The Story/Book-Lena and Becca

I was introduced to Becca's blog through the normal blog-stalking way of seeing who comments and then getting interested in the lives of the people behind the blog. Becca, her husband Elliott, and their little girl Magdalena are currently living in Italy. However, Becca and Elliott first met in Cambridge, Massachusetts when he was at veterinary school at Tufts and Becca was an ICU nurse at Mass General Hospital. This summer Nick and I lived in Cambridge, just down Massachusetts Avenue from Harvard Square, which is where they lived when they were there. So even though we're many miles of land and an ocean apart, we both share a love of Boston. 

I'm so impressed with their adventurous spirits, living in a foreign country and learning the language one word at a time while Elliott serves in the U.S. Army. Becca, Elliott and Lena are expecting an addition to their family in January--a little boy to even out the number of boys and girls in the house. You can read some of Becca's personal insights and experiences on their blog, Making Room. 

Thanks Lena and Becca, for being a part of The Story/Book.

The Story~
"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents," said Emilie Buchwald, and my husband and I can attest to the truth of that statement.  Our fathers read aloud to us and our siblings every night until we were teenagers.  Soon after Elliott and I met, one of our first dates involved sitting in a tea shop in Harvard Square with a book next to each of our cups.  We had been planning to spend the afternoon reading, but fortunately we were so fascinated with one another that six hours of lively conversation sped by before we even thought about our books. Today we both love reading aloud to our 18-month-old daughter Lena and rediscovering a much-beloved world of children's literature.

The Book~We hear crickets outside our windows all day and night in Sicily, so it seems appropriate that Lena's current favorite book is The Quiet Little Cricket.  It's a sweet little story of a cricket who rubs his wings together to say hello to other insects, but unfortunately for him nothing happens.  Not a sound.  Then he sees another cricket, and she too is a quiet cricket, and he rubs his wings together one more time.  And this time he makes the most beautiful chirping sound she has ever heard.  The end.  

Other Recommendations~Lena: Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown, Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss, Doggies Sandra Boynton
Becca and Elliott: East of Eden John Steinbeck, A Severe Mercy Sheldon Vanauken, Jayber Crow Wendell Berry

Thanks Lena and Becca, for being a part of The Story/Book.