Tonight I read three books to Elliot and told him two stories.
The first story was about finding a lost map. On the map there was an “X” that marked the spot of a secret chocolate waterfall, chocolate fountains, and chocolate pools guarded by a dragon. Elliot, Max, Chinle, Grendel Fish, New Cat, Noce, and Pepe all followed Elliot who led the way on the map. After traveling some time, they had to go through a portal —a hole in the sky — to eventually find the dragon. The dragon would not let the party pass and asked many questions. No one knew what to do except Pepe, who had a taco, and everyone knows dragons love tacos.
My shirt was off since it was hot. Elliot laid his head on my bare chest (“lay kepee”) as I told him to go to sleep.
I pulled out my tablet and starting reading my book, “Project Hail Mary “ by Andy Weir (not so good).
Elliot started at the screen as I read. I told him my book has no pictures. I told him I’m reading in my head, quietly without talking.
He started to sing the ABC song (“Baby C’s”) and although he knows the entire alphabet and has for a long time, he does not know the song very well or the order of the letters. He struggled, and I sang with him a few times. Then I continued to read. He pointed out a few capital letters, then fell asleep on my chest as I read.
This is how I will teach my son a love of reading fiction.
