Just in time...

So, my boys love books. I love that my boys love books. I love reading to my boys... mostly. I mean, I love the idea of reading to them, and I love a lot of children's books, and I love that they want me to read to them... but I don't love all the books all the time. When Michael was about Liam's age I started hiding "Going On a Bear Hunt" from him because I was tired of reading it. If only we could go back to that... now I just find myself wishing that Liam would irreparably destroy some of the longer Thomas stories (which we bought! why did we think that was a good idea?!). But I digress...

For Christmas, Liam received four Llama Llama board books. 

I'm a fan of Llama Llama--short, nice rhythm, short, etc. But in the last few weeks Liam has grown so attached to these books that he will throw an outright tantrum if I so much as hesitate to start reading one as soon as he brings it over to me.  

I thought it would be an excellent teaching moment to work on his signs for "please" and "more," but apparently we need to find a less emotionally volatile situation to work on using our words.

And in case you were wondering, the tantrums apply equally to the first and twentieth readings. In a row. He will demand the book again as soon as I finish. And again. You get the picture.

Cue the big brother. Michael has long been in the habit of reciting books along with us while we read them. Some he knows really well--and I think it's fun to just stop in the middle of sentences and let him finish them (lazy mom, or early homeschooling? You decide). Some he doesn't know at all, but he'll still kind of mumble something along as I'm reading... maybe out of habit? Who knows.

The other day I got creative in avoiding zippity-zooming my way through Llama Llama for the umpteenth time, and asked Michael to read it to Liam. He happily obliged, and then kept looking for other books to "read" to Liam. 

Eldest child can read favorite books to middle child just in time for birth of youngest child? Yes please! Oh I am SO thrilled with this. Please don't let the novelty wear off too quickly for either Michael or Liam...