Feeding their brains

We are big supporters of the library. By supporters I mean we use it often. Sure we go to storytime, sit and read on-site and enjoy other programs they offer, but we also make good use of the endless free supply of books to fill our brains. We are allowed to check out 50 books on our library card and we generally have the maximum amount out. I have decided not to get a second card for our family as we would likely end up with 100 books at a time. And it is not like the books sit around for a month until we get around to returning them. We read them. All sorts - fiction for adults, learn-to-read books for Sophia, board books for Tova, chapter books for Aurora, picture books for the kids, books of poetry for bedtime, and informational books on whatever we are interested in at the moment (currently science and animals). We go to the library about twice a week to exchange the dozen or so books we have finished.

Aurora in particular is churning through chapter books. At first I would check out one or two chapter books for her figuring they might last a week but a couple days later I would find myself back at the library replenishing her supply. She says things like "I can't go out now it will cut into my reading time." She reads by lamplight while her sisters are going to bed. It takes her long to fall asleep so one night we decided to let her read until she dozed off. At 11pm I had to extricate the book from her hands. And then in a bid to encourage Sophia to practice her reading Jakob began writing down the books she read on a page and told her when the page was full he would give her a prize. Aurora decided she needed a page like that also because she likes prizes and she likes reading. And then the rate of library trips went up dramatically to keep up with the demand. I don't think Jakob realized how many books can fit on a page but Aurora was up to the task and in a matter of weeks had read 20 chapter books. About 2000 pages. So today the children sat around happily with their brains full of knowledge, stories and wonder and a box of well earned marbles.

Getting ready for National Science week at the library

Sophia riding on a hovercraft made out of leaf blowers

This is how we socialize