No American childhood would be complete without reading Dr. Seuss's famous book The Cat in the Hat. Hollywood has taken to turning Dr. Seuss's simple children's books into movies - but as with most movies, the books are better. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of a boy and his sister, left alone... Continue Reading →
Usborne Farmyard Tales
If you are looking for good books for toddlers and preschoolers, my favorite publisher is Usborne Publishing Company. So many of our favorite books when my children were that age came from Usborne - and the Farmyard Tales stories top the list. I bought my youngest The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery,... Continue Reading →
Fancy Nancy
On a recent library trip, my nine-year-old stocked up on Fancy Nancy books, written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Fancy Nancy delights the girly-girl in my daughter - and I enjoy her so much more than the popular princesses. Nancy is not perfectly coiffed; she is not a developing young woman. ... Continue Reading →
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
From the time my children were about eight months old (or even younger), I read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle to them nearly every day. We loved Carle's depiction of the animals in Brown Bear, Brown Bear and we loved the lilting, rhyming rhythm of... Continue Reading →
That’s Not My…
My toddlers and preschoolers loved any one of the Usborne books that started with That's Not My... . We still have That's Not My Train and That's Not My Bunny, even though my kids have outgrown them. They are fun books to have when my friend's toddlers and preschoolers visit. These sturdy books have wonderful... Continue Reading →
The Jesus Storybook Bible
I firmly believe that every child should know the Bible. The stories in the Bible form the foundation of much of Western thought and literature - plus there are just some great stories in the Bible. Recently, a friend recommended The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. My children are a little old for this... Continue Reading →
Things People Do
I have read this book to my children over and over and over - and we enjoyed it every time. Now my children are enjoying reading it themselves, even though they are elementary school age, and a bit past the information in it. Things People Do is an oversize hardcover book from Usborne Publishing Company. ... Continue Reading →
Virginia Lee Burton
There are some authors that no matter what book you pick up, you will be sure to enjoy it. Virginia Lee Burton is one of those authors. Virginia Lee Burton (1909 - 1968) wrote and illustrated several classic picture books - including The Little House, Katy and the Big Snow, Maybelle the Cable Car, Mike... Continue Reading →
A Child’s Book of Art
A Child's Book of Art is an over-sized, hardback book for children. In it, Lucy Micklethwait has selected words and works of art which describe those words. For example, one two-page spread is titled "The Seasons." To illustrate spring, Micklethwait chose Spring by Claude Monet. For summer, she chose Wheatfield with Reaper by Vincent van... Continue Reading →
The Monster at the End of this Book
The Monster at the end of this Book, starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover is one of my favorite books to read aloud. My sister gave it to my children when they were preschoolers, and we have enjoyed it for many years. In it, Grover sees the title of the book and is scared. He talks... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 