By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Christmas gifts from one Bowling Green grandma allow her to read stories to her grandchildren no matter how far away they may be.
For 13 years now, Savilla Banister has been sending her grandchildren the treasured gift of videos with her reading stories to them.
When she started, it was a fairly simple operation with just three grandchildren. But now there are 16 grandchildren waiting for their “Gramma Reads” video each Christmas.
“Two of our kids don’t have kids yet, so we have a chance for more grandchildren,” Banister said with a smile.
The families are spread out from Washington to Ohio, so the story videos bring them closer in spirit.
“I don’t get to see them as often,” but they get to see their grandma reading to them anytime they want.
The idea was born after the Banisters decided they didn’t want to buy a bunch of toys that would be forgotten the day after Christmas.
“We really try to not buy a lot of stuff,” she said. “They were at such distances. So I thought, well maybe I could read to them even when I’m not there.”
Banister, a professor in the BGSU College of Education and Human Development, selects themes each year for her “Gramma Reads” stories. This year the theme is the environment. Different books are selected for each age group. For the younger ones, she will read the entire book. For the older kids, she will read one section to whet their appetites.
“Then I’ll say, ‘Now you read the rest and see what happens,’” Banister said.
One family keeps the DVDs in the car so the kids can hear the stories as they travel.
“They watch Grandma read. It’s a way to stay connected,” Banister said.
This year’s selections include “The Lonely Polar Bear,” “The Bee Book,” and “Pesky Plastic.”
Other years, the books have focused on such themes as “Star Wars,” the beach, Hawaii, the Beatles, or the literary classics.
As their grandma reads, their grandpa, Rob Banister, videotapes.
For the “Star Wars” videos, Banister dressed up as the movie character Queen Amidala. That had some of the younger grandchildren glued to the TV for their stories.
“When they are really little, they talk to the TV,” their grandma said.
For the Beatles theme, the Banisters played instruments and taped in their basement music studio.
This year, Banister read seven books all talking about the environment. That theme came to her as their family was vacationing on Lake Erie in the summer and couldn’t swim because of the algae.
Another year focused on cooking.
“They all need to learn how to cook,” she said. “They all love my enchiladas, so in between stories I showed them how to make them.”
The big family gets together at a cabin most Christmas holidays, where the latest “Gramma Reads” are unveiled. The children get corresponding books for their age levels.
“Books are still important,” Banister said.
Every few years, the grandparents also buy matching pajamas for everyone.
“My husband will say, ‘that’s about 30 pair of pajamas,’” Banister said. But it’s worth the expense, she added.
This year’s pajamas are red and black plaid, with “I’m Not Tired” printed on the kids’ shirts.
When they are together, Banister can read bedtime stories in person.
But when she’s not there, all the kids have to do is pop in the DVD.
“I’m famous,” she said with a grin.
“You want them to know you, and what’s important to you,” Banister said.
And she wants to instill a love of reading and challenge them to be aware and think for themselves.
“If they can learn to read, they can really learn anything,” she said.
