From the Kids

In Sunday School we were talking about the Christmas story, and I was getting the kids to tell me the whole thing in order. We got up to Joseph planning to leave Mary.

Me: And why was Joseph upset?

Student: Because he thought she had married someone else.

Other students agreed that this was the problem and I didn't correct them. I am actually quite happy that this as much as they know just yet. Not all 10 and 11 year olds are so innocent.

Another bit of conversation that made me happy came from a 13 (or maybe 14) year old. I spend Christmas with friends every year; I generally sleep over for at least 2 nights. The young man's mom and I were talking about how we can't wait and it's very soon.

His addition to the conversation: Yes! And Anatole!

The "Anatole" in question is the hero of a series of picture books written by Eve Titus in the 1950s-70s. They follow the adventures of a brave mouse and his family who live in a small village just outside Paris. I brought a couple of the over one visit a few years ago to read to the children and they hope for them every time I visit. In fact, last visit, when I started to read to his younger brother, the young man above ran into the room concerned that we were reading "Anatole" without him! (We weren't, but he stayed for story time anyway.)

I thought the boys would outgrow the Anatole books by now, but evidently not. I should have a new one for them by Christmas as a surprise; it's on the way from a used book shop in the states. I'm still missing a few (Anatole and the Robot; Anatole and the Poodle; and Anatole in Italy). They are difficult to find and generally quite expensive when I do find them; I was pleased to find Anatole and the Pied Piper for under $15.00.

I am very pleased that the boys still enjoy story time (the big kids often make their way to the room as well), and that they haven't outgrown picture books with good stories. In fact, this family is a book family and mom and dad reading to the kids (and to each other) has always been a part of their life. It's fun for all of us when I get to read to them as well!