What We're Reading: Hilo

What we're reading: Hilo by Judd Winick (of Real World SF fame).

My husband picked out this graphic novel for Animal. Based on that knowledge, Animal was hesitant to try this one. After we finished Ghosts I decided we would make Hilo our bedtime story. Usually I let Animal choose, but sometimes I decide it's time to try something outside of his comfort zone.

There was some grumbling and moaning to be sure, but I'm used to that. One chapter in and he was hooked. Hilo is an action packed adventure graphic novel. There are robots, kids, explosions, friendship, magic and other dimensions.

We are both enjoying so much. When I told my husband how much we were both enjoying and that Animal had already read ahead and finished it on his own, he went on Amazon and ordered the rest of the series.

We are about to finish the last book, but Animal has already devoured the complete series!

Guys, this is my dream come true. I love to read. It's such an important skill. I want my son to be a ferocious reader, like me. When he was an infant and toddler I would cry, and fret because he didn't seem to like books. He wasn't really talking very much, he only had a about a dozen words when he started preschool at 2. Even though I read to him every day. One day he finally started showing interest in the books I was reading him.

My love of reading doesn't just fuel my imagination. Doesn't just put words in my head. Doesn't just entertain me. It has made me a better, more empathetic person. It's made it easy for me to code switch. It's made me a better student. It's given me the ability to learn about anything. For fun, for health, for knowledge. Whatever the subject, there's a book for that.

Even though Animal didn't struggle to learn to read, he HATED it, and I hated making him read to me everyday. But I did. Now here we are. Finally. Don't give up fellow readers. There's a book (many books actually) for everyone.

Animal's art work.