5 More Minutes at the Library

"Read to Me"

I loved going to library as a child. My big brothers or sister would take me. We lived in Chicago and then Seattle so we would just walk. Many times they didn't mind reading to me because they had money in their back pockets from our parents and they would go to the arcade. I was fortunate to learn to read before other little kids so them having to read to me didn't last long. 

The Boxcar Children

I loved this series before I could even read. My pawpaw and mawmaw would read this to me. I always wanted to be Violet and learn to play the violin and bake! This series really helped my imagination and help with solving clues and made me want to go on adventures! I always wanted to live in a boxcar or have one in my backyard to play in and keep house! I would have loved that so! Now looking on Pinterest at the recipes and activities that people have made for the books it really makes me want to be a kid again! 

Mike's House

When my big brother read this to me I had an instant connection with Robert! I loved the public library! And I didn't call it the library either! I called book heaven. Mine may have not been as confusing but I understood why he wanted so badly to get to the library!

The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read

I begged for this book! I loved it then and I have it now! You ever want to show a child (or a parent) the importance of reading and liking to read this is it! His wife usually does all the grocery shopping and lives him a list... He can't read! So he buys similar looking boxes to the food boxes he remembers. Probably is a box of soap flakes and a box of wax paper looks a lot like a box of oatmeal and a box of spaghetti! Trust me it's a good book. Sure there are some people who read into the book too much but there will always be those adults who weren't hugged and loved as a child.

The Egyptian Game 

I love books about imagination! I think it was because I had such a big imagination back then! My parents even made me a Barney bag full of crafting supplies! So I have always loved making up adventures! This book is basically kids imagining living in Egypt and making costumes and letting their imagination run wild. 

Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips or The Bailey School Kids

Totally loved this series because well let's face it these supernatural creatures didn't do these things! I loved this series though. It always made me happy to read them!

Honorable Mentions

Haunted Kids

Nancy Drew

Baby's First Christmas

Fresh Start Challenge Day 16: Putting on My Heels and Placing My Feet on the Desk

Hunter shared this song with me and I have to say I love it! You got it Madame made me a director. I was shocked because she had asked Odette who turned it down last year. She gave it to Hunter. She decided that it was better to have co directors than just one director while she took a break. I have to say it is slightly nice to be the big dog. Including the responsibilities, I do not feel like they are much more of a challenge that what I was already being dealt. And now I don't have to put up with childish crap. 

Life Size

There are many reasons why I love being a teacher. One of the many reasons I love the most is at times I get to go back and be a kid with them. I'm the teacher that plays dress up with them. Most of the time in my room we will wear costumes and act out the book. 

Tonight was a night that I was able to back to my childhood. My mom gave me all of my Barbies when I moved out over 5 years ago. I had put them away. However, tonight when Rain, my stepsister's daughter, was playing with her own Barbies and Hunter's Barbies I couldn't resist playing along with her. I put batteries in everything that needed batteries. My other cousin, Carolina, joined us with her Barbies. 

I was able to show Rain my Barbie magazines. She was fascinated. She was also intrigued at the clothes of some of my Barbies. Some of mine had been handed down from cousins like Hunter's had been as well. So there was some 80's styling going on with the Barbies. Rain loved it. She thought it was so cool at the big chested Barbies and how all of my Ken Barbies looked the same. 

We spent more than hour playing with Rain. She loved that we playing with her. Playing with little ones remind how innocent I once was in my life. I let her keep two outfits because she loved them so much. She was content with playing on her own but loved it when we played with her. I believe I may have to over there play with her more often. I believe it did me and her both some good. 

I know Barbie has been ridiculed in the past. However, in a child's mind there is a good Barbie and bad Barbie regardless. Barbie helps imagination and that is more important. So instead of trying of trying to normalize Barbie. Remember it's okay to dream because you once stop dreaming life doesn't have a lot of meaning.