PRINCESS BRIDE, THE, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, 1987, TM and Copyright (c) 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. All Rights Reserved
My favorite ‘reading aloud movie’ is “The Princess Bride.” Yes, it’s a wonderful movie about a fairy tale…but more importantly it’s a grandfather reading aloud the book to his sick grandson, a reluctant listener. Eventually the grandson is fully engrossed in the book and his grandfather’s reading aloud.
Even when you’re sick, your ears hear the words, and your brain makes wonderful connections, often to the heart. Sick people smile when they are read aloud to. Yes, they do.
I have been sick. Staying home for a week has been sometimes blurry, yet I was able to read aloud to the children at school on Zoom. What a treat! I read a Todd Parr book, The Thankful Book.
It was perfect. We talked about all the things we’re thankful for.
Yet, the tables were turned, I was the sick one. Reading aloud was healing for me, too. Yes, reading aloud heals just about everything.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Hope you feel better soon! I love reading to my kids.
Thank you, I’m on the mend. Nothing beats reading to kids!
Poor you, Jennie I hope you are on the mend but what a trooper you still didn’t forget your kiddies and its sounds as if it helped you too…How wonderful 🙂 x
Thanks, Carol. Covid is quite a zapper, but I’m better. The kids were my healer yesterday. 😀
So I have heard, Jennie pleased you are much better 🤗🙏
Thank you, Carol! 🥰
I hope you’re feeling better, Jennie. I can only imagine the love that flowed back to you as you were reading. That is a powerful source of healing energy. Take care.
Thanks, Dan. I’m on the mend. Covid really takes a toll. The kids certainly gave me lots of love and healing. 😍
hope you’re feeling better soon, Jennie. I’m sure the kids miss you terribly. tell them to look forward to getting mail from us soon, I sent it out earlier this week. you are so right about reading, it is so therapeutic for the reader as well as the listener. )i love Todd Parr books –
I have never missed a full week of school, so you can imagine how wonderful it was for me as well as the children to read on Zoom. Yes, reading is therapeutic for all (especially a good Todd Parr book)! The good news is, next week is school vacation week, so I have more time to heal from the dreaded Covid. How exciting that your cards are on the way. Hooray!!!
great! take care of yourself
Yes, and will do!
Our kids loved to be read to at night. And they always went to bed without a problem. I agree, it’s great therapy. Why, I enjoy reading my own stories aloud. Makes me smile. Have a great day, Jennie!
You are so right, Steve. It’s a win-win delight for everyone. Many thanks.
Yes and I love to read to my grandchildren 💜💜
It’s the best! 💕
Good for you for being able to still share your passion while ill. Hope you are feeling better!
Thank you, Frank. I’m on the mend!
Love love love this, Jennie!💛
Thanks so much, Ritu! Did the valentines arrive yet?
We’ve been on a week break so far. Will know I Monday!
Thanks, Ritu. It takes ‘forever’ for mail to get overseas. I hope you’re enjoying your break with some R&R.
It’s been a hectic, but extremely fun week, Jennie. I’m trying to rest up now before Monday!
I hope you feel better soon! 💗
It is great when it works both ways. I hope you are feeling much better now, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, it is- a real win-win. I’m on the mend. I don’t think I had Covid as bad as you, but I missed a whole week of school (a first). The week ahead is school vacation week, so I’m lucky to have more time to heal and get rid of the dreaded cough. My fog-brain remains in a fog. Best to you, Pete.
That cough was the worst part of Covid for me. My chest muscles ached so badly, I had to hold myself when I felt the coughing fit coming on.
Oh, boy! That’s terrible. That is also Steve. Yes, hubby has it, too. What a week. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. Best to you, Pete,
Hope your feeling better soon Jennie!
Oh no, sorry to hear you’ve had the lurgy, hope you feel better soon!
Thanks for your good wishes, FR. That’s a new word- lurgy.
Hope you get well real soon, Jennie. Reading via Zoom robs you of seeing the little faces and their reactions.
Thanks, Don. Zoom is not ideal, but at least I’m ‘there’.
Few days before my father died I was reading to him. I don’t remember what the book was. He wasn’t aware of what the story was but he told my mother that the fact that I was reading to him gave him such a sense of peace that he would smile. I’m always proudest of that.
Oh my goodness… I have chills. What a wonderful memory for you, thank goodness your mother told you what he said. She knew it was a big deal, and so did your father. I will think of this often, Pam. Thank you.
As a book lover, I have pushed reading on my kids and they will do the same…as for “The Princess Bride” two things: one, most don’t know it was a novel BEFORE it was a great movie, and two, it was written by William Goldman, who also wrote many terrific screenplays like “Butch Cassisdy & The Sundance Kid” – and it was his line that iconically summed up Hollywood: “nobody knows anything.”
Good for you, John! Yes, your kids will do the same. BTW, if grandkids are ever in the picture, you’d better pick my brain for books. I know… what a surprise that people don’t realize the movie was first a book. That happens a lot. I did not know William Goldman wrote the book! Thank you for telling me! He was terrific. How many writers have success with both novels and screenplays? Yes, “nobody knows anything.”
So sorry to hear you have been sick. But reading fixes everything. I read to mom in her later years and even though she had dementia, she loved it and it made her smile. 😊 I hope you will be better soon and back to school with the children.
Thanks, Darlene. I’m on the mend. Yes reading pretty much fixes everything. 😀 What a wonderful story about your mom. Knowing she loved it and knowing it made her smile is a great memory for you.
So sorry but so pleased you could show the children in a practical way how happy reading can make them even when ill. You never miss a good opportunity. I hope you are really well now !!!
Thank you, Sandra! Yes, I was so glad to show them reading can always be happy. I always try to seize the moment with children. 🙂 I am on the mend!
I hope you’re feeling better, my friend. When you do, it might be time to return with Rapper Jennie. Goodnight Moon never sounded so good. 😊
Hi Pete! I think I’m the last teacher at school to get Covid. I’ve never missed a whole week of school. Of course Steve got whacked, too. We are better, and the good news is that it’s now February school vacation week. More time to heal and get back to normal. It was SO wonderful to Zoom with the children yesterday and read a book. Made my day. Also, I think you are absolutely right about Rapper Jennie and Goodnight Moon. It’s time! Stay tuned!! 😀
I hope you feel better, Jennie. Sorry to hear you were sick.
I’m on the mend, John. Thank goodness we have school vacation week next week. Whew!
Oh good. Best wishes.
🙂
From what I can see in the comments, it appears you’re on the mend. Yay! As to the healing art of reading aloud – during ‘lockdown’ hubby started reading the book he was reading to me as a sort of bedtime ritual. The book? No, not The Princess Bride, but we have both the book and the video. The book is called, “The Soul of an Octopus – A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness” by Sy Montgomery. As the isolation of COVID continued, I then began to read aloud the same book again to hubby! It’s now part of our history together as is COVID itself.
hugs
Laura, what a wonderful story. Thank you. Yes, there is healing in reading aloud. I am blessed to to this every day. Hugs to you!
I’m sorry to hear you were unwell, Jennie. I hope you feel better now. I’m glad reading helps. Magic!
Yes, it is magic! I’m doing better, and with school vacation ahead this week I should be back to my old self. Best to you, Norah.
Bless, even when poorly you ensure you are there for students – a deep moment of thankfulness for them and for you too. I’m happy to see from the comments that you are doing much better! Take care and look after yourself, Jennie! xx
Awww… thanks so much, Annika. Will do!
Hope you’re feeling better, Jennie. You know ‘your kids’ are missing you.
Thanks, Steve. Yes, and I miss them, too.
I’m so sorry to hear that you caught it too, Jennie. I was back up after a week but the fatigue lingered for several weeks. Then I got something different but it felt the same. I tested negative but once again, down for the count. Give yourself extra time and space to build back up. It’s sneaky, that stuff. Glad reading to the children helped all of you.
That’s good to know, Marlene. I’m 10 days from when I got sick and feeling much better, except for the fatigue. I call it fog brain. This is school vacation week, so that’s a lucky break. I have another week to heal. I will be cautious about taking care of myself. Yes, the children helped- they’re always a bright light.
Jennie, thank you for a wonderful post! I hope you feel better soon.
Thank you, Charles! I’m feeling better.
Sure does Jennie. You’re a star!
Best thing, ever! Thanks, Opher.
👍👍
I’m sorry to hear you were sick, Jennie and hope you are better now. What a great way to stay connected to your children and do something you love together. 💖🤗
Thanks, Carla. I am better now. I was so happy to read to the children and stay connected. 😍
You are very dedicated to read to the children when you are sick, Jennie. I took my first sick leave in 11 years this week. I just wasn’t well enough to work although I did a few things.
Thank you, Robbie. A full week out sick is a long time. First in eleven years for you? Wow.
I have always worked despite being sick. The last three years of Covid and sickness in my family, combined with getting a bit older, is changing that as I get much more tired and sick now than I used too. A week is a long time, you must have been very unwell. Hugs.
Me too, Robbie. Covid is nasty, and school mandates that I quarantine for 6 days, so I had to stay home. Good thing, as I wouldn’t have been well enough to go to school. I still have an on-and-off ‘brain fog’ which I hope goes away soon.
Covid is dreadful
Yes!
Hope you’re alright!
I am. Thank you.