Monday, July 26, 2010

Summer Foolery

Sloppy Joe

"Where do toasters go to mail their letters? The toast office."

My older boy told us that one in the car yesterday. If you look
through the old posts you'll find joke books he likes.

We had visitors today and I cued him to tell "his" joke.
My friend remarked that her youngest boy (he's on the
spectrum, I think he has a diagnosis of Asperger's) has
no interest in jokes, and they've put away their joke
books. 

Sloppy Joe might be a bridge between our two boys.
The story includes several ridiculous jokes, but the main
theme is the titular character's attempt at self-reformation
(too many multisyllabic words for Summer-sorry)-um,
a sloppy kid tries to clean up his act.


My older boy happily read the story to my younger,
but would not read Punk Farm because his teacher
read that one to the class in second grade (over two
years ago). Novelty is essential-anyone else find that
with their child?


Summer break continues, so see you in about a week-

Spectrum M


 

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Captain Summer Pants

The New Captain Underpants Collection (Books 1-5)

Long before my oldest was reading,
perhaps pre-diagnosis, I recall
an apologetic mom trying to
explain Captain Underpants to
me at a bookstore event.

Even at eight my boy still didn't
go much for the tighty-whitey
clad hero, but he's mildly
interested now (send birthday
wishes, he just turned 10! I'm
trying not to freak out).

Since Underpants provides
little of use for my boy, beyond the
habit of reading, I think of it as
a diversion.
 Treasure Island: Literary Touchstone Edition
This time of year when my boys 
seek to make all of us walk the
plank, I seek to interest them in
Treasure Island-a story they 
mainly know from Muppets
and Treasure Planet.

Alas, July looks like a post 
a week will be the best I can
do.

Stay cool, dive into a book-
Spectrum Mom.