This week we recognize one of the most popular and loved books in American literature - Dr. Seuss's
The Cat in the Hat. In fact, tomorrow - March 2nd will be a national read-aloud of the book across the country.
But tonight - I read the book to Av for the first time. We were getting close to bed time (after some time watching The Beatles on YouTube (natch), and I told him only one story before bed. A short story. But then I remembered the Cat's 50th birthday this week, and told him about it. Luckily he was open to reading a new book. While he got ready for bed, I dug the book off his bookshelf. He got it as a gift when he was born, and I don't think we've ever read it to him. It had dust on it! Oh the horror!
We curled up together in his rocking chair and I started to read - he LOVED it. He couldn't believe that the Cat dropped the boat and his cake! And the fish in the pot? That's comedy. But wait - there's more. In walks the Cat with a BIG RED BOX. What was in the box? Two things! Now the funny part here is, the Cat says the box contains two things, but what are they? So my son the genius says "Thing 1 and Thing 2 Mommy!" I stopped and asked him if he read the book before at school, and he said no. I was just impressed that he knew the punchline before I read it.
The best part of reading the book to him? He was laughing out loud. Laughing his deep belly laugh - the kind that makes us laugh because he's so funny. He loved it. When we finished, he told me he couldn't possibly go to bed yet, because he had to "read" the book again. So he climbed up on bed and "read" himself the book - even getting most of the plot right.
Shiny and I have been trying to convince Av that he really does want to dress up for Purim this weekend, which he steadfastly refuses to do. So tonight I offered to make him a "Thing #" shirt to wear for Purim - after all, he found them so funny. He said he's not Thing 1 or Thing 2. I asked if he was Thing 3 (there are three of us in the family after all.) I was corrected that he is in fact Thing 4 - because that's how old he is. But he still doesn't want to wear a t-shirt.
reading
