The Miraculous Journey

 

We do a lot of reading aloud in our house.

 I like to claim it's for the broadening of their minds, and that's true, of course, but it's also because a) I really like to read and b) I really like how they all sit still and quiet for just a few precious minutes when we've hit upon a really good story.

A week or two ago, we hit upon a REALLY good story. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate Dicamillo. 

This story reads like a fairy tale. It seems old and wise - timeless and classic. It is so beautifully written, and doesn't speak down to children. In fact the vocabulary is pretty rich. Watching my boys listen to this story was like seeing a little one on his tip toes, reaching with all his might for the cookie jar. They were anxious for every last morsel, but stretching themselves to understand words that were just beyond their reach. Perfect. 

My guys loved it so much that they would beg, "just one more chapter," at bedtime, and then bring it to me first thing in the morning to read to them over breakfast. It's that good. 

I actually got so worked up over Edward's journey that I read the last few pages through broken sobs. For real. I double dog dare you to read it outloud to your kids and not cry. 

Of course, once we read about Edward, we found ourselves needing a rabbit to love.

 My boys remembered these that I made for their cousin, and insisted that they make their own. The pattern for the sock bunny is so easy though that they were able to help with most of the making, which means that our rabbit friends are kind of raggedy and a wee bit off, but loved all the more for it. 

You can whip up an Edward rabbit with your littles using these easy directions. Here's hoping all his journeys are miraculous too!