Dear Reader Column 11-19-09

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Dear Reader,

Every few weeks my friend Linda and I do some bench sitting on St. Armand's Circle and then we do a little browsing in the shops. Last week when we were browsing, I couldn't resist buying a Tickle Monster Kit; a copy of the of the children's book Tickle Monster and big, blue, furry mitts with convenient holes for your fingers to slide through--so you're ready to tickle! The children's story is about a loveable monster with big puffy mitts who's just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to planet Earth. But the book's not just for children. "So, Suzanne, how about reading Tickle Monster out loud right now?" Linda asked as we were driving home.

Linda's request is one of the reasons I love her so much. Uninhibited, by who might be staring, or how grown women over 50 should be behaving, as the two of us bench sit and drink our coffee, we're also blowing bubbles, feeding the birds and having discussions that would rival any seasoned philosophy professor's lecture.

Read the book? Of course I couldn't refuse--what fun! I started out a little reserved, but soon I was reading aloud with as much enthusiasm as if I were reading to my grandchildren. Tickle, tickle, tickle, in my voice, we were laughing like two young girls, but unfortunately I couldn't use the big furry tickle mitts because Linda was driving.

But I did put on the big furry tickle mitts when I read the book to my grandson Paul. And then Paul put on the mitts and read the book to Grandma (in his own special 3-year-old way) and of course I was properly tickled!

It's a delightful book. I highly recommend it and so does Paul. To see photos and a slideshow of a grandson reading to Grandma--his facial expressions are priceless! Go to: http://tinyurl.com/yzyopw7

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Barbara Pope, Cezanne's Quarry; Graham Garrison, Hero's Tribute; Shannon Van Roekel, Desert Fire; Jean Davies Okimoto, The Love Ceiling; and Tim Downs, Ends of the Earth. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader And check out KidsBuzz too! http://authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz/

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Under The Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson. To comment on the book and get some holiday recipes from Suzanne, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NovClassics

Comments

[Shelley Woonton]

Dear Suzanne,

My children are teens and I miss the hours we used to spend reading together. I am looking forward to some day having grandchildren to read to and I am going to buy this book to keep for that time. It sounds like so much silly fun. Way to go!

Thank you for your willingness to share and be honest about life.

Shelley

[Kelly]

Hi Suzanne,

My introduction to this book was in July at a 1yr olds Birthday party and I couldn't wait to get the chance to play with them. Thanks for reminding me about them I am adding them to my Christmas shopping list for the young and young at hearts on my Christmas list.
THANK-YOU for being You...I always enjoy reading with you in the morning,