Down Days

Let's face it.  We can't go to the museum every day.  It's just not possible.  And our backyard isn't exactly a fossil bed (or is it?).  So what do we do with all these "down days"?  We read.

We are fortunate to live pretty close to a nice library.  And we again are fortunate to live in times where accessing information is relatively easy.  What with online catalogs and holding features.  So we pass the time reading about dinosaurs (amongst other things) and imagining a world in which they exist.

Some of our favorite books about dinosaurs are written by Jane Yolen.  She has written quite the little collection of "How Do Dinosaurs ..." books.  We love these not only because they are a great read, full of honest truths about our little dinosaurs, but because the illustrations are so accurate yet stylized.  We can thank Mark Teague for those great pictures that have taught me the difference between the Triceratops and the Chasmosaurus.

More dinosaur books that we really enjoy are written by Bernard Most.  His imaginative approach is what appeals to me.  Allowing your mind to freely wander over questions and scenarios, such as "Whatever Happened to the Dinosaurs?" and "If the Dinosaurs Came Back", is one thing that I really want to allow my children to do.  To develop their own hypotheses about the world around them, past and present.  The bright illustrations are also attractive in their simplicity.

And here and  there we have run into books about dinosaurs that have really won over our hearts.  The most recent is called "Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones", written by Judy Schachner.  I can't even begin to go into how great this book is!  If you like to read to your kids and really get into the characters of the book, this one is right up your alley!  A terrific read for parents and kids alike.  We like them so much that we will probably continue on with this series, dinos or not!

Reference books can also make good reads, especially for kids.  The one we are currently working on is an illustrated encyclopedia of sorts, all about dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures.  Isaac really enjoys learning the names of different and distinct dinosaurs.  And it's a great way to quickly find out the name of that stuffed dino that you saw at the museum gift shop (Parasaurolophus).  The fact that these books are enjoyable for the adults makes them enjoyable for the kiddos.

Reading about your interests is an affordable way to further your knowledge about them.  It can be done in the comfort of your own bed or on the go.  It can be a catalyst.  Reading can even be a life long love!

I look forward to our "down days".  These are the days where we live in our imagination.  The days where a big mommy T. Rex chases the smallest of the small dinosaurs, trying to catch them with her two claws.  The days where we romp and stomp around the forest.  Dinosaur tickles have never felt so good.