To make you jealous, I have to add that this morning I had 101 books requested at the library. Thirty nine had come in and I had my own bin instead of the usual shelf space. The hold system is what I like best about this library.

I request so many books that I would be lost without it. Just today I picked up 19and holds that had come in since Wednesday. That dropped my total books on request to less than 60. I’m also able to specify an activation date so I can plan out science and history books well in advance.

I’m a visual learner, and audiobooks and read-alouds are tougher for me too. I’m OK if I’m reading or can follow visually, but it is hard if I’m only listening. I’ve been working to train my brain to focus on longer passages of audiobooks, but it has been work. I like the idea of listening to books while I knit, so that is my motivation for improving my listening skills. I think part of my annoyance is that books go SO SLOW when you listen to them. So far I’ve mostly been listening to children’s literature (“The Story of Mankind”) or absolute fluff (“Are You There Vodka, It’s Me, Chelsea”) so my only real problem has been laughing while trying to count stitches.

So far it seems like my kids are pretty evenly split between those who would rather hear a book and those who would rather see it. My 9-year-old (who turns 10 in a few weeks!) loves to listen to books, but he prefers to read along as he listens.

I put your recommendations on hold at the library. I can’t wait to check them out! The library system here is crazy and charges 75 cents per hold. Isn’t that insane?! They will waive it if you go to the counter and can prove that they are for children, but still… talk about a disincentive for reading!

We read so many picture books. I despise reading long books aloud because I can’t concentrate on such long passages audibly even when I’m the one doing the reading. Some recent favorites of my seven year old are Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley, Weslandia, The Seven Silly Eaters, Egyptian Diary: The Journal of Nakht, ABCedar, and I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Budhha Told are the ones that pop into my mind immediately. With some time to think I could come up with many more.

My kids were nursed and in the sling as much as they would tollerate it, because I loved their smells and the closeness, but also liked being able to do the dishes and laundry and go about my daily duties and used strollers and bouncy seats for the child who didn’t like to just be snuggling, but wanted to explore and move around more than what he could in my arms.

Going to the grocery store or outside of a store where you were going to buy a small techno gadget or phone, or without someone shopping with you to provide another hip while you found what you needed in say a grocery store, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t out of convenience not likely put the kid on your hip, but in a cart, not out of convinience but out of practicality. And would that make them developmentally slower? My kids aren’t slower to walk. Both did so much before one year old. Got teeth really early too. The doctor laughted when I thought my first was teething, but my nipples knew otherwise.

While I don’t doubt that statistically most kids could be physically stunted if they didn’t get out of the car seats, stollers and pack and plays enought, I am sceptical that kids could be developmentally lagging now than a couple generations ago. Think about how fast our kids are doing things like reading. Most moms now are taught to read to the kids so early and stimulate their brains with specially designed brainy baby toys, picture books, etc that were not available to most even when I was growing up, and I’m in my thirties. I couldn’t believe it when my son was reading at three, not any doing of mine, just God’s great gift developing in him.

Yes, I read at least one (grown-up) book each week. As of January 1st, I started counting children’s literature as well. I’m working through the lists for the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. My current goal for this year is 300 total books with 52 of those being adult books and the rest being kid lit.

I checked out your link. Thanks for sharing.