Pluggers by Rick McKee for June 10, 2020

whatever works to get the wee ones to catch 40 winks

Pluggers lie to children. (Doesn’t everyone?)

Reading to my grand kids I love to fabricate and convolute children stories. They pay keen attention and correct the flaws.

Have not read to children in a long time …

I started reading to my children when the oldest was still small enough to lie on my foreare with her head in my hand. Began with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I think it was my voice, not the content that would put them to sleep. I had a note from a Radio Talking Book listener who said she was always glad to hear me in the morning because then she could go to sleep.

my wife uses all sorts of voices and inflections to keep it interesting.

This one belongs in the ‘lies our parents told us’ file on the Baldo comic strip.

Grandkids know the story by heart. Vary just a little and they will correct you.

I was fascinated watching my two boys while I was reading them Richard Scarry books. One of them followed the story line and the other looked intently at all the words scattered around the pages. But they both always looked for Gold Bug and Lowly Worm. Both began reading on their own before kindergarten but we continued reading together for many years. When he was 8, my oldest started reading to us as well, especially my spouse — The Beverly Cleary ‘Ramona’ books. He had already read them but wanted to help his dad quit smoking (I believe it is Ramona and Her Father). It partly worked (he quit smoking at home).

I taught pre-K and rather than gold stars, the prize some children wanted was to choose the audio book that they’d get to listen to when it was nap time. (cassette tapes back then)

Just as long as they lived happily ever after.

I think if it is the story the kids believe it.