April 08, 2005

Gratuitous Domestic Posting (TM)

frogtoad.jpg

The other day, the five year old read Frog and Toad Together to me. Right the way through. I've always liked the Frog and Toad series - the artwork is very good, bordering on the inspired in some places, and the stories entertaining without being too gooshy or saccharin. (Toad, for example, is a bit of a dummy and Frog gently patronizes him.)

Anyhoo, as the gel was reading, I noticed something which I've also often remarked in her elder sister: It wasn't enough for her just to get the words out. She also wanted to emote, to get in the sense of the words. This got me wondering - where did this urge come from? I've always made a point of trying to inject as much dramatic sense into my readings to the Llama-ettes as possible, so maybe they pick it up from me. On the other hand, it may just be innate. I really don't know. (UPDATE: When I say "I", I mean "we". The Missus was a theatre major in college, after all.)

I like to do other things when I read to them. For example, I often adopt individual voices for characters. This can be tough on occassion. (Try reading The Monster at the End of This Book with full Grover histrionics three or four times in rapid succession. Sore throat, indeed.) Sometimes I'll ad lib in order to punch up a line or (where I think it's tedious) to shorten it. The seven year old, whose desire for order approaches the Cromwellian, hates this. She always follows along as I read and if I wander away from the script, almost invariably calls me on it.

UPDATE: Speaking of such things, I have confess that I've been having some fun with the noisy toy my sister sent the seven year old for her birthday. More recent dramatic renderings include:

Exterminate the Dok-tor! Exterminate! Exterminate!!

Nnnnnnn.......What you got, beyotch?

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto......

But I'm still gonna get Sis back.....

Posted by Robert at April 8, 2005 10:50 AM
Comments

Bam-a-lam-a-ding-BAM!

Posted by: Bill from INDC at April 8, 2005 12:20 PM

Too funny. My sons are grown now, but they both loved Frog and Toad - I actually used "Frog and Toad are Friends" as an example in a technical manual I wrote on software development. No wonder my clients all think I'm insane...

Posted by: Cassandra at April 8, 2005 12:38 PM

Heh. Often when the kids ask me a question about something, I use Frog's oft-repeated line from Days With Frog and Toad where Toad wants to know if the ghost story Frog is telling is true- "Maybe yes, and maybe no." I say it in a calm, measured voice with one eyebrow cocked and a slight grin. They hate that.

Posted by: Robert the LB at April 8, 2005 01:19 PM

My dad read Arnold Lobel's books to me when I was little and now I'm reading them to my kids. While I like the Frog and Toad books, I think his books Small Pig, Lucille, Mouse Tales and Owl at Home are even better.

My five year old son has a dramatic flare when he reads and strives to get the right tone. I figure he probably at least in part picked it up from his parents. I love hearing him read.

Posted by: Jordana at April 8, 2005 02:51 PM

I'm a bit surprised this hasn't been dismissed as part of the pro gay agenda.

C'mon..two amphibians spending that much time together can't go unnoticed.

Posted by: car;a at April 8, 2005 08:16 PM

I wasn't too impressed with those books when I was so young. Then again, I wasn't too impressed with a lot of the books that we had to read in school. Magic Schoolbus books were a lot better.

Posted by: TheRoyalFamily at April 11, 2005 06:49 PM
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