-on and made this such a fun reading session.
And I guess ultimately I’m pretty happy that my lovely Daughter doesn’t jump immediately to “poop” when presented with questions about what comes out of seagulls. Guess that’s a sign that we need to get ourselves to the beach so she can experience the wonder of seagull poop for herself.
What have you or your kids been reading lately? What have your kids said or done that made you laugh so hard you spit out your iced tea?
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I’m a huge reader and I’m glad to say that my kids enjoy reading too. I’ve had my daughter (who is a teen) come to me with a book that she has read, shove it in my hands and say “you HAVE to read this Mom”. She’ll nag at me to read it until I do. I have to say that the kid actually has good taste in books 🙂
That’s fantastic! Reading has so many rewards and being able to share them with someone else is definitely one of them!
I miss summer reading with kids! Last summer I had to import my great-niece for a week to get a fix. There are fabulous kids’ books available. I love ones like this that encourage kids to have a sense of humor.
Absolutely. Some are just plain silly – and that is a good thing, too. But I love when there’s a book that is entertaining and has a great message. It’s true that if it’s funny or gross kids will remember it, so if you can tack on a lesson as well, you’ve got a winner! Zilla loves “The Paper Bag Princess” – it’s hysterical and teaches girls to stand up for themselves and not let anyone tell them they aren’t good enough if they don’t “look” like a princess.
And this is why I can’t wait until mine can read!
It is so entertaining!
Well, I don’t have kids of my own yet, but I do teaching reading/writing to students of young ages. They’re fascinated with a wide variety of books including Wonder, The Fault in Our Stars (which I’m reading right now – it’s good btw), Saavy, Ranger’s Apprentice and a whole lot more of the usual classics like Hatchet and Judy Blume books. I can’t wait to have one of my own – I already know which ones to start with.
Reading to kids is great. Can’t say The Fault in Our Stars intrigues me at all. I’d be very likely to trust your judgment, though. Seems just too typically “sick lit” for my taste. What about it do you like?
Judy Blume books are awesome – I remember them so well! Haven’t started Kidzilla on those just yet, but oh how I think she’ll love the Superfudge ones!
I love to read. Although I am a disappointingly slow reader. I used to read together with my wife but she’d find it so frustrating getting to the end of a page and having to wait a good five minutes for me to finish. Have to say though, by the sound of things kids books have all the fun. I may have to revise my next book choices.
My Husband and I read at very different paces. I read extremely fast; he reads extremely slow. A good way we found to compensate for the difference in speed is to read aloud – he reads a two-page spread, then me. Or swap chapters. Try it!
Kids books are great – we had terrific ones growing up, but some of the new kids books are fantastic. We love Mo Willems – anything by him works for us. Very funny stuff. Kidzilla loves the Eric Carle books, mostly for the artwork.
What a lovely story!
I just purchase “Lincoln’s Grave Robbers” to send to my nephew, who is an avid reader. It’s a YA book, and it’s the first of that genre that I’m sending to him. I love that he’s a reader and want to encourage it as much as I can. This bit of encouragement is going to have to wait, though, because it looks so good I’ll have to read it first!
I love finding a book for someone that is so good you have to read it first! Sounds like a good read!