The Road Not Taken

Last night at bedtime, my two year old son pulled out a poetry book.  He was in the mood to listen, having slowed down considerably from his frenetic pace of the day.  He sat quietly and intently as I read poems by the dozen, lingering on my favorites. I feel lucky that I can share my love of words with this little boy, and that he seems to appreciate these moments as much as I do.

Before I tucked him in for the night, I shared with him my favorite poem.

{image via flickr}

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Fabulous Children's Books

The nightly ritual at our house is for the kids to brush their teeth and then cuddle with mom or dad for a book (or three) before bedtime.  My children have amassed quite a collection of books, but both are partial to the Pigeon series by Mo Willems.   

We started with The Pigeon Wants a Puppy.  It quickly became a household fave.  The kids love the illustrations and the funny voices their dad and I use for the Pigeon.  I love that there is humor on a number of levels and I don't have to make up fake words to entertain in lieu of a plot.

When we successfully wore the pages out, we graduated to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.  I find this one particularly hilarious, though the toddlers have not yet grasped the ridiculousness of a bird as bus driver, so the guffaws usually come from me.  This one also happens to be a Caledecott Medal winner.  I know, you're impressed.

Our most recent purchase is The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog.  My husband loves this one because (spoiler alert!) the pigeon and his companion appreciate the delicate flavor that mustard brings to the hot dog.  Seriously, my husband likes to debate anyone who will listen on the merits of a Chicago hot dog.  Always mustard, never the evil ketchup.  So this book appeals to his hot dog sensibilities.  But I digress.

I was very pleased to discover that there are a few more books in this series, and that Mo Willems has a number of other fantastic books to add to the kids' wish lists.  Happy reading!