This week, as we drove from Madison to my parents’ in Tinley Park, IL, an easy 2.5 hour drive that I’ve made countless times, I’ve was reflecting on our extensive time (literally) on the road. The 25,000 miles that we’ve put on our truck this year has created a sort of a comfort zone for our kids.
Sometimes Madelyn naps; but more often we catch her acting out detailed scripts with the characters on her shoes, a toy she brought with, or having imaginary conversations (“be quiet, mom, I’m on a call with Aunt Christine”). Madelyn has also gotten excellent at naming songs (“Mama, this song is called Teenage Dreams. It’s my favorite!”)
Grayson calls driving time his “thinking time”. He looks out the window for long stretches and occasionally pipes up with a complex question or grand plan for the future.
And both kids have LOVED listening to stories. I think both Greg and I expected that there would be some point that would inspire us to use the power of Prime to deliver emergency iPads and kid headphones to survive the next leg of the journey…but that point didn’t come in Arkansas, or Texas, or New Mexico. So at some point, we just forgot about it and instead checked each week to see who had an Audible credit available.
For short jaunts, or entertainment while making dinner, we like the Circle Round podcast. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne has been by far the most popular, easily agreed upon, and loved by all of us. The 55 books follow the adventures of Jack (8) and Annie (7) as they travel from their home in Frog Creek, PA through history…in a magic tree house that they discover. Jack loves books, Annie loves animals, they solve riddles and help others (often famous historical figures). We’re now working through them for the second time.
We also enjoyed:
- The Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan. Grayson went on a kick learning about gods from different civilizations…and Loki-ing (pranking) has become a phrase around here.
- Some Roald Dahl (The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The BFG, Matilda, The Witches).
- All the Ramona/Beezus books by Beverly Cleary. Those were more annoying to listen to as an adult than I remember from reading them as a kid. There’s a fair amount of whining that perhaps struck too close to home.
- Stuart Little
- The “Little House” books Laura Ingalls Wilder as we went through South Dakota, Iowa, and back into Wisconsin.
- The Hobbit
- The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone. An inspiration for a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, soon.
Someday a real phone or tablet will slip into our kids’ lives for regular entertainment…but we’re grateful to Jack and Annie that today is not that day. I also can’t help but be grateful for the adult-applicable lessons shared as Jack and Annie’s secrets. In case you don’t make it to the end of book #52, I’ll share.
Jack and Annie’s Secrets for Greatness:
- Humility (Alexander the Great)
- Work hard (the Great Houdini)
- Meaning and purpose (Florence Nightengale)
- Enthusiasm is Everything! (Pele the Great)
Jack and Annie’s Secrets for Happiness:
- Spend time in Nature – and “pay attention to small things”
- Curiosity – Every day Leonardo da Vinci felt happy when he learned something new
- Compassion – for all living things
- Take care of someone who needs you, and let someone take care of you – courtesy of Penny, an emperor penguin chick
Wishing you all a season of Great Happiness, and Happiness in your Greatness.
Well said Jackie!
Jackie, I am in awe that you never needed to use the iPads on your cross-country journey! Wow! Thank you so much for this wonderful list of books and podcasts! This will come in handy for sure for our next road trip with our little ones!
I love the Jack and Annie series. We have the entire collection at home and I have such great memories of reading them to Zain and then with Nibras years later. Miss you all! Happy Thanksgiving!