Books and Muzzy

We went out to a pub this afternoon to celebrate my mother’s birthday. (We also sang for Big, b’day due this week.) Small took along Muzzy (the green cuddly monster toy, rather than the cds/dvds) and Donkey (an irritating small McToy that says “are we there yet?” “shre-e-ek” and “peekaboo” in rotation), while Big took along Starring Sally J.Freedman as Herself and Charm School, two of her Christmas presents from us. She’s reading the Anne Fine atm, so the other was deposited on the table for Auntie K to raise her eyebrows at.

“She’s reading Judy Blume???”

Um yes? Can’t see the problem with that. Turns out that sister was unaware that Judy Blume had written anything for children – I think of her primarily as a children’s/ teen author, and was quite surprised (as well as pleased) to lay hands on an adult novel when at camp last year. So the misconception was quickly cleared up (I read out loud part of the introduction) and no one commented adversely on a 7-nearly-8 year old sitting reading at the table while waiting for her food to arrive. Just as well really – the other two children at the table were playing with a mobile phone and a ds (or some similar, couldn’t actually see what brand it was from where I was sitting) and I can’t see that that is particularly more sociable!

Guess times change. A year ago Big was still on fairy books, and wouldn’t have dreamed of reading outside of 10 minutes before lights out. I think she was still at the couple of pages a day, or possibly just about ready to go onto something more challenging. [eta, nope, she was on the book a night stage, found the relevant blogpost! And when I was a child, reading in company was the type of thing I was roundly chastised for as being antisocial (which was why I went today bristling and ready to do battle 😉 ). So having my now avid reader praised for her reading at the dinner table seemed like a pretty good state of affairs today.