My daughter and I are reading a really neat book, part two of a book by Chris Van Allsburg. The original book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick tells the tale of an author who entered a children’s book publisher's office, with fourteen drawings in hand. Each one was accompanied by a caption, and the publisher was fascinated. He asked the author to bring in the stories, and the author said he would return with them the next morning. He never returned. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is these drawings, and their captions. Now this second book The Chronicles of Harris Burdick tells the tales behind the pictures by noted authors such as Lois Lowry and Stephen King. The introduction is even written by Lemony Snicket, the pen name created by American author Daniel Handler, who wrote the Unfortunate Series of Events books.
The cleverness of these books is outstanding (and so are most of their websites), and as a parent reading to my child, I so appreciate it. There are many wonderful books out there (see our Read To Me Daddy page, and let us know your favorites) but when there is something completely different than anything we’ve read before I like to pass it along. Another fun read is Flotsam by David Weisner. It’s a picture book without words about fantastic life under the seas, so your child can make up the story to accompany them.
As a parent too, watching some of these kid’s books series phenomena’s like Harry Potter and Hunger Games that have so encouraged kids to read is so exciting. I’m looking forward to reading them when it’s appropriate, those too both seem to be written with sensitivity to the parent behind the child. Rereading favorite books again and again is certainly fine, but it’s so much more fun when I enjoy them as much as she does. Thanks Van Allsburg, Weisner, Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and all the rest of the authors out there. Your books have become some of our best friends, keep up the good work.
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