Debbie Bertram - The Best Time to Read

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for always believing
Love, Debbie With love to Mom, Dad, and Leslie
Susan And to Heidi the best editor to have
D & S
To PeggyM.G. Text copyright 2005 by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom.
Illustrations copyright 2005 by Michael Garland.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York,
and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. www.randomhouse.com/kids Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bertram, Debbie.
The best time to read / by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom; illustrated by Michael Garland.
p. cm.
summary: A boy who has just learned to read tries to find someone in his family who will listen to him read aloud.
eISBN: 978-0-375-98296-5
[1. ReadingFiction. 2.

Stories in rhyme.] I. Bloom, Susan (Susan Lynn)
II. Garland, Michael, ill. III. Title.
random house and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. v3.1

I used to read pictures, But now I read words.

I like to read stories out loud. I can read by myself
every book on my shelf! It makes me feel happy and proud. I run to the kitchen,
Where Mommy is cooking. I ask her, May I read to you? She tells me, You bet!
But I dont have time yet. Right now I am making beef stew. I look for my daddy Hes in the backyard.

Daddy, Daddy! May I read to you? I do love your reading,
but Im mowing and weeding. Ill have time as soon as Im through. A sign says, KEEP OUT! On my big brothers door. Hes at his computer all day. Instant messages chime
and he never has time! Im busy, he says. In my big sisters room There are clothes everywhere. In my big sisters room There are clothes everywhere.

I open my book. Want to see? I have friends stopping by.
Maybe later, Ill try. Do you like this new sweater on me? Baby loves to hear stories So I tiptoe in shhhh. Ill read for a nap-time surprise. She gurgles and slurps,
drinks her bottle and burps. I march into the den. I march into the den.

Hi, Grandma. Hi, Grandpa. Look at my book and whats in it! My grandma says, Great!
But youll just have to wait. The news will be done in a minute. Is a minute done yet? I look up at the clock. While Grandma is sitting
and doing her knitting,
My grandpa is starting to snore! I can read to the dog! Here, Rover! Come listen. While Grandma is sitting
and doing her knitting,
My grandpa is starting to snore! I can read to the dog! Here, Rover! Come listen.

My story is really a winner. I start reading to Rover,
but quickly thats over. Plink, plunk! He hears kibblehis dinner! No one has time To listen to me. Guess Ill go to my bedroom upstairs.