15 Things I Love About This, The Greatest Gift of All
January 02, 2013
Thing #1: Why yes! I do love this so much I might marry it. Thank you!
Thing #2: He's inherited my favorite writerly colloquialisms.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I hop yall (ed. note: YA'LL! YES.) like this book. Yall proble be so prod of me (ed. note: DAMN SKIPPY). I love you.
From Noah
Thing #3: Seriously, though, he wrote us a book.
Thing #4: All farms still have red barns, even when they actually don't.
It's nice to see that life has not shaken his belief in the big red barn.
Thing #5: This picture of our timbering tree.
Thing #6: VIOLENCE.
Thing #7: Trees on top of cars.
TREES ON TOP OF CARS. No big deal, Mom.
Thing #8: No detail is worth leaving out.
You are learning well, young blogger-san.
Thing #9: When your narrative drags, go with some hyperbolic exaggeration.
(We did not drive over a river. It was more like a slightly dramatic puddle.)
Thing #10: I...I did?
I think Dad might nitpick this version of events, as Mom is a useless asshole.
Thing #11: Seriously, I am coming off SO WELL here.
He left out the part where I got all annoyed at my children's useless decorating abilities and wanton ornament destruction and finally did the dramatic "JUST LET ME DO IT MYSELF" parenting win of the year move.
Thing #12: NERRRRRRRRD.
"My favorite ornament on the tree is the Frodo ornament."
Thing #13: Everything about this illustration.
The clasped stick arms! The dreamy dream bubble! The image of Santa delivering presents while possibly strapped to the electric chair!
Thing #14: "About the Author."
ZOMG.
Thing #15: The secret bonus material on the back page.
"The alien zombies from the Black Lagoon showed up and stole all the presents. The end."
OMG, that is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. It is definitely a book I will read over and over again (today, while I should be working. Darn the end of the holidays.)
Posted by: Kathi | January 02, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Does that kid have a total grasp of narrative, or what?! Second grade teacher and mom here so proud of him and thrilled for you. MARRY THAT BOOK!
Posted by: KimAZ | January 02, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Totally and completely AWESOME!
Posted by: Ginger | January 02, 2013 at 12:43 PM
I love reading kid's stories. Noah did a great job! My stepson made me look like an asshole in his story he wrote about Christmas Day. Something like, I thought Cristin would be mad because we woke up early, but she wasn't! Great. Thanks for the memories!
Posted by: Cristin | January 02, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Love it! Very, very nice! As a teacher I couldn't help but notice the wh/w confusion exists in other locales besides my classroom. LOL!! Great job, Noah!!
Posted by: Sue C | January 02, 2013 at 12:54 PM
This makes me want to cry. Also, send my three-year-old to school and tell her to start writing me books, dammit. Mommy loves them!
Posted by: Jesabes | January 02, 2013 at 12:55 PM
What a fabulous gift! Marry Christmas indeed.
Posted by: MJ | January 02, 2013 at 12:59 PM
Hey -- keep that and remind Noah of it when he is applying to colleges. My son got into Colgate mostly based on his essay about our tradition of Christmas tree procuring.
Posted by: Dona | January 02, 2013 at 01:10 PM
My son is trying to write a comic about himself as a superhero. It starts "Somewhere in Ohio..." Which is awesome, except we don't live in Ohio. So I am not sure if he is trying to keep up our tradition of anonymous blogging or if he doesn't know what state we live in.
Here's the link to the first panel: http://www.momintwocultures.com/2012/12/whats-your-super-power.html
Posted by: Mom in Two Cultures | January 02, 2013 at 01:14 PM
SO CUTE. My 6 year old made a book for my husband for Christmas called "Wat my Daddy likes to to." Each page is a different thing (work, play guitar, kiss, eat spaghetti, swim, etc.) with an illustration. It's wonderful, and she cranked the whole thing out in two days of frenzied drawing. It's the most focused I've ever seen her.
Posted by: Amy | January 02, 2013 at 01:16 PM
7 years ago, Noah was a teeny tiny baby and my son was yet to be born. We discussed (via email) having boys.
My son (about to turn 7) just came into the room and wanted me to read Noah's book to him.
I feel like I have now officially come full circle.
Posted by: Rachel | January 02, 2013 at 01:46 PM
That's amazing! Well done Noah!!!
Posted by: Stacy | January 02, 2013 at 01:50 PM
SO fabulous! ALL OF IT.
Posted by: Suzy Q | January 02, 2013 at 01:54 PM
Oh wow, just wow! That kid rocks on so many levels xxx
Posted by: Claire | January 02, 2013 at 01:57 PM
He's got his moma's talent for writing a pretty fantastic story :) What a sweet gift! And he did such a great job!
Posted by: Amber | January 02, 2013 at 01:58 PM
Priceless!
Posted by: Wendy | January 02, 2013 at 02:30 PM
So....his blog could be called "Noahala". Right?? Show of hands - who besides me would read that??
Posted by: Cheryl | January 02, 2013 at 02:33 PM
LOVE this book, getting misty. Where can I find one of these blank white books, so I can stick it in a drawer and wait 7 years and hope my kid will also write me a story?
Posted by: Liz | January 02, 2013 at 02:38 PM
What a cute book!
Posted by: Cameron from WNL | January 02, 2013 at 03:09 PM
That is *awesome*!!! I will be so proud to say some day "Ah yes, Noah Storch. I was reading him long ago."
Posted by: Brigette | January 02, 2013 at 03:10 PM
So amazing - great job, Noah!
(PS - for you: "y'all")
:)
Posted by: beck | January 02, 2013 at 03:59 PM
Generally a lurker here but since I teach first grade I had to comment: VERY COOL! Writer's Workshop? My kids love to write so much that when they are misbehaving I threaten to take away writing instead of recess :)
Posted by: M | January 02, 2013 at 04:52 PM
Adorable. Well done Noah, and well done Amy and Jason!
Posted by: Sarah | January 02, 2013 at 05:44 PM
Adorable. Well done Noah, and well done Amy and Jason!
Posted by: Sarah | January 02, 2013 at 05:44 PM
You got the best gifts EVER!
Posted by: Barb | January 02, 2013 at 08:29 PM
Awesome! I love the Frodo ornament page! Perfect for your little man. :)
Posted by: Amanda | January 02, 2013 at 09:02 PM
Awesome! I love the Frodo ornament page! Perfect for your little man. :)
Posted by: Amanda | January 02, 2013 at 09:02 PM
I heart this, so very much.
Posted by: Michelle | January 02, 2013 at 09:04 PM
That is some really good stuff right there. Love it.
Posted by: Stimey | January 02, 2013 at 09:48 PM
That's an awesome book! :)
Posted by: Christy | January 02, 2013 at 10:06 PM
For Liz-Soulemama had a recommendation for blank books- barebooks.com.
Posted by: Janet | January 02, 2013 at 11:42 PM
I CANNOT WAIT to get something like this from my kid!
Posted by: Cassadie | January 03, 2013 at 12:07 AM
So sweet! The casual way he drops in the part about the tree on the roof--who would've thought? But my personal favorite? "Owch!" Love it!
Posted by: Emily | January 03, 2013 at 01:16 AM
this is too cute :)
Posted by: tonya cinnamon | January 03, 2013 at 09:28 AM
This isn't a sad story, but why am I having tears in my eyes?? Ugh! I really do appreciate children making things like this. They're expressing their love through arts and I love that. If I'm only there, I could have hugged your child! Lucky you! :)
Posted by: Mamamia | January 03, 2013 at 10:11 AM
I love this. I'd totally marry it.
Posted by: not supergirl | January 03, 2013 at 10:37 AM
I love how confident he is that his parents will be prod of him. That is a secure & well-loved child through & through - good work Mom & Dad!
Posted by: Michele | January 03, 2013 at 11:50 AM
For the LOVE OF PETE that is the most adorable thing EVER. My son is 2.5; I cannot wait until we get some of this narrative action over here. Love!
Posted by: Melissa@Total_Mama | January 04, 2013 at 08:12 AM
That is seriously SO TERRIFIC. Your kid is a budding graphic novelist and I'm not just saying that because of how I'm making a graphic novel right now. Get him some Calvin and Hobbes and Foxtrot STAT
Posted by: MKP | January 04, 2013 at 05:00 PM
The auto-generated ad I got just below this post was for Hallmark University. I like to assume that is where you go to learn to make awesome cards and books like this. Clearly Moah does not need their help.
Posted by: Peranting | January 05, 2013 at 03:17 AM
Gaah! Make that Noah!
Posted by: Peranting | January 05, 2013 at 03:21 AM
THE CUTEST THING EVER.
Posted by: ERIN | January 05, 2013 at 01:04 PM
It's in the genes, Heather, and aren't you just as proud as you an be !~! I love young writers and it looks like you are growing a crop there in the wilds of Minnesota.
Posted by: Lynda M O | January 09, 2013 at 02:24 AM