This month’s quotes are all about children, books, and reading. Each makes my heart sing for completely different reasons. I’m sure you’ve heard some of them before, and maybe they make your heart sing, too. Save them if you’d like.

I have always loved this quote from Einstein. It’s funny how when we look for ways to make our children smart, we look at everything but the obvious. I have such fond memories of curling up under quilts, or splayed out under fans, while reading stories to my boys when they were younger. Fairy tales or not, we have many wonderful memories of those days. 

That’s not to say every time we sat down to read it was all warm and fuzzy feelings. There were the days when I had to keep one eye on the book and one on the pesky bird. She’d wait until I wasn’t looking and then try to take a chunk out of the book! It made for quite the entertaining reading of Greek Myths. 

Everyone’s dragon takes a unique form. One of my dragons takes the form of the many things constantly interrupting my writing. They nip and gnaw, breathing their impenetrable fire at me. And sometimes, I yield to the beast and at other times I draw my sword, prepared to do battle. Of course, this seems a rather superficial battle.

When my eldest was younger, he really struggled with reading. It wasn’t from lack of understanding or trying, but things were just not clicking. It took many years before we realized that the issue was from undiagnosed Irlen Syndrome. In the meantime, he used to cherish books where the hero struggled with reading. It made him not feel quite so alone, and it served as a constant reminder that he, too, would find the golden key to unlock the magical world of reading. 

And when he did, he set himself a goal to read a variety of books to build his strength up until he felt ready to sit down with The Hobbit. Tolkien will always hold a special place in his heart because not only did he conquer that dragon, he jumped right into reading The Lord Of The Rings. 

I stumbled upon this quote a while back and thought how adorable it would be on an onesie as a baby shower gift. I was that crazy lady who checked out picture books while pregnant. Then, when my children arrived in the world, I read from board books. Our eldest’s very first board book was Another Monster At The End Of This Book. We read it until the book fell apart. 

Both my husband and I can still quote The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. Young adults or not, if my kids are hovering in the hall or staying up late when I head for bed, I still quote the single line from Madeline. The one where Mrs. Clavel turns out the light, and the book ends with: That’s all there is. There isn’t anymore. I know it would be much more sensible to quote them the good night line, but this is the one that sticks in my mind.

And, despite my youngest’s protests, we kept Hugo The Flying Firefighter. He checked that book out of the library so often, they actually discarded it, and we purchased it. It was hanging on by a thread, and required much taping back in of pages.

I stumbled upon this quote a while back and thought how adorable it would be on an onesie as a baby shower gift. I was that crazy lady who checked out picture books while pregnant. Then, when my children arrived in the world, I read from board books. Our eldest’s very first board book was Another Monster At The End Of This Book. We read it until the book fell apart. 

Both my husband and I can still quote The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. Young adults or not, if my kids are hovering in the hall or staying up late when I head for bed, I still quote the single line from Madeline. The one where Mrs. Clavel turns out the light, and the book ends with: That’s all there is. There isn’t anymore. I know it would be much more sensible to quote them the good night line, but this is the one that sticks in my mind.

And, despite my youngest’s protests, we kept Hugo The Flying Firefighter. He checked that book out of the library so often, they actually discarded it, and we purchased it. It was hanging on by a thread, and required much taping back in of pages.

What about you? What form does your dragon take? Do you feel the need to do battle with it, or have you made friends with it? Are, or were, bedtimes stories a normal part of the nightly routine in your own home? Which ones were your favorite?

Please tell me you’ve heard of the Going To Bed Book, because if not, you may find that I cannot resist quoting a line or two from it. And if I start, then my husband will join in, and before long the boys will roll their eyes and make comments about old people and parents, and all that crazy nonsense.

Do you still read fairytales? One of my favorite reimaginings is the Lunar Chronicles, in which Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White all have their stories freshly woven. Each story takes place in a world of espionage, sci-fi, and fantasy all rolled into a perfect four book series.