md club book #4

The mother-daughter book club is going very well. M and I chose Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister as the first book in our newly formed club back in April. Then came Island of the Blue Dolphins in May. Then Because of Winn Dixie for June. And so this past Sunday was devoted to choice #4 - The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea Buchanon and Miriam Peskowitz. This book was not a novel like the others so it was kind of exciting to be able to skim through this volume and pick and choose what was interesting to us. M read it during her "Quiet Time" during the day. (M is much too old for a nap, but she still needs a bit of quiet time to read or draw or listen to her MP3 and iDog without interruption from me or her younger sister). When she said she was through with it, I opened it up and looked through it as well. What a great collection of memories for me. Making daisy chains, friendship bracelets, 14 ways to play tag, how to tell a ghost story, yoga moves and jump rope songs. Wow, I want to go outside right now and try to do a cartwheel!

There is also a website and sequel out now called The Double Daring Book for Girls. I think this is a great book to have on hand if you ever invite your daughter's friends over for a playdate or sleepover. M decided to follow the directions in the prank section and make fake blood and smear it all over her arm and run screaming into the meeting that she broke her arm. All the girls looked at her and said, "Oh that must be the fake blood! Cool, Can I try it?" So, while she didn't really fool anyone, they all thought it was cool and wanted to make it too. The girls shared their favorite parts of this book and talked about what kind of adventure they would like to go on. Then the girls got to make their own friendship bracelets. It was a beautiful afternoon outside to spend with friends!

I am really enjoying this club and getting to know each mother and daughter better. Since I put this group of women and children together, they all knew me already. So it has been really neat watching the women interact and get friendly with each other as well. The girls all seem to like the meetings and have a great time together. There are 7 moms and 7 daughters altogether, representing 5 different schools, 3 different churches in 2 counties. I am hoping for a close bunch of friends that will help each girl feel secure in themselves and their friends whether they see each other every day at school, or every Sunday at church, or just once a month at book club. As the girls grow up, I hope this club will continue and grow in friendship and love.