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Thank you J.M. Barrie

The boys and I started our very first chapter book tonight. Peter Pan.

I’ve been wanting to read a chapter book with Benjamin for awhile now. He is more than ready for his first big-boy book. Nicholas, maybe not so much. But, Pierre and I have gotten into the habit of reading the boys a book together each night, all cuddled in Nicholas’ bed. Or rather, Pierre reads the boys a book while I sort laundry, put laundry in the washer, put laundry in the dryer, fold laundry, put laundry away, or find reasons to avoid laundry.

But, tonight was my turn to read. And after a trip to our public library this afternoon, it was time to try Peter Pan. Remember how much Benjamin and Nicholas love pirates? I’m all about riding that pirate-wave all the way to the beach. And since they’re going to be Peter Pan and Captain Hook for Halloween, reading the book was tops on my to-do list. I love the Disney version of the story, but nothing beats J.M. Barrie’s original.

So, my puny pirates and I settled into Nicholas’ bed, and I explained that this book was different. We would only be reading a little bit of the book each night for the next few nights. Then I opened to the first chapter…

“Mommy,” Ben said almost immediately. “There are no pictures. How do we see the pictures?”

“There are only a few pictures in the book, Ben. You need to make the pictures in your brain by listening to the words.” And the picture in my head was that this was off to an ominous start…

I needn’t have worried (story of my life). As soon as I started reading, the boys - both of them - were completely enthralled in the world of Neverland, and its hero. They loved that Peter tried to stick his shadow back on with soap, and thought it was silly that a shadow could come off in the first place. They knew that the twinkling light following Pan was none other than the world’s most famous fairy, Tinker Bell. And they thought it was a very good idea for Wendy to go to Neverland to be a mother to the lost boys.

Each time we finished a chapter, Benjamin and Nicholas asked for more. Now, they might have just been trying to extend bedtime, but I’ll pretend it was all about the book. This time, maybe it was.

We read through the first three chapters, and ended with: “Second star to the right, and straight on until morning.”

More to read tomorrow night. There are pirates, mermaids, lagoons, lost boys and a tick-tock croc waiting for us in Neverland.

xo Naomi

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