This week Brooklyn's class has been doing activities and learning projects that center around the theme of "mittens" (kind of ironic considering the weather here has been 50+ degrees for the last three days). So today when I picked her up, I asked her what she learned today about mittens, and I was delighted to hear her tell me a detailed account of a book called The Mitten that the teacher read to the class. I've never read that book, but apparently a little boy loses a mitten, and all these animals find it and try to fit inside it one-by-one. Brooklyn giggled away as she told me about a mole, rabbit, and porcupine that squeezed into the mitten, and how the teacher used a white blanket to cover another kid in class each time a new animal entered the mitten. Brooklyn said, "All the kids were laughing and laughing!" Finally a bear tries to fit inside, but only can get his nose in! Then he sneezes and ALLLLLLL the animals go flying out of the mitten (she said that was her favorite part)!
Anyway, the reason I'm writing all this, is that I thought the story was so cute, that I told Brooklyn we should try to find it at the library next time we go. Her response surprised me because of the big words she used (kinda last week when she came home from school and said, "Today, Mom, we learned about hibernation."), and the thought processes she went through. She said:
"Mom! We don't need to get the book because we already have it at school! And the author who wrote the book is Jan Brett, and she travels ALLLLLLL around the WHOLE WORLD [insert big hand gestures here!] to get ideas for all the stories she writes. But I don't know how she gets all around the world..... maybe a plane.... or a boat.....but probably a train. Cuz I think there are beds in boxcars. [She then laughed to herself] Wouldn't it be funny, Mom if there was a bed ON TOP of the boxcar?!!! ....and Jan Brett also wrote the book The Gingerbread Baby. I just really like that book because it is soooooooooo cute!"
Since when did my baby get so big that she can use words like hibernation, author, and boxcar correctly?
And I looked up on the internet, and there really is a author named Jan Brett who travels the world to get ideas to write and illustrate children's books. And two of her books are titled The Mitten and Gingerbread Baby. But I don't know if she travels by train.... :)
Brooklyn's growing up. It makes me excited, proud and sad all at the same time. And the best part? She loves books.
THese are classics! We have them all if you ever want to borrow them! ;) Although, I do think the mitten is a little strange, but what do I know! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Mitten was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, and using it in school like Brooklyn's teacher did sounds awesome! You've got a smart little cookie there. =)
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