This month we did read The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me by Roald Dahl and it was actually not too bad. We have been working on Where the Red Fern Grows but still have a couple chapters left. I never thought I would be the censoring kind of mom but I just couldn't bring myself to read the part where the Pritchet boy falls on his hatchet. Dogs dying is sad, boys dying is not something I want to discuss yet with the goons.
We also did manage to squeeze in simultaneously Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets. Whew, I would HATE to have a month without Captain Underpants.
I've actually discovered that the author Dav Pilkey definitely knows how to write for my boys. The Hallo-Weiner is easily one of the boys' favorite Halloween books. They also really like the Dumb-Bunnies series. So I may request some of his other books for the library.
As for the boys' reading practice, Simon is moving right along and doing great. He is up to the 20th book in the 1st level of the phonic readers we use. We did books 10-20 twice for extra practice.
Ike is at a weird spot in reading. All the "I Can Read" books are really easy for him now. I do borrow them for him to read at night to himself but I am looking for a few more books that will challenge him just enough but not too much. I think 'Magic Treehouse' is about the right level but I am just so sick of those books. Annie gets on my nerves.
My standout story book for this month is The Fire Cat. Simon actually got his for Christmas but has been addicted to it lately. We've read it almost every day for the last week.