Bewitched

Genevieve discovered her ‘inner-witch’ today – very empowering for a little girl!  This new founded maverick, was inspired by Julia Donaldson’s very popular ‘A Room on a Broom’ tale of a kind-hearted witch who offers space on her broom to many news friends in exchange for finding her ‘missing items’.

Now, in case you aren’t familiar with the peculiar qualities of a witch – according to G, the have cold fingers to repel little children and if you venture too close, she’ll bite your bottom!

Another favourite witch story, is Lee Weatherly’s  ‘Pigwitchery’. This is a humorous story of a 'pig-witch', who loses her magic wand, bringing disaster to Farmer McGee’s magical farm.  What was once an extraordinary farm where cows give chocolate milk and hens lay rainbow coloured eggs, is now ordinary.  Poor ‘pig-witch’ has to go deep into the dark forest to consult with the wise old pig in the hope that the farm can be restored to its former glory.

My daughter Genevieve, who is 2 years old, loves books.  She loves stories.  She seems to internalise all the character’s and speak about them as if they are her friends.  She is forever popping up with a book in her hand, demanding that I drop whatever I may be doing at the time and read – ‘Read It, Mama’!

I started reading to her when she was about 3 months old; simple books; stories and lullabies that soon became part of our routine.  I made up stories about the characters in the picture books – just to make it more interesting for me.  Some of the books weren’t yet age appropriate, but she didn’t seem to mind.  We joined our first library reading group, long before she could walk, and although we don’t  participate in the reading group as often, we still take out batches of up to 14 books on each visit to our local library.

Genevieve hasn’t yet started school, so our day often begins with a batch of books in bed – before breakfast or even a trip to the bath room.  She has also taken to reading by herself, evidence of which I find scattered around the house.  My parents read to her, my friends are often requested to tell a story and my dear neighbour is a patient and loving story teller. 

I hope that this blog will be a record of the books that we have enjoyed as a family and that one day Genevieve will start sharing her reading experiences with others too.