Aprés summer reading
Well, it’s been a wonderful summer with all of the amazing and endless adventures we’ve been on during the past few months.
To round out the childrens’ holidays, we expanded our journey to Terra Nova National Park during the Labour Day weekend and it was glorious.
We played tennis, went on a hike through the woods and around the lake and swam, swam, swam — but not in the lake.
Where we stayed had a heated pool and it was a saviour because, if you recall, the weather was quite chilly except for that Sunday when we had sun and a warm breeze. But we made the best of it like we always do, and had oodles of fun.
And just when I thought our adventures were over for the year, last weekend family and friends gathered in Pippy Park in St. John’s invited us to their camper.
I use the word camper lightly, given it has a bedroom, bathroom, microwave and refrigerator.
While we’ve been to the park before, attending events at North Bank Lodge and the nearby Fluvarium, we hadn’t had the pleasure of hanging out there for the whole day and night in the campground.
It was quite amazing: playing ringers, sitting around a fire listening to music — when it wasn’t being drowned out by children playing spotlight — all the while the traffic and hustle and bustle of daily living carrying on on the other side of the tree line.
It was as if we were a thousand miles away.
We have had so much fun this summer that we’ll be able to reminisce about for years.
That brings me to the stories three young friends have shared with us for the past couple of weeks.
Three children have been brought together in a wonderful set of books called the “Easy-toRead Wonder Tale Series.”
Ben, Jake and Lily are best buds and love telling stories.
Each book has three chapters and is made up of a story from each child.
Created by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustrated by David Parkins, the series takes readers on a journey around the world using familiar stories with different twists depending on what country’s perspective the tale comes from.
Made up of five books — “It’s not about the Diamonds!” “It’s Not About the Tiny Girl!” It’s Not About the Ball!” “It’s not About the Beanstalk!” and “It’s Not About the Straw!” — the series introduces children to chapter reading.
According to her website, veronikacharles.com, there is a first part to this series which includes five more books.
While each chapter is short and the language is relatively simple, it’s a great set of books to get children interested in the next level of reading.
It’s a big difference from what we’re used to — vibrant, colourful picture books with a limited vocabulary.
We have read some that included more extensive reading, but this series is specifically designed to get children engaged in the longer stories with less graphics.
Reading the different versions of the traditional stories of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” or “Rumpelstiltskin” or “Thumbelina,” is quite interesting.
The versions Martinova Charles has adapted come from a variety of countries including Germany, Indonesia, Africa, Japan, Scotland and Norway. It’s fun to read the differences between the stories you grew up with as a child and how they differ because of where they originate from.
We haven’t read them all yet. I think we only have one left, but they’re a big hit with the children.
Lindsay and Liam are asking me every night to read one of them and, depending on the time, I try to get them to read.
At the end, Martinova Charles, who is the recipient of the Aesop accolade, writes a little description about where each of the three versions come from. According to a news release that accompanied the books, she has another series called “Easy-To-Read Spooky Tales.”
I’m looking forward to getting that one just in time for Halloween.
Until next time, happy reading.