When the light fades at 3.30pm and the rain pours relentlessly from the sky, there may not seem to be much to brighten up the day. Small things make me smile. Every morning around this time I hear my neighbour getting her three small boys out of the house and into the car for the journey to school. There is always a bit of chatter and sometimes cajoling for the few moments this take and although I can't hear the detail I get the sense of it. It reminds me of when I used to do exactly the same thing with three small children.
I sometimes visit my friends when it is bedtime for their small girls. I know these girls rather well - these links from many years ago, for now Cala is 5! I have been reading to her from books our three really enjoyed - The Bullerbys by Astrid Lindgren, who is perhaps better known for stories about Pippi Longstocking, though I have never understood the appeal for this character. I urge all of you with small children to find the lesser known characters - Lisa and her friends at Bullerby (Cherry Time, Christmas at Bullerby, Springtime and the Six Bullerby Children) all out of print but copies can be found sometimes in charity shops or 'used' on Amazon. And when you are hooked on her simple child-centred stories, try Emil and his Clever Pig, Emil in the Soup Tureen or Emil and anything at all - he is the most wonderful character who gets up to mischief but always for the greater good. Then there is Lotta, and Karlson on the Roof, the Tomten and so many more wonderful characters. Yes, give Pippi a rest and check out the others.
There is such joy to be had between the pages of a good book and there is no greater gift to give a child than your undivided attention for a read-aloud story. This simple pleasure has put me in mind of all the other books we used to read aloud. Mairi Hedderwick of course and all her Katie Morag stories, Michael Morpurgo's Wreck of the Zanzibar read in one sitting for a gripping tale of courage and defiance! Then there is Grimble at Christmas - an unlikely tale from the late Clement Freud but a good read in the run up to the festivities. I'm sure you have your own favourites that are not on the conventional list - though there is nothing wrong with Beatrix Potter and Wind in the Willows or Whinnie the Pooh. Add your quirky favourites to the comments please - especially Martha, John and Owen - what do you remember that I've left out. Obviously not Heidi John!
A post without pictures - unthinkable! (Cala and me in the shed, from two years ago) Happy reading!
