What's Basbusa reading?

Cat & Mouse: A Delicious Tale was slightly odd in terms of plot - after browsing through a recipe book, a cat suddenly finds herself unable to stop thinking about how much she wants to eat her best friend, a mouse - but Basbusa enjoyed it. I think she just interpreted it as another version of the very familiar I-really-want-to-but-I-know-I-shouldn't conflict, and didn't stop to ponder the issue of best friends eating each other :) The graphics made an interesting change from the usual, too, and the book ended up with a reassuringly positive affirmation of the power of true friendship. Oh, and Basbusa learned what the '&' symbol means. So, odd but worthwhile, overall.

Have you read Rhyming Dust Bunnies yet? I have a feeling it's a standard part of every preschooler's reading list, but somehow we managed to miss it until recently. Basbusa adored this one, and thought it was the funniest book ever. Three rhyme-obsessed dust bunnies - Ed, Ted, and Ned - are happily making up lists of rhyming words, and are completely oblivious to Bob's attempts to warn them of an approaching peril. "No, Bob," they tell him kindly, "'LOOK OUT! HERE COMES A BIG SCARY MONSTER WITH A BROOM!' doesn't rhyme with anything, really...." Cue much giggling from Basbusa :)

We had a cute misunderstanding with this one, too. Basbusa hadn't come across the term "dust bunnies" before, so I told her that it meant bits of dust and fluff stuck together, but explained that in real life of course they would be mostly dust-colored, not red and green and purple. A few days later, she came running to me, saying, "Mama! Mama! I found some dust bunnies!! ... but I think they're dead..." :) Oooops, guess I should also have clarified that dust bunnies aren't alive like the ones in the book, either!

Homespun Sarah was a recommendation from Amy at Hope Is The Word, and Basbusa and I both liked it and learned a lot from it. It describes life in colonial Pennsylvania from the point of view of Sarah, a young girl living in a typical family. I thought the book managed to convey a huge amount of information about what life was like, in the most enjoyable of ways. Did you know, for example, that in the colonial period, only the adults were allowed to sit down at the table to eat? The children all had to stand, and had to remain completely silent during the meal. The book is told in rhyme, and the text is a little awkward at times, but it didn't cause us any difficulties.

King Jack and the Dragon was a story about three young boys building a fort out of boxes and old sheets, and having a day full of imaginary adventures defending it. The oldest (still a preschooler) bravely plans to stay out all night, but becomes more and more nervous by the sounds of pattering mouse-feet and a distant owl-call. In the end, when a huge, four-footed shadow approaches the fort, he loses his nerve completely - but it's only his mum and dad coming to take him to bed. It was a beautiful story, and it was told in rhyme, so Basbusa did enjoy it. I think it's maybe just a little bit young for her, though, because it never did make the read-over-and-over-and-over list.

Linking up with What My Child is Reading and Read-Aloud Thursday.