Storytelling

There's a British book that we read to Xander a lot - it's called "Run Run, It's Scary Poo" all about a little shrew whose mother tries to teach him how to smell scary Panther poo in the jungle so that he will be safe. Turns out the poor guy can't smell well enough to tell that a bird/toad/butterfly aren't panther poo - and his parents despair that he will never be safe. However, one day, he is in his den and hears a panther approaching his brothers and sisters and he rushes out of the den and bites the panther on the tail, scaring him away - and saves them all.

X loves the book. Last night (and again tonight) after we finished reading it, it's time for 'snuggle Mommy' when he curls up in my arms to go to sleep. And the lights are off. But instead of curling up and falling asleep right away, he sits up and looks at me with a gleam in his eye and whispers "what's that...? I hear sounds... I don't see him.... IT'S A PANTHER!! Chomp! He lashes his tail! Goes through the air and plop! In the stinky poop!"

Essentially telling the story back to me, complete with secret squirrel moves of his head back and forth, like he's listening for the panther...

Amazing.