For the love of reading

I love reading books to both of my girls. Some of their favorites are Dr. Seuss, which is great because those are some of my favorites to read to them. Seesa has recently been really interested in writing "books" of her own. She draws different pictures, puts them together and creates a story. At first, she'd recite the story for me to write next to the pictures she'd drawn. Lately, she wants to write the sentences herself. She asks how to spell each word, then writes it out in her book.

Her latest book is about houses. Each page has a different colored house on it, and describes that particular house, "some houses are red", "some houses are yellow", "some houses are black", etc. What really melted my heart, was when she brought me her favorite book, Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, and told me that it was the book that gave her the idea for her book about houses.

Wow.
Milly loves a good book too. Her current favorite is called A Pony for a Princess. Here's how the reading of this book to Milly plays out, every.time.we.read.it...

Belle picked out a book from the castle library. Then she looked out the window. The sun was shining. "I think I will read outside today," she said.
Why she going outside Mommy?
Because the sun is shining honey.
Belle left the castle. She walked past the barn. There was a big pile of hay by the barn.
Why hay by the barn Mommy?
Well, let's just see.
She walked past the apple tree. There was a big basket of apples under the tree. Belle sat down to read.
Why she sitting Mommy?
Because she doesn't want to read standing up.
Belle read and read. Before long, she felt hungry.
Why Belle hungry Mommy?
I guess it was lunchtime honey.
Belle put down her book. She walked back to the castle to get some lunch.
Why go to the castle Mommy?
Because that's where the food is.
Belle put a sandwich, some lemonade, and some sugar cubes into a picnic basket. "And I will pick an apple for dessert," she said.
Why apple Mommy?
Apples are good for you honey.
Belle went back outside. She walked past the barn. The hay was gone! "That is odd," Belle said.
Why odd Mommy?
That means weird.
She walked past the apple tree. The basket was empty! "Who could have eaten all the apples?" Belle asked.
Who eat the apples Mommy?
I bet we are about to find out!
Belle looked this way. Belle looked that way. Then she saw something behind a bush. It was a wild pony!
Why wild pony Mommy?
Because the pony was wild.
Belle stepped closer. But the pony was scared. It ran this way....and it ran that way. But the pony would not come to Belle.
Why the pony scared Mommy?
Just stick with me here babe, the plot's just starting to thicken!
Belle had an idea. She took the sugar cubes from the picnic basket. She placed them in a row on the grass. Then she stepped back.
Why she stepped back Mommy?
To see what would happen honey!
The pony ate one sugar cube. Then it ate another. And another. Soon the pony was right next to Belle!
Why the pony next to Belle Mommy?
Sugar works wonders that way.
Belle held out the last sugar cube. The pony ate it right from her hand! She reached out to pat the pony's soft nose.
Why she pat pony nose Mommy?
Who doesn't want to pat a pony honey?
Belle was happy. She led the pretty pony to the barn.
Why she put pony in the barn Mommy?
So she can pat him anytime she wants.
And before long, the princess and the pony became great friends.
Why friends Mommy?
Wouldn't you be the pony's friend too, if you were the princess?

And she is my princess, despite the Spanish Inquisition!