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Over the past month, countless pages have been turned, stories shared and imaginations ignited, all thanks to the phenomenal program of Parents As Reading Partners. (PARP)
As the program comes to an end today, the children went to school this morning dressed in costumes depicting their favorite book character. As I have said many times over, the town of Katonah seems as if it had popped straight off the pages of a storybook… and today, children are adding to that notion!
It had me thinking about the importance of the actual character of these individuals that we get to know so intimately through books. We read their most private thoughts and tote along with them on daring adventures. Whether boldly flying through the pages of comic books, complete with a cape and mask, or proudly wearing braids, freckles and puffy sleeves standing up to bullies, these characters became our childhood heroes. In a way, we consumed these stories, filling our hearts with good natured nutrients of bravery, courage and steadfastness.
By encouraging the youngest members of our community to crave stories, of both fiction and non, we are giving them role models and heroes that will never age, never change, and ones that will always be faithfully waiting for them to visit again and again. The original books might get lost in moves, or damaged from use, but the stories will still be there, ready to be shared with the next generation.
It was fun to revisit childhood characters, thinking about which one I would want to dress as for the day, and I look forward to hearing all about the day from the perspective of my little Amelia Earhart. (As she reminded me, “Even nonfiction books have characters, Mom!”) So, who would you choose to be on this cool, rainy spring day?
I grew up with my nose firmly planted in fantasy books, and I always liked Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain chronicles. I’d have to pick Eilonwy, the sword-carrying princess of Llyr.
Hmm… so it probably isn’t far fetched to say that you received a saber for graduation? ; )