Does Roland like to read?

Roland is having a good year at school.  His teacher is nice, and fun, he gets to do 5th grade math since he's in a split, and she is reading them the Margaret Peterson Haddix books 'The Missing' Series.  I am a big fan of hers, and Roland really wanted the book 3 from the book fair this December.

I am so grateful that he has caught fire about reading the last several months.  He has been caught doing some unauthorized post bedtime reading that while naughty, is the kind of naughtiness I can secretly get behind.  While reading his Haddix book he has read some others, including Tom Sawyer, which he really loved and burned through quickly.  Wesley and I both loved the book as kids, so we all bonded a little.

I have noticed that I get something now.  I used to hear about friends reading books that their kids were reading.  I'd wonder 'why?'  'Why waste valuable reading time on a book someone else has chosen?'  Now that Roland is older, I have to put a little effort into connecting with him, having things in common with him (besides chores and his siblings!)  I recently checked out a book just to be able to talk with him about it (and also encourage this reading surge).  I really get it now.