The Best Time to Read Read online

  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for always believing

  —Love, Debbie

  With love to Mom, Dad, and Leslie

  —Susan

  And to Heidi … the best editor to have

  —D & S

  To Peggy—M.G.

  Text copyright © 2005 by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom.

  Illustrations copyright © 2005 by Michael Garland.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

  Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York,

  and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

  www.randomhouse.com/kids

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Bertram, Debbie.

  The best time to read / by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom; illustrated by Michael Garland.

  p. cm.

  summary: A boy who has just learned to read tries to find someone in his family who will listen to him read aloud.

  eISBN: 978-0-375-98296-5

  [1. Reading—Fiction. 2. Stories in rhyme.] I. Bloom, Susan (Susan Lynn)

  II. Garland, Michael, ill. III. Title.

  random house and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  v3.1

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  First Page

  About the Contributors

  I used to read pictures,

  But now I read words.

  I like to read stories out loud.

  I can read by myself—

  every book on my shelf!

  It makes me feel happy and proud.

  I run to the kitchen,

  Where Mommy is cooking.

  I ask her, “May I read to you?”

  She tells me, “You bet!

  But I don’t have time yet.

  Right now I am making beef stew.”

  I look for my daddy—

  He’s in the backyard.

  “Daddy, Daddy! May I read to you?”

  “I do love your reading,

  but I’m mowing and weeding.

  I’ll have time as soon as I’m through.”

  A sign says, KEEP OUT!

  On my big brother’s door.

  He’s at his computer all day.

  Instant messages chime—

  and he never has time!

  “I’m busy,” he says. “Go away.”

  In my big sister’s room

  There are clothes everywhere.

  I open my book. “Want to see?”

  “I have friends stopping by.

  Maybe later, I’ll try.

  Do you like this new sweater on me?”

  Baby loves to hear stories—

  So I tiptoe in … shhhh.

  I’ll read for a nap-time surprise.

  She gurgles and slurps,

  drinks her bottle and burps.

  She yawns and then closes her eyes.

  I march into the den.

  “Hi, Grandma. Hi, Grandpa.

  Look at my book and what’s in it!”

  My grandma says, “Great!

  But you’ll just have to wait.

  The news will be done in a minute.”

  “Is a minute done yet?”

  I look up at the clock.

  I tap, tap my foot on the floor.

  While Grandma is sitting

  and doing her knitting,

  My grandpa is starting to snore!

  I can read to the dog!

  “Here, Rover! Come listen.

  My story is really a winner.”

  I start reading to Rover,

  but quickly that’s over.

  Plink, plunk! He hears kibble—his dinner!

  No one has time

  To listen to me.

  Guess I’ll go to my bedroom upstairs.

  But waiting for me … is my toy family.

  I can read to my bunnies and bears!

  I am reading out loud,

  When I hear … knock, knock, knock.

  And guess who is there at the door?

  “We’ve been waiting,” they tease.

  “Will you read to us, please?”

  Rover follows and flops on the floor.

  “You’re all here! Come on in!”

  I turn back to page one.

  It’s 100 percent guaranteed …

  That it’s more fun to share

  with your family there.

  Right NOW is the best time to read!

  Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom are “The Write Sisters”—the writing team who collaborated on The Best Place to Read and City Hall: The Heart of Los Angeles. Before turning to writing children’s books full-time, Susan was an elementary school teacher and Debbie worked in television production. When they are not taking children’s writing classes at UCLA or brainstorming new ideas, these two dynamic presenters are entertaining children and librarians with their interactive readings at events around the country. The authors live and work in Los Angeles.

  Michael Garland is a bestselling, award-winning author and artist. He has illustrated over twenty-five children’s books, including The Best Place to Read and the bestseller The Mouse Before Christmas, which “glows,” according to the Horn Book Magazine. Mr. Garland’s work is regularly selected for the annual Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, and he garnered the Silver Medal for his book Icarus Swinebuckle. He lives in Patterson, New York.

 

 

  Debbie Bertram, The Best Time to Read

  Thanks for reading the books on GrayCity.Net