~~okieOLIO~~

…and travel the world.

check out the children’s book by that title and other literary gems for young bibliophiles in today’s “what we’re reading wednesday” over at simple kids. my latest contribution to the weekly kid lit reviews is dedicated to free range kids everywhere.

i do not have children (yet). i do not have nieces or nephews (yet – kel?).  i do not often have children as guests in my home (my friends close by have just begun – in the last month – to welcome the arrival of babies. yes, all of them at once). what  i do have in my house is fully one entire bookcase dedicated to children’s books. and several boxes full stored in the attic. (only my favorite 100 or so need to be easily accessible, right?) who are these books enjoyed by? me. it’s not that i wouldn’t love to share them with a precious little one on my lap, and i’m sure in time i will, it’s just that all the kiddos of my friends and family reside in other states.

but as many parents know, kid lit is not just for kids. the works of art and profound themes depicted through children’s literature can be appreciated by readers of any age.  i’ve been entertained, impressed, encouraged, and convicted by the books created for a young audience. some have been loved treasures for decades, but many are from delightful and creative authors that have recently emerged. i find myself purchasing from the children’s section at least once for every five book  selections i make.

which is why i jumped at the chance to be on the Simple Kids Book Review Team and participate in What We’re Reading Wednesday. Today my first review is published along with others from different age categories. Stop on over and read about one of my favorite preschooler books, and then let me know if you have any great book recommendations in the comments here or  on the WHAT I READ page.

photo by kennymatic

it seems my input and outgo do not always flow evenly. i haven’t been writing as much lately because i’ve been reading more. while it’s true that reading generally activates my writing impulse and writing usually juices my reading itch, sometimes i get totally immersed in one or the other. like when the tower of books to read beside my bed is just growing instead of rotating. i’ve been determined to finish one book for every new “to-read” title that takes it’s place in the lineup, and so i’ve dedicated more time to catching up.

i also finally updated my goodreads account. i’m expecting the tomes i’ve got on deck to be hard hitters, so stay tuned to my what i read page for details.

i have been anticipating this golden three day weekend with the expectant eagerness you would expect before a vacation or hyped event. i specifically protected this weekend from it’s typical state of over-scheduled madness to allow for a thorough recovery of the house, my monstrous to-do lists, and my sanity. the ambitious over-achiever in me had big plans to be über-productive: cultivate the garden, try some new recipes, finally find time to exercise, attack the pile of laundry, and maybe even get some work in to boost my results at the new job. all this and still have time to have some outdoor fun with my hubby and our canine companion. and i actually fit most of it in. but the most sublime part of the weekend was the extended spells of reading i was able to enjoy.

i’m a big fan of reading, to put it mildly. i think books are one of the most significant factors that have an impact on our lives. books have the ability to affect the education, history, entertainment, industry, society, and psychology of the world we live in. for those of us who love literature, i found it interesting (but not surprising) to learn recently that literary readers are statistically more likely to visit a museum, attend a performing arts event, do charity or volunteer work, participate in sports activities, and generally be more empathetic, energetic, and engaged with their community. (American Psychological Association) those are certainly admirable traits; who knew reading could propel you toward them?

i’m not going to start discussing the pros and cons of how one reads. there are already plenty of conversations circulating among bibliophiles about the benefits and downfalls of online novels versus a bound volume, audio books versus visual words, and the Amazon Kindle versus the actual tome. while purists will always prefer to hold paper and leather (or cardboard, rather) no matter how scarce their bookshelf real estate becomes, there are obvious advantages to alternative formats.

all i know is that reading of any kind is good. in my opinion, the best reading is a cross between learning and leisure – for me a great book combines enlightenment and enchantment, taking you to a higher place both intellectually and imaginatively. gotta love it.

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted;
nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested:
that is, some books are to be read only in parts,
others to be read, but not curiously, and some few
to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
~ Francis Bacon ~