Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy
What The Universe Looks Like – When You’re 9
We’ve made mention here before about the advanced reading of our son. When he was in 3rd grade he was tested at school for his reading and comprehension ability. As all kids are. Our little Prince was scored on a 12th grade reading level. Ok, we knew he was smart; but he’s still a kid.
This year his reading ability is so high, the school test can’t score his reading ability. So they’re saying he’s on a college level with his reading. Now there are good and bad sides to this. The good side, he’s smart and when he wants to know something he goes to Google and he reads about it. His interests lean toward science and computers. The first webpage he book marked was a page that discusses the periodic table.
The bad side is that it’s hard to find books for him to read for his homework that aren’t too easy and will still keep his interest. His favorite books are “Hank The Cowdog” by John Erickson. Now these aren’t real hard books to read, but they aren’t really written for kids. Mr. Erickson has a history of saying he didn’t intend these books to be for children. But kids love them! And adults too. They really are hilarious and not in a childish way.
Consequently we are picking books that make it harder for him to stretch his vocabulary. So Evil Daddy decided it’s time to introduce the Prince to Zaphod Beeblebrox. For those who don’t know who that is….have you been living in a cave? Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy is a must read classic!
Enter the world of Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent and you’ll find a hilarious Universe filled with improbability probability matrices that confuse the mind and entertain the soul. And when you’re 9 and you’re entering this world of Vogons and galactic super highways the Universe is vast and spectacular.
Reading with your kids from a young age and beyond gives them a step up to learning and expanding their world. It puts the universe at their finger tips not only in books, but in today’s digital and technological age. The world you grew up in is changing at the blink of an eye. What you saw when you were 9 is outdated and old by the time you’re 12. Now consider how much it’s changed between your childhood and that of your own children.
But one thing that will never go out of favor, out of style or out of date is reading a good book. Especially when you can share it with your kids.
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