The preschool at my church held a book fair recently, and I heard about it and wandered downstairs prior to our Wednesday night prayer meeting two weeks ago. While the cup on the cover didn't necessarily look like a teacup, I decided this might be a fun book to read to my little neighborhood friends when they come over for tea. It's a sweet tale in which the mom and dad are going out for a date night, and the little girl wants to go, too, because she'll miss them, but of course she must stay home. Dad uses a pitcher (representing him and Mom) and four cups (representing the little girl and her three siblings) and explains the importance of pouring into others the love God has poured into us. Then he prays with his daughter as he tucks her into bed. I thought the message about relationships with family and with God was just lovely.
So my little friends, ages seven and six, came over yesterday and requested more of that blueberry rooibos tea we had the other day, and I happily obliged. Then I asked if they would let me read them a story and see what they thought about it. My prediction was that the little girl would love it and her little brother would get antsy.
I sat between them and tried to use my best reading voice, making the characters sound interesting and eager as I performed the voices. When I was finished, I asked my little gentleman friend what he thought. "Cool! I liked it!" he said. (He'd really been into the book, studying the cartoonish designs on each page.) Then I asked his sister, and she just shrugged. So I pressed. "You didn't like it?" She seemed as if she didn't want to hurt my feelings (and I wasn't particularly invested in the outcome), then she said, "No, not really."
So I just found that interesting! I still think it's a good book with a godly, wholesome message, but it did strike me that while the one who liked it most is just six, his sister is almost eight, and I'm betting this book was a little too simple for her. Still, it was an interesting experiment, and I'm glad to have another nice book about "cups" to add to my collection of children's books.
Even though she wasn’t that impressed by it, your sweet friend still heard the message, as did her brother. It’s interesting that he was more receptive to it, but you planted the words in both their minds. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThat’s very interesting…you may be correct in deciding the little girl might be a bit too old for the story but at the same time, I bet she absorbed the message and enjoyed having you read to them. You are a delightful neighbor! Best day, Virginia
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a cute book. I'm glad some of the neighbors liked it. You can never tell what books will catch the interest of a child. :-)
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I am reliably told that *a young* man liked one of my cozy mysteries! :)
DeleteThat's great that you read them the book, and they listened. And you let them express their own opinions about it--that's so important.
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