Here we are at our long awaited first book party. And when I say, “party,” please know that it was in no way extravagant. My days of going all out for parties, has long been a thing of the past. The meal was simple and inspired from scenes in the book: cornbread, homemade butter and blackberries. If you’ve never made butter, you must try it at least once. Don’t be intimidated, because it is easier than you may think. The kids made some decorations and we called it a party! We spent the next hour recalling scenes of what my kids have claimed as their favorite book.
I first read this book in elementary school. I couldn’t remember all the details, but I most definitely remembered the ending. I cried then and as much as I tried not to this time, I cried reading it aloud to my kids. Crying is probably an understatement. I bawled uncontrollably in reading the final two chapters. I had to pause many times, just to gain some composure. I expected to cry, but I did not to expect to be overcome with emotion. My kids cried. Jacks put his head down, his heart was broken. I could hear Savannah sobbing, but barely over my own weeping. Savannah told me later that, “It was so sad that she could cry for 30 years, without ever stopping.” She wanted to know how Wilson Rawls could write a story that made us feel so much? I told her it was because he gave us characters we could root for. We loved them.
The books that I spend reading aloud to my kids are so precious. The life lessons they hold in their pages are being sown into their very being and I strive to cultivate them daily. One day when they need them, they will be there for the harvesting.
Another something we have been doing to commence our time with our read alouds, is the kids stitch them on to a tablecloth. Savannah had the book tablecloth honors for Where the Red Fern Grows and I adore her scene of Old Dan and Little Ann trying to tree a coon! You might be wondering what a book tablecloth is or not. But, I’m working on a post that will go more into detail about this, as I’ve had lots of questions. So look for that soon!
