Today we were reading a vocabulary book for toddlers. It's questionable whether it was considered reading since Alex can't "read" and it was only one word per page anyway. BUT, that's what we were doing. Really this book is meant for babies but seriously, what baby is going to tell you what these pictures mean? It should be called "Toddler's First Words." Some editor might've missed the boat on that one. At some points I felt it was unfair to ask Alexander what the picture was because, in my opinion, it was a terrible representation of said item. For instance, the "clock" they pictured looked something like a modified boombox and cuckoo clock. He busted out with an affirmative guess, as if he was sure he was right, even though I had NO idea what he was saying. This happened on a handful of pictures that were meager representations of the real deal. The best part, for me, was when Alex decided that this was obviously a living book that required his dramatic representation of what to do with said item.

The following are quotes from Alexander Jack Newman (I'm sure you can imagine the item he sees):
 
(puts ear to the book) I'm gonna talk on the phone! Hello? Who's there? Okay, bye! 
 
(puts face on the book) I'm gonna wear my glasses! 

I'm gonna use the broom!

(moves head back and forth on the page) I'm gonna brush my hair. 

I'm gonna take a bath! (tries to climb on the book and into the pictured bath tub)

I'm gonna ride the swing (sits on the book and pretends to swing)
 
I'm gonna wear my mittens (puts his hands on each of the mittens)
 
I'm gonna drink my coffah! (pretends to drink a cup of coffee) - this is really how he pronounces coffee. It was actually a steaming cup that was probably filled with tea but to him it's coffee. I don't drink coffee so I'm not sure where this came from but it was cracking me up!
 
Fish! (makes bubble noises and pretends to swim)
 
I'm gonna take a picture! Say cheese!

Ride the skateboard! (makes rumbling noise and tries to stand on page)

One aspect I absolutely love about toddlers is their lack of inhibition! He just thought this was a great idea and had to do it for every item he could. The other thing he likes to do when we read is pretend that he's eating the picture. This is fine when it's a picture of blackberries or carrots but randomly funny when it's a kid and he says, "I'm eating the kids, Mom! Munch munch munch" as he pretends to eat whatever is on the page.