I sure hope that the obscure but beautiful "Narnia" by Steve Hacket somehow made it onto the soundtrack.

The Magician's Nephew was always kind of a chore to me. But I don't want it reordered!

Is it a very long book? I'm a pretty busy guy, you know.

I felt that way about the Horse and His Boy. I rather liked the Magician's nephew. Fortunately, C.S. Lewis didn't try to increase the prequel's appeal with a Jar Jar Binks-like character.

http://208.197.128.2/search/o?=94879569

Read Ugh. He's a caveboy inventor. It's a pretty short read.

http://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn...darip&type=hw7

My favorite book as a kid was Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. Loved it, loved it.

That depends. How old are you?

Good reminder. For some reason I never had that as a kid and it's a good one.

I preferred In the Night Kitchen. But I've always been out of the mainstream. (not that where the wild things are was lacking.)

I'm in France.

Sendek books? Do you like Budweiser or Bud Light better?

Shots suck ass.
 

I have two kids who are absolutely opposed to getting stuck and both just sit there when the Shotblocker is in use. I bought a box of 50 for $35 bucks and give them to my friends.

Yes indeed, but it is very popular.

One book -- just past the Board stage, which is very cute, is called "I Love You So Much!" (It's a "Lola" book -- the main character is a young mouse.)

S_A_M

Yes, a very popular line of books -- most of them at least somewhat enjoyable.

Now, stomp your feet and clap your hands . . .

S_A_M

I could not disagree with this more. Any kid able to make it through the first four books is capable of handling the concept of the prequel. The current ordering insures that the suckiest book is the one the current generation of kids reads first. I predict the popularity of the series will plummet.

As a kid, I received the groovy (properly ordered) seventies box set of the series for Christmas or birthday roughly 10 times from various relatives. I think the last time I was 14 or 15, which seemed a little ridiculous.

I am a fan of Half Magic and other books by the author of that book.

I never looked at Magician's Nephew as suckiests. Then, again, I prefer to read Genesis than any of the gospels. At least first.

Concur. The two year old particularly likes this one ...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/06...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

For its subtle use of "oops."

Gattigap

There is something to those books, you have to admit. When my older was that age, em just cracked up over the oopses. And the recollection of a giggling "oopth" in that baby-voice lisp still makes me smile.

Silly turkey!!

S_A_M

Did you dismiss Moby-Dick as a boring fishing story as well?

Me too. I dressed up as Max for Halloween the year I was six.

How is it? I hear France is overrated.

Are You My Mother?
 

The Lexling could give a rat's ass about the little birdie finding its mama - he flips straight to the TRACTOR. We own every book that includes pictures of TRACTORs or anything that can remotely be contrued as a TRACTOR. For Christmas we have ordered a couple DVDs of TRACTORs in action.

Are You My Mother?
 

Meanwhile, the Lexling is all ready to go as Mickey.

Are You My Mother?
 

It isn't a TRACTOR, it is a SNORT! Sheesh.

Are You My Mother?
 

That's what I always thought, but I have since been corrected by a very determined toddler: [Pointing] TRACTOR, TRACTOR, TRACTOR!!!!!!!

Are You My Mother?
 

I am well-familiar with very determined toddlers. I have actually been compared to one by some. . .

Are You My Mother?
 

I'm sorry, I'm running on too many Diet Cokes* and about 2 nonconsecutive hours of sleep. Please explain.

*And, as a result, #2 is wired for the day. Vicious effing cycle.

Are You My Mother?
 

I'm sorry, a bit cryptic.

1) Mickey is the kid from In the Night Kitchen
2) In the book, he is naked, at least for part of it (stirring controversy)
3) Your avatar depicts a naked kid, which I presume to be the lexling (or a lexling).

does that get you there, or do you need 4 and 5?

Are You My Mother?
 

Glad to see you understand.

He insisted on carrying his father's deodorant around the house yesterday, sniffing it, and alternately repeating, loudly, "Daddy's!!!" and "Num-Num!" I had to wait until he was asleep to hide it.

Are You My Mother?
 

It might, unless 4 and 5 include either a nanny, a maidservice, or a pitcher of strong margaritas. A girl can dream, no?

Books
 

What a timely discussion. Magnus started kindergarten yesterday, and I talked to the teacher after school about coming to read to the kids. So now my brain is working on what I can read to them. She said picture books are still best for most, though there has been some success in the past with short-chaptered chapter books. Two of my favorites that immediate came to mind were Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut (great fun to read aloud) and The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln. Now I'm wishing I'd kept a list of all the super-clever books we've come across on our library forays. Any other brilliant ideas?

tm

Books
 

Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Books
 

For a motherlode of good ideas, try here. .

In particular, this one is a lot like Jamberry (also a good idea, someone mentioned it above); and this one has plenty of participation, with kids identifying and counting shapes, as well as a whole series of additional "Bear" books.

Are You My Mother?
 

Dude, I hate to break this to you, but the SNORT is really a piece of heavy construction equipment. (Plus, its kind of mean to correct a kid on this stuff.)

If I were more manly, I would know the name of the SNORT -- but I am struggling to recall whether it is a bucket loader.

S_A_M

Are You My Mother?
 

I am well-aware that it wasn't a tractor, and I would never correct a child who really thought it was. I'm mean, but I'm not a total bastard.

And I believe that the SNORT! (exclamation point is proper here) is what was called a steam shovel back in the day.

http://www.ak190x.de/Bauwerke/Bau/ba...hovel-1926.jpg

This is a bucket loader.

http://www.mvgcorp.com/pix/bucket_loader.jpg

I know how to operate one, because I used one at a former place of employ -- because I am manly. :D

Are You My Mother?
 

Manly men don't use emoticons.

I have decreed it.

Are You My Mother?
 

Is this book still sold and read?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...48141?v=glance

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/03...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Are You My Mother?
 

Yes.