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My Toys are Books

When D and I had a roomate P, I remember one of the running jokes was 'I didn't have any toys. Books were my toys.'

They used to say it in this voice that made it sound much funnier than it now looks on screen and I'm sure it was passed down from many a night with his O-dot friends but as with many of their jokes, I can never really remember who started what. I'm sure neither can they.

But the phrase struck me today, as I was observing one of my classes in what we call the Block Room - essentially a room full of oversized Legos and a great place to give the kids a 10 minute break from the insanity. Yes, because it's the kids who need the break from the insanity. Uh huh.

So, on this much needed break I happened to observe one of my bright young ones, Little B, kinda looking around at the other kids, nose scrunched, mouth curled, as if someone had just offered her the most disgusting thing to eat.

Me: Little B, what are you doing?

Little B: Teacher, no block room.

Me: (blink blink)

Me: (after I got up off the floor from FAINTING at the thought that a small little rascal WAS NOT INTERESTED IN PLAYING) Well, do you want to go to the library and get a book?

Little B: (face lit up like a Christmas tree) yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

And off she ran, to get herself something more 'fun' to play with.

She came back, sat amongst the other students, content to simply read...her...book.

Who needs toys? I think I've found the child who has ACTUALLY REALLY invented: 'My books were toys'.

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