Finding Time to Read Again!

My daughter is now 18 months old and busier than ever.  Fortunately, she is learning to play a teensy bit more independently, which is allowing me to steal a few moments away to read!

I've discovered a wonderful new-to-me author who writes gorgeous pieces of juvenille fiction: Kate DiCamillo.  Wow.  Her writing is so rich, and her storytelling so engaging, that I've been devouring her books.  The ones I've read recently are:

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - his illustrations are amazing!
The Tale of Despereaux - I haven't seen the movie, but the images conjured up by Kate's writing are enough for me!  (And I love how she frequently addresses the "Reader" during teachable moments - but not in a condescending way)
Because of Winn-Dixie - such a feel-good story about a girl and her dog

I've also discovered Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life, which I've decided I need to buy for someone's Christmas present.  It's her memoir, but more than that, her life "through" food, so it is interspersed with recipes.  A memoir and cookbook...the best combination in my mind!  Yummy and inspiring!

And for my daughter, we have been laughing our way through Sandra Boynton's picture books.  They are perfect for her, perhaps a little over her head at times, but she laughs when I laugh, so it's great fun!  Tonight we read Blue Hat, Green Hat.  Other favorites of ours are The Belly Button Book and Pajama Time!  And the best part...they're board books, so she can "read" them on her own without ripping the pages!

I've also returned to the piano to "read" Chopin's Sonata in B minor.  I had forgotten that I studied this sonata in college, but as I've been working on it lately it's starting to come back to me.  I figured out that if I put my little girl in her highchair during snack time, I can get a good 15 minutes of practice in!  Stealing a few moments here and there...I'm starting to see some progress!

Happy days.  Love reading.