childrens books

Yes, I AM writing an entire post about Anne of Green Gables

My almost-4-year-old and I have been watching “Anne of Green Gables” and “Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel” over the past four days – during her little sister’s nap. We sit side-by-side on the brown leather couch, arms linked, smiling. “This is the best movie ever!” I say, in energetic bursts (and I mean it). [...]

Dear God, Please Help Me to Read Soon

Yesterday we found our 3-year-old jumping on her bed and praying jubilantly, “Dear God, Please help me to read soon!” over and over again. I think her prayer will come true sooner than she realizes. You see, she is a consumer of books. She reads them in the morning, in the car, in bed, and [...]

The Plan: Sell Everything. Live in an RV. Give Every Day.

Our 3-year-old was talking to one of her friends on the phone this week: “Our plan is to sell our house, live in an RV, and help lots of people and all of the kids who don’t have food.” She said it so confidently, so excitedly. She said it with sparkling eyes, with adventure in [...]

Children’s Books: 5 [Little-Known] Favorites

A good children’s book is surprisingly hard to find. Perhaps I am a hard critic, but I must say that I am largely underwhelmed by the majority of the books that we check out from the library. They tend to be unimaginative, embarrassingly trite, lacking in depth and character development, and crudely illustrated. On the [...]

Thoughts On: Disney Princesses

A few weeks ago, I overheard Tim reading “Sleeping Beauty” to our 3-year-old. I couldn’t help but smile as I eavesdropped on their book reading session. Tim kept adding in commentary every page or two, “…And then – This is crazy! – the prince fell in love with the princess before he even talked with [...]

I gave away our Mother Goose book

Yes. I did. It was entirely too morbid, filled with cruel-hearted characters and unhappy endings. Certainly these tales weren’t meant for the smallest eyes and ears? Take, for example, Tom Tom The Piper’s Son [click on the link to read the text if you can't make it out below]. A boy steals a pig. He [...]

I like Wednesdays

For the past few weeks, every Wednesday has been “Library Day” for us. Today, the girls and I drove to the library to pick up the books we had on-hold. I request titles ahead of time because – seriously – there are A LOT of children’s books that are horrible [Poorly written. Bad messages. Etc.]. [...]

The Library

Yesterday, I took the girls to the library. My 3-year-old was happy, so happy when we went to the desk to sign up for her very own library card. The librarian held up two card options – a special kids one with cartoons on it or a plain green one (the same one as mine). [...]

Something Colorful: Wilma Unlimited

Have you ever noticed how powerful and exquisite some children’s books are? Sometimes they are even more captivating, more able to teach…than adult novels and self-help titles. When I come across a well-done children’s book, I  tend to flip the pages, slowly – absorbing the details, the expressions, and the artwork. Harcourt recently sent us [...]

BEST OF 2009: Kid Products

It’s weird. For the longest time, my firstborn was my BABY. Then, she was a toddler. But now…now she is a full-fledged kid. She rides bikes and chews gum and picks out her own clothes. She is a beautiful, bright little girl with a heart of gold – so different from the tiny baby that [...]

more kids books :: just for fun

A few last books to share with you (Did I mention we love books at our house?)… A BOOK TO MAKE YOUR CHILD LAUGH: Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett, illustrated by Kevan J. Atteberry (Compendium, 2008, $16.95) A furry pastel blue monster with a stripedy tail and horns on his head flies in from Planet [...]

the magic of reading aloud

“You may have tangible wealth untold: Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be – I had a mother who read to me.” – Strickland Gillilan Amy of Usborne Books recently sent me The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I am completely enamored. If I didn’t have a million [...]