Apart of Monday Journal #9, please be aware that I also write another blog series called “Readers Who Write”, and this is my third submission:
What was your favorite book as a child? Would you give it as an age-appropriate present? Why or why not?
When I was a child, I have profound memories with two book series: Sesame Street and Widya Wiyata Pertama Anak – Mengapa Begini Mengapa Begitu. I didn’t have complete series but I have a shelf full with the books. Right now when I browse the images from Google, I feel the warmth… oh, how those days are so full of happiness – look at me now, I have been single for the last EIGHT years, have a miserable life as deadlines and so on and so forth are chasing. What.a.life. #lahcurhat
Anyway, I think my mom understand since the beginning that I am an active child. I like to do a lot of activities at school, I make friends easily, and I cannot stop talking. So my mom had to find a book to make me stay quiet for some hours, i.e. when I came home from kindergarten/elementary school and I have to wait for my mom finished working. The book doesn’t only have to give me insightful knowledge (because I like being smart, ha ha), but also give me meaningful perspective about life. So both series ticked the needs.
I still remember one of the Sesame Street telling about the story of Elmo staying at his friend’s house for one night, and I applied all of his tips. For example, when my friend’s mom offers me dinner, I have to help washing the dishes, or at least bring it to the kitchen. – P.S.: I don’t remember exactly how was the story, but I believe you get my point.
Sesame Street open up my mind about being a good member of the society, like how to treat my friends, teachers, neighbors, and even siblings. It taught me from what should I do if I get lost in a mall, to how to apologize if I make mistakes! There are a lot important lessons that I obtained from Sesame Street, and it also became my very first source in learning English. Do you know that Sesame Street has audiobooks that we can listen to?
What was your favorite book as a child? Would you give it as an age-appropriate present? Why or why not?
When I was a child, I have profound memories with two book series: Sesame Street and Widya Wiyata Pertama Anak – Mengapa Begini Mengapa Begitu. I didn’t have complete series but I have a shelf full with the books. Right now when I browse the images from Google, I feel the warmth… oh, how those days are so full of happiness – look at me now, I have been single for the last EIGHT years, have a miserable life as deadlines and so on and so forth are chasing. What.a.life. #lahcurhat
Anyway, I think my mom understand since the beginning that I am an active child. I like to do a lot of activities at school, I make friends easily, and I cannot stop talking. So my mom had to find a book to make me stay quiet for some hours, i.e. when I came home from kindergarten/elementary school and I have to wait for my mom finished working. The book doesn’t only have to give me insightful knowledge (because I like being smart, ha ha), but also give me meaningful perspective about life. So both series ticked the needs.
I still remember one of the Sesame Street telling about the story of Elmo staying at his friend’s house for one night, and I applied all of his tips. For example, when my friend’s mom offers me dinner, I have to help washing the dishes, or at least bring it to the kitchen. – P.S.: I don’t remember exactly how was the story, but I believe you get my point.
Sesame Street open up my mind about being a good member of the society, like how to treat my friends, teachers, neighbors, and even siblings. It taught me from what should I do if I get lost in a mall, to how to apologize if I make mistakes! There are a lot important lessons that I obtained from Sesame Street, and it also became my very first source in learning English. Do you know that Sesame Street has audiobooks that we can listen to?
The second series, Mengapa Begini Mengapa Begitu (MBMB) is more like an encyclopedia – with attractive images. It explains science in super easy way, and it did help me at school. Some things I can remember from the book is about why we tend to pee more often in cold weather, and why our nails grow faster in hot weather – but I forgot why. Hahahahaha. I meant, I remember the images. [Buset jubaedaaah.]
As I wrote this, I cannot not think about privilege.
privilege: a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most (source)
I am thankful for the opportunity that Allah gave me, as my parents were rich enough to buy me books and send me to one of the most prestigious schools in Surabaya. Of course at that time I wouldn’t assume that one day I will be working for an international organization which urging me to speak and write English in daily basis. In the other side, even though not all knowledge I got from the MBMB book, I still got the pleasure of being the walking encyclopedia when I was in elementary school. No matter how challenging my life afterwards, but the books that I read in the first years of my life built my personality. For these reasons, I would say that those books were age-appropriate.
I am not sure if we still can get Sesame Street and MBMB books nowadays, but I am sure there have been a lot of better books which more fit for the millennial kids. Someday I hope I (or my husband) will have enough money to buy our kids good books, so we can postpone their smartphone usage until…I don’t know maybe they enter junior high school (HAHA like possible). But yesss, in conclusion, great kids book is very important, that’s all – I rest my case. See you on the next post!
Love,
Prima
*All images from Google.
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