A Book to Love

The past couple of weeks, we have been having family story time before bed. The kids snuggle up with my husband and I do the reading (while Miles, my baby, does some interrupting). It's fun to have that quiet time before bed, and it helps develop the kids' patience and listening skills. The book we just finished was so good, that I had to share it with all of you. It's called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (author of Because of Winn-Dixie). Perhaps you've already read it. I had heard about it somewhere and heard rumors that it's being made into a film, so I picked it up at the bookshop one night. We all loved it! (We weren't even allowed to read a chapter without my husband in the room. He didn't want to miss any of it either!) Edward's story is sometimes sad and often funny. A few of the words are a bit "big" for the younger kids, but they understood it well enough, and came to love Edward. It's a wonderful story of an arrogant little china rabbit who learns how to love others after he becomes lost and alone.

Here are some of Bagram Ibatoulline's beautiful illustrations. There aren't too many, so the kids were thoroughly enchanted with all of them.

If you're looking for a good book for your kids (and yourself; I had to hold back the tears a few times), check it out! It would be great under the tree; books make the best gifts! To see some of my other children's book recommendations, click here. My family has now moved on to The Castle in the Attic, one of my favorites from my childhood.

Leslie blogs every day at A Room Somewhere.