Storybooks

When I was little, I loved stories.  Both of my parents love to read, and they instilled a love of reading in me.  My favorite books as a kid came in the form of Golden Books.  Like "The Pokey Little Puppy" or "The Saggy Baggy Elephant".  Those were my favorites!  Did you know that if you find one of these little books in an antique shop, that you might pay $5 per book (for a book that literally went for 29 cents at the time it was originally sold)?  Now you can find a new one on Amazon for upwards of $8.99 for the "Special Anniversary Edition".  But the best stories were the stories told.  I was reminded of this today when I picked up my Starbucks Extra Hot Nonfat Chai Latte.  Yum!  But it wasn't the chai that reminded me, but the sleeve on the cup that kept my hands from burning. 

My most beloved stories ever were of Johnny and Jenny Bullfrog as told by Grandpa F on tapes which he sent to us when we lived in Minnesota.  He had different "voices" for each character but his gruff "grandpa" voice still echoes in my mind.  I think my parents may have a few of these tapes still floating around.  Oh, what I wouldn't give to hear another one.  I know that my older brother now tells these timeless stories, probably in his own versions, to Caleb, Levi, and soon to little Aaron.  My dad, at one time, planned on writing them down (and I hope he still does).  Across the generations, kids love stories!  And stories inspire imagination, intelligence, and so much more in children too.  So keep reading and keep telling, there's so much more than Nintendo or Wii, believe me!