"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."

 Back quite some time ago I wrote a post about mine and Opeie's reading diary which all started because of Mrs M not being able to track down a really important book from her childhood that was read to her at bedtimes by her great Nan. The problem was she couldn't remember the name of the book, only the main character, a very large fat cat.

We managed to find the book eventually but the whole thing made me think that I would hate it if Opeie couldn't remember an important book from his childhood, hence the beginning of the reading diary, which we have been packing full of wild and wonderful stories and plenty of educational content.

Over the last few months though the way we read together has changed and it seems to now be Opeie reading more to me. So last week Opeie asked me if he could have his own reading diary to keep track of what he is reading. I think the way in which we have read as a family to this point has laid down some great groundwork. It means so much to me to see Opeie excited about reading and hearing him say "can I just read one more?" After already devouring two books.

Filling in his book is great for his writing too and I am hoping we continue filling the pages at the rate we are now. If there was one thing I wanted to install in Opeie early on, it is the enjoyment you can get from reading and the knowledge that all the amazing books out there are readily available to him.

"He didn't talk words - he went Boing Boing! instead!"

I've said it so many times in posts but Opeie is a bookaholic, he goes through books like they are going out of fashion and can quite happily sit in the nook of my armpit and have 10-15 books read to him one after another. Although he does watch TV occasionally he would definitely choose books every time if given the option. His most recent favourite book is Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss.

The book is an adaptation of a short movie made back in the 50's which I also managed to track down and he loves too. The story is about young Gerald McCloy who when learning to talk at the age of 2 doesn't speak words he goes "Boing, Boing" instead and his crazy noises develop over time. It is a great story and something a little different, although the father in the story would definitely benefit from going on one of those government run parenting courses.

The rhyming is amazingly written which you expect from the good Dr. and although Opeie can't read the book himself the still manages to finish off the lines as I'm reading because we have read it so many times. He's always quick to jump in with the "Boing Boing instead" before i get to say it. I hope his love of books continues as its building good structure for his reading as he develops.

Here's the short movie if your interested in having a look...