I have never been a “book worm” nor did I ever have a time I fell in love with books… however, I did always dream of having children that loved reading and books… So much so in fact that at my first baby shower I asked that instead of cards that attendees bring a copy of a favorite children’s book to start a little library for our home.  Skip ahead eleven years and two of my children are now avid readers and finished with the Harry Potter series, having LOVED them.  Mission accomplished.  Now, what?

When parenting and you find yourself traversing new waters, always surround yourself with wise people that have gone before you and ask a bazillion questions.  Enter Mrs.Xerxes. My oldest has had her as a class day tutor for two separate years.  She is an avid reader, and my daughter thinks she is the coolest adult around. (This might have something to do with the day she dedicated to her whole class to H.P. for the room full of Potterheads.) Awhile back, I started bugging her to compile a list of books for the post Harry Potter blues, and per usual, she delivered!

So, if you too are looking for what to read next, or where to point your kids for post-Harry Potter reading jump over here for the Celebrity Death Match.

You are welcome!

Last night I was dreaming an angel was in my room…then I heard the sweetest 6-year-old voice in the dark calling to me from the foot of my bed… This girl has been making tremendous strides in reading.  My third and final bébé I  get a front row seat to watch the magic of learning to read.  I’ve observed a few things in big milestones such as reading:

1. Fast/rapid growth in one arena requires all other personal resources shift to that arena.  Temporary regressions in other areas will likely ensue.  (Tantrums/unusual emotional outbursts, forgetting other subjects already mastered, out of the norm bed wetting)

2. Learning is rarely a straight line to be plotted in an upward & to the right direction.  At times it will look like the 3-year-old marked on the lovely graph chart planned; back and forth, up and down, and a big blob right in the middle. This chaos is real life!

3. We cannot judge progress on daily or weekly evaluations.  We MUST step back, look at the big picture, then see those crazy points charted are more like a tornado that you can see the path, not whilst you are in it, but once it’s gone.