she’s a big girl of 5 now

and wants 

so desperately 

to read chapter books

all by herself

with lots and lots of pages

 no pictures

no help

flipping through the pages

looking for familiar letters

seeking any word she’s seen before

putting her bookmark in 

taking it out again

opening it

closing it

showing us how thick it is

doing all the things that readers do

so self-assured

‘i can read them all.’

and then 

 her moment oftruth and grace arrives

  as she says

‘isn’t it funny, there isn’t one interesting word in here?’

—

there are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world.

love of books is the best of all.

– jackie kennedy