Archive for the ‘read it’ Category

“Will you walk into my parlor? said the spider to the fly….”

So begins the old and familiar poem by Mary Howitt.  But one look at The Spider and the Fly and you’ll know, there is nothing ordinary about it.

The illustrations by Mr. DiTerlizzi are nothing short of remarkable.  The story reads like a classic silent film, Ms. Fly is a 1920’s heroine, so lovely and ultimately doomed.  The spider is a dapper, silver-tongued villain, who is, oh, so cunning.

But what about the actual poem… aren’t the kids turned off by a morality tale written in 1820’s?  Not my kids!  It’s a story they’ve asked to hear again and again during the spooky month of October.  The language, while antiquated, is lyrical and more easily understood than I expected.

A note of caution: If you have very young, or easily frightened children, this storybook may not be for you.  For although it is never gory or graphic, the spider does get Ms. Fly in the end.  And speaking of the end:  You’ll love the postscript by the spider (added by Mr. DiTerlizzi).

While the Spider and the Fly isn’t a Halloween book, there is no better time of year to read this wonderful book.

For a true Halloween choice, how about Big Pumpkin?

It’s a clever Halloween tale, that goes to show that many hands make light work.  My kids love when I read it in voices, the cackling witch, the Transilvanian vampire, the monotone mummy…  This book is short and sweet and always makes my kids want to eat pumpkin pie.

To check out a few more of our Halloween Storybook favorites, be sure to go back and read my post from last year.  We still can’t get enough of Adam Rex’s Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, which is so funny, you’ll all be in stitches…  oops, no pun intended!

I’ve now got my eye on the sequel Frankenstein Takes the Cake which looks every bit as rib splitting.

Happy Haunted Reading!

I’d love to hear your favorite scariest books…. even for adults, I’ve had half a mind to break out Poe or something similarly spooky this Halloween season.

Is it just me, or has it been near impossible to find time to read this summer?

I just want my laundry to be done (for once), and to have a quiet hour to read under the shade of a tree.  I ask you, is that too much to wish for?

I’ve been trying to read, oh so slowly, My Antonia by Willa Cather.  This book is breathtakingly lovely, by the way.  It’s a book to savor, if only I could find the time.

I’ve also been listening to The Help on my iPod, which I’m also enjoying immensely.

Does anyone else like to listen to recorded books?  It is a wonderful way to pass the time while weeding.  If you saw the weeds in my garden, you would know I haven’t had time to listen (or weed) much either.

So on the lucky chance that you have more leisure time than I do…

I thought I would share a few of my favorite books from summers past.

I first read this book when I was in high school.  It was recommended to me by my favorite teacher, Miss Lees, who taught English and Humanities.  I loved this book so much, I’ve read it several times since.

Katherine is a historical novel that is both romantic and beautifully written.  If you are looking for a book that is hard to put down, this is your book.

What can I say about The Book Thief?  It floored me.  I carried it with me for a long time after… figuratively of course.   The characters are unforgettable … Liesel and Rudy, Hans and and Rosa Hubermann, and… Death of course (yes, Death is a character in this book.)  This book is a must read.

All the Pretty Horses gave me goose bumps more than once.  Cormac McCarthy carries you away to the harsh and beautiful landscape of ranch life in Texas and northern Mexico.  The land, the horses and the characters are exquisitely rendered.  If you haven’t read it… you need to.

So there are a few of my favorite books.  I would love to hear your short list.  When I finish My Antonia… I don’t have anything I’m dying to read next.