Open Letter to Kim Wayans

Dear Kim,

I was so excited when my daughter was given to of the Amy Hodgepodge books for Christmas.  I am a Twitter friend of yours and learned about your books that way. My sister in law saw them at Target.  As a self-described protective parent, I read the books first.

For a non-librarian, I think I read a lot of children's books.  This is for two reasons, first because I homeschool my daughter and have to create lesson plans and worksheets.  Secondly, because she is only 5 years old and we have recently started the process of me reading chapter books to her a chapter at a time. 

Though my daughter is not what we term bi-racial, I understand how all children need to see themselves reflected in literature and films and appreciate the storyline of the multi-racial Amy. I get how many of Amy's new classmates are portrayed as being mean.  This is real.  Also I like that there are some children who are above the teasing and come to befriend Amy.  Overall, great story lines.  So far we have books 1 and 2.

Where the books lose me is the homeschool storyline.  Homeschool is portrayed miserably in these books.  In the first book she explains why she is entering school for the first time in her life and says, "I wanted real, non-dog friends."  Her not having friends can't be blamed on homeschool, can it?  Is gaining friends the only reason she is being sent to school?

Then in the next book Amy talks about having quiet birthdays. "That's because I'd been homeschooled my whole life and didn't know many other kids."  What?  Don't children make friends in thier neighborhoods, at thier house of worship, with thier parents children, in girl and boy scouts?  Again, is homeschooling always lonely?

I think that she could have easily been a military child who changed schools frequently.  Maybe you could have better developed the sub-story and explained why the child did not have friends, does the mother speak English?

I'd just like to know why homeschool was thrown under the bus in an otherwise smart and funny book series?  Right now,  I have to say that I wouldn't read either of these to my daughter for this reason.

Reading faster!

After a rocky start with reading Hooked on Phonics books we are off and running. What a difference 6 months makes in the life of a 3 year old!

Babygirl is ripping through those books at a rate of about 2-3 per week. Now at bedtime, she can read daddy a book and he can read her one! Yes! Yes! Yes!

I still recommend HOP. I hear a lot of mixed reviews, but I don't know one Black family who has major complaints. Mostly GREAT things to say about it.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket...

Well, last month baby girl started reading. We've been rolling right along with Hooked On Phonics until about a week ago. We've had short stories in the workbook and she's getting it. Then, she was ready to read the first book and it was like pulling teeth. She couldn't make the connection. The story was too complex. She knows about 25-30 words but the dammed first book tried to use them all! It did very little rhyming and was getting to wear her down.

Well, yesterday we went to Toys R Us for some roller skates (awww, her first skates, exhale)and since it was empty, we strolled the aisles. I was in the book section and thought I'd look for those corny ass Dr. Seuss books. Well, even Hop on Pop looked to have too many new words so I just kept looking.

Then.....(drumroll here)

I saw these BOB books.
I remember someone mentioned these on one of my Black homeschool group boards. I had already committed to trying HOP so I left it alone. Well, I am proud to say my baby picked up the book and read the first story straight through! I knew she could do it. She was reading all the words on the worksheet pages, but in the book form they switched the game up.

Lesson: Don't "commit" to any curriculum or teaching style. When something doesn't fit, don't force it. Just go another way.

I highly recommend the BOB series in conjunction with HOP. HOP will teach the letters and sounds well. The books are just a bit confusing right out the gate. BUT, if you're taking my advice remember my daughter is only 3 and 6mos. now. (reading for about a month). An older child may have an easier transition.

Two of my favorite counting books

My daughter is starting to read her numbers now and it is so much fun watching her mind work. Now that she knows what the second number should be like 23 (say "twenty three") and 35 (say "thirty five") she reads her teens like this: 13 (says "three teen") and 15 (says "five teen"). It was so cute when she did it, it made me know that she could really read and reason. We're working out the kinks but she is really comprehending which gives me inspiration that I can really do this home-school thing.

My favorite counting books so far are:
Feast for 10

The story chronicles a trip to the grocery store and preparation of a family feast. Of course I love the Black family as subjects, but I really like the verses like "six bunches of greens".

Chicka Chicka 1-2-3


I love rhyming books for this stage of learning and the book goes all the way to 100 and counts by 10's. It teaches a lot and there are no talking animals to confuse the children either.