Molly's blog

The following post was entered as comments in our parents' blog welcome post. We found these comments so wonderful and moving we have decided to amalgamate them into their own blog, which is only what they deserve.

Molly's 'Bookstart Journey'

Two and a half years ago, my sister started taking her one year old daughter, my wee niece Sofie to what was called 'Storytime' at Port Glasgow Library. After a few weeks this evolved into 'Bookstart Rhymetimes'. We would get Sofie to show us all her new songs and stories when she came home on a Friday after library, she just loved the attention! We would laugh until we cried at her 'sleepy bunnies' and 'little green frogs'. They would do arts and crafts and every week they would bring home something topical, a Christmas card or collages made from leaves; it was so sweet! It was about a year later that I had my very own Bookstart Baby. Molly was 8 weeks old when I started taking her to Bookstart Rhymetimes. It was a great way to get out and meet new people and to get ideas for my new baby. I get such a big smile on my face when I see her joining in and trying to sing songs. I think I would struggle for ideas for Molly if it wasn't for Bookstart. We have had a lot of fun at our group. Last year all the groups in the area wrote a short children's story and had them published in a book. We attended a book launch and lunch with entertainment laid on for the day at a country house. We had a great day at a local country park for National Bookstart Pirate Day, a puppet show, arts and crafts and a treasure hunt. Molly is now 18 months old and already she understands that we are getting ready to go out and see Bookstart Bear (BEAAAAR! YEEAAHHHH *clapping of hands*). We attend two Bookstart Rhymetimes sessions a week in our local area, a new group has started at our local nursery, The Rainbow Centre in Port Glasgow and the now well established group at Port Glasgow library. We would go every day if we could. We love it!!

Molly's 'Book of the Week'

Chocolate Mousse For Greedy Goose by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt (better known to Molly as "YOH-YOH MOOOOO!!"). She is starting to know this book really well. At 18 months I'm well impressed by the fact that she can flick through the pages and, without any prompting from me whatsoever, she can recognise parts of the story. She blows on the page with Mother Hen, she says 'All done' for Sad White Swan, she shouts 'Bowwwl' at Furry Mole and says 'night night' when they all go to sleep. Clever Molly :)

Molly's 'Tips for Success'

As I say, Molly is only 18 months, so I am unsure if my approach will be successful, I can only try! I don't force her to read books or make her look at each page, I let her play with them like they are toys. I put books in lots of different places, a box of board books in the bedroom, a basket of lift the flap books in the bathroom, plastic covered books for in the bath, I keep a book or two in my changing bag and handbag, fabric books in her toy box, a box of touchy feely books by the telephone (which sometimes helps when I'm rude enough to try and have a conversation with someone on the phone!), story books around the computer, books in the car. For her first birthday we got Molly a three tiered library box to store her books in. They are currently awaiting repair due partly to the weight of all the books in it, but mainly due to the fact she likes climbing on them! She is starting to grow out this phase thankfully and she often comes to me with books to read now. Our favourite time to sing songs is at breakfast. 'AGAIN' 'AGAIN' and if I try to sing a different song 'NOOOOO'! My neighbours must think I'm daft! When we are hanging about the house, rather than put the telly on all the time, I'll stick on a cd or dvd of nursery rhymes and songs. The problem is though that some of these songs stick just a little bit too long in my head, I find myself singing 'oh brass wagon' and 'wind the bobbin up' going round the shops and in work!!

Molly's 'Book Buying Tips'

I'm a hardcore bargain hunter! I don't see the point in forking out £5 for a book. I grudge paying more than 50p if I'm honest. I like to think I'm helping to recycle and cut landfill and for 50p I won't mind if Molly rips the pages. I get my books from everywhere and anywhere. Booties, jumble sales, library sell offs, I have even taken books from bins! (To explain, the PDSA in Greenock sees fit to throw away perfectly good donations. I rescued from the bin a Dear Zoo lift the flap book, a Where's Boo Underwater book, a Bob the Builder board book shaped like a hammer and a Bookstart book, Eachy Peachy Pear Plum, all in perfect condition!) Any time I am in charity shops, its the first thing I look for. Molly and I have a little ritual after Bookstart Rhymetimes on a Friday. We walk into Port Glasgow town and visit the charity shops to look for second hand books. Molly is a bit young to pick her own books, so I mostly pick her up touchy feely, lift-the-flap type books, but I always check through the stuff for slightly older kids and pick out more educational books. If friends or relatives are looking for suggestions for pressies to buy her, I always ask for books. I ask them to keep their eye out for a book bargain. If they buy her an expensive book, I feel obliged to keep it good and put it away so that she can't wreck it! These books end up on a shelf unused and unappreciated. I'd much rather my relatives spent their money on things like their bills!