TREASURE ISLAND THIS SUMMER?

          As I painted the railing around the manse front steps this morning, I listened to WBUR's The Connection, and it took me back-way back. As part of a series on authors discussing books that shaped their lives, a poet described the experience of having Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, read to him as a child. Callers contributed their own experiences, of this and other children's books. One spoke of how the voice of his father reading is permanently intertwined with that story.

          It brought special memories of my childhood; how fortunate I was to have parents, and a grandmother, who did read to me. In fact, I realized just how much their voices helped me to experience wonderful adventures, and the magic there can be in reading. Stories of an elderly rabbit named Uncle Wiggily came just about nightly, and Winnie-the-Pooh and company visited often. But I can recollect listening to Treasure Island, The Wind in the Willows, and Tom Sawyer, too.

          And of course, there were stories read from a children's Bible.

          Do parents read to their kids today? In this age of everything electronic, do children have the warm, magical experience of hearing their parents' voices opening to them the limitless world of imagination in literature?

          "Summer reading" is a frequent theme of book review publications and store displays at this time of year. How about including as part of your summer reading some time that includes your child hearing your voice giving, just to them, an introduction to the adventures to be found in books? You will be giving them a treasure for life.

          And of course, don't forget those Bible stories.

Have a great summer!

Rod