READ A BOOK A MONTH CHALLENGE

Aunty Niza (in one of her many blogs) invited me to join a book challenge initiated by this lady. (Rules and purpose can be read at her blog.)

I agreed to play along only to realise later that I'm not actually eligible to participate anymore! Both of you had turn into independent readers! Gone are the days when you practically beg me to read to you. Or when I could use it as a reward, or at times, as blackmail...hehehe I'm not always a good mother, am I? I cant really say when did this changes took place...I can still vividly picture our reading times...

First, when you were still small and could both fit onto my laps, our favourite seat was the wing chair where we read those over size books with nice colourful pictures. 

Later,when my laps couldnt take two of you at the same time anymore, we moved to the window seat, with both of you sitting at either side of me. But the favourite position would always be, the three of us lying flat on our tummies, on Mama's bed, almost sure to happen on rainy days.......and when the book ended, all of us would flip up, rested your heads on my arms and fell asleep. I would then wake up with sore arms! Heemm, I kind of miss those times.....But of course we cannot do the lie in anymore, especially Abang, as he is now getting taller than me, making snuggling up to me quite impossible. Adik, however, can still manage it...... 

Alhamdulillah, both of you are now ardent readers. The best shopping spree for you is when I let you loose in a bookstore. Both of you hate shopping malls, so, bookstores are always the bait I use to lure you into accompanying me. If I say, " Okay, you got 15 minutes here, pick a book each ", I can always see this panic look plastered on your faces....Abang will pick a book just to put it back again, and pick another and another, repeating the process. At the end, I will have to relent, and the 15 minutes always s-t-r-e-t-c-h itself into an hour and one book each becomes 5 or 6 or 10 if Mama decides to join in too.....Thankfully, Abah always give Mama a free hand to swipe away the card when book buying is concern. 

These are books on Abang's shelf....... Once you got a new book in your hand, the tangible world cease to exist. I will have to call you several times before getting a response. You would be reading in the car, in the restaurants while waiting for food, at the hospital while visiting people ( which is very rude) and everywhere......Only the call of 'azan can make you put down the book.

At the moment, Adik is crazy over Sarah dan.... series and Abang collects all Dunia Sains Aiman titles. Adik, being over-imaginative as she is, is always very much influenced by what she reads. She started to keep a diary after reading Dear Yayah, neglecting the journal she had started in Year 1. ( the said journal had amused the visitors to our house to no end when she let the selected ones read it!) Nowadays, she collects earrings, asking for high-heels ( to my horror!) and these last two weeks have been pestering me to grow more roses.......all thanks to Sarah!!

I am very much impressed with Aiman's Diari Ramadhan.The scientific facts are presented in such a fun way that kids just dont skip on them. ( I know they do if it is stated in text book style). We could tell that the lady who wrote it, Umi Kauthar Abdul Razak, has made a thorough research both on scientific facts and quranic verses/ahadith she referred to in this particular book. 

On Adik's shelf.....( in her bedroom) 

  I cant thank Niza enough for introducing PTS books ....they are exceptionally good. Yes, I read all of them too. Not only as a preparation to answer your questions, but because they are so enjoyable. You may not want me to read for you or read with me anymore, but you are sure to keep coming and asking questions all the time, during and post reading. PTS books change my perception of Malay books.....I sincerely congratulate those people at PTS.

When I started reading to you, looooong time ago, there were almost no good Malay books suited to your age available. So, all books read to you were English books, mostly bought from Maribaca, the cute specialty bookstore of Aunty Niza. I always find it irritating to read a badly researched book where the author jumbles up facts and myth, especially when it is on religion issue. (so rampant in old school Malay book) The author might think it is not so important to be accurate on this matter as the children will learn more as the grow up. I beg to differ!! We tend to remember what we read in our childhood, at least I do! I have to thank Niza again for always researching and looking for good, high quality books for her shop, from all over the world. Her own kids, will, InsyaAllah be very lucky to have her as a mother, someone who is very passionate about books with extensive knowledge about them as well, more so with her pursuing early childhood education degree at the moment.

And I should also mention Niza's sister (whom I also call Adik) who used to attend Maribaca. She was one helpful and knowledgeable bookshop manager. I just have to mention Abang and Adik's current inclinations and she will recommends the suitable readings.....we are going to miss having her in that bookstore now that she has moved on....

So, we may not eligible to be in the challenge per se, but read will we....... Earlier this month, Adik bought Sarah Dan Bunga Mawar and Abang bought Sakit Gigi from Adam Kecil series.( see, Adik tends to read on someone older than her while Abang reads on someone his age or younger...hemm, the difference of boys and girls!!!) During the holiday, Adik picked up an Enid Blyton second-hand book out of curiosity( after Abah and Mama told her how crazy we were over Ms Blyton books in our childhood days) . It was The Secret Of Mooncastle and is yet to be read. So, these three books have kind of started the list for 2009 ........

InsyaAllah, if last year numbers are anything to go by, between both of you, I'm sure the number will far exceed the required amount of 12. Last year alone, you read more than 30 books and countless kids magazines, the likes of Kuntum, Ana Muslim, Dewan Pelajar etc. Adik has shown interest to read the Ku Temui Jalan Pulang, a compilation of true stories depicting the lives of the trainees of Raudhatus Sakinah before they end up at the shelter home. ( written by the trainees and edited by Ummiroses). I will have to read with her on this one after all........ ( as a matter of fact, Adik shows interest in all books I read and had recently tried to read Ayat2 Cinta, The Alchemist and A Thousand Splendid Suns only to abandon them after a few sentences...hehe, you cannot digest them yet la Adik!!)