Bella is always expecting to read a book before she naps or goes to bed at night. We’ve done this since she was first born so now she’s picking up on the little things we do while we read. A few months ago, she began to lick her index finger to help her turn pages-cute. She also began taking the book after we finished and told us she’d read it next although all she would do is look at the pictures and never say a word-I call that ‘stalling’.
Now is the best time though. She lets you read the book to her and if it’s a simple book and you start the lines of the book, she will finish the sentences for you. On more complex books, she’ll tell you a story based on what she sees in the pictures on each page. Some of it matches to the story and some of it is just cute hearing from her perspective of the pictures. My favorite part when she reads is that she turns to what she feels is the first page and begins ‘Once in a time…’-LOVE IT!!!! Sometimes, I act like I can’t hear her reading just so she can say that phrase over and over again.
That reminds me, she still sings Jingle Bells now and then even though Christmas is long gone. My favorite lyrics are her version: ‘Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fungus to ride. In a horse open sleigh, Hey!’
And last but not least, the way she can say ‘Palamino’ and ‘shire’ and even ‘stallion’ when reading about horses but she still lights up when she sees a great big ‘hittopotamus’. She’s the best!