One of the many benefits from having children is the many books we get to read to them. During deputation I started reading some chapter books during our drives and stays. Since moving to Cambodia I’ve continued reading longer books to the kids before bedtime. Josh reads to the kids while I meet with my tutor in the afternoon. Here’s some of the longer books we’ve read: (I’m including some Wikipedia links for books that might be unfamiliar.)

During Deputation:

Charlotte’s Web ( E. B. White) – we’ve read this several times and also have it on audio read by E. B. White.
The Trumpet of the Swan (E. B. White) – this was our first time reading this and it has some wonderful dialogues that I would later reread to Josh. Love what the Cob says to his wife and kids.
Stuart Little (E. B. White) – we enjoyed the first half, after that it got a little weird.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic, Hello Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Farm (Betty MacDonald) – her cures for children’s behavior problems will make you laugh!
The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie the Pooh ( A. A. Milne)
Uncle Wiggly Stories (Howard R. Garis) You can get most of these free on the Kindle. They are great short stories to read before bed.

Our kids love playing with the neighborhood puppies.

Bedtime Reading in Cambodia: I love watching our kids act out these stories after we read them. It’s so fun to see the stories come alive for them.

The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame) – this was a lightly abridged versions published by igKids. It omitted three chapters and shortened two others. Difficult words were simplified and longer sentences were split. Both kids really enjoyed the story.
The Dragons of Blueland (Ruth Stiles Gannett)
Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang (Ian Fleming)
Rabbit Hill (Robert Lawson)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
Caddie Woodlawn (Carol Ryrie Brink)
Sarah Plain and Tall (Patricia MacLachlan)
Black Beauty (Anna Sewell) – We read a short version first and then I asked Becca if she wanted to hear the unabridged book. We loved it.
A Little Princess: Being the Whole Story of Sara Crewe Now Being Told for the First Time (Frances Hodgson Burnett) – We enjoyed this since Becca reminds of us Sara.
Heidi (Johanna Spyr) – This is my first time reading Heidi. I was amazed at how much theology it contained. Two more chapters left…

Afternoon Reading by Josh:  Becca really enjoyed listening to Focus on the Families Radio Theater dramas. When I realized she wasn’t catching everything in the Chronicle of Narnia, I thought it would be good father/daughter bonding for Josh to read to them all to Becca. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more. And now their reading time has become an afternoon tradition.

The Magician’s Nephew (C.S. Lewis)
The Lion, Witch, and the Waredrobe (C.S. Lewis)
The Horse and His Boy (C.S. Lewis)
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)
The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis)
The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis)
The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Hugh Lofting)
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (Hugh Lofting)

Happy 13th Months to Anna Grace. This week we found her doing this…yikes!

Josh and Amy Read Alouds: Josh continues to read to me before we go to bed. A nursing baby always increases our reading time, since we can’t just go straight to bed. Here’s a few of the books we’ve read in the past year:

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Two (Andrew Peterson)
North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Two (Andrew Peterson)
The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Three (Andrew Peterson)
The Warden and the Wolf King: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Four (Andrew Peterson)
Boys of the Blur (N. D. Wilson)
The Bark of the Bog Owl: Wilderking Trilogy (Jonthana Rogers)
The Secret of the Swamp King: Wilderking Trilogy (Jonthana Rogers)
The Way of the Wilderking: Wilderking Trilogy (Jonthana Rogers)
The Charlatan’s Boy (Jonathan Rogers) – in progress