National Read a Child a Book You Like Day (28 September)

[Ross Clark]

It's the birthday of Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923), author of _Rebecca
of Sunnybrook Farm_ (1903). I remember her name from primary school
libraries. Her books were still being recommended in the 1950s, though I
don't think I ever read one.

She founded kindergartens for poor children in California.

I've enjoyed reading to children when the occasion has arisen. But there
are none resident in this house. So a couple of years ago I suggested a
bedtime story reading to my wife, and she thought that was a nice idea.
We started with Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories. (I wanted to re-read
it, and thought it would be more fun to share it.) Then we worked our
way through a large collection of the Brothers Grimm (in English). We've
just finished Kipling's Just-So Stories. I'm not sure what I'll do next.
She's often asleep within a few minutes after I start, but that's OK. I
enjoy the reading, even without a conscious audience. And she enjoys
sleeping.

[Aidan Kehoe]

It's the birthday of Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923), author of _Rebecca of
Sunnybrook Farm_ (1903). I remember her name from primary school libraries.
Her books were still being recommended in the 1950s, though I don't think I
ever read one.
She founded kindergartens for poor children in California.
I've enjoyed reading to children when the occasion has arisen.

My daughter is 13 months old and has some interest in the very simple books
with pictures and interactive pieces of fabric to hide plot points. I do hope
to get to reading all of Roald Dahl to her over the next few years.

But there are none resident in this house. So a couple of years ago I
suggested a bedtime story reading to my wife, and she thought that was a
nice idea. We started with Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories. (I wanted to
re-read it, and thought it would be more fun to share it.) Then we worked
our way through a large collection of the Brothers Grimm (in English). We've
just finished Kipling's Just-So Stories. I'm not sure what I'll do next.
She's often asleep within a few minutes after I start, but that's OK. I
enjoy the reading, even without a conscious audience. And she enjoys
sleeping.