Recently, we were visiting family, staying with my husband's uncle and aunt. Their grandchildren are younger than my children, so we were scrounging around for books for my children to read before bed. Imagine my surprise when I heard shouts of joy. What were they excited about? They found their great-aunt & uncle's stash of... Continue Reading →
The Happy Hocky Family
If you want a good laugh, I highly recommend reading The Happy Hocky Family! by Lane Smith and it's sequel, The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! I laughed so hard when I read them that my children practically ripped them out of my hands to read them for themselves. Admittedly, I had to... Continue Reading →
The Gardener
The Gardner by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small is a unique picture book. The entire story consists of letters written by Lydia Grace Finch during the Great Depression, accompanied by beautiful pictures which really help tell the story. The first couple of letters are to her Uncle Jim, to whom her family is... Continue Reading →
I Stink!
Alphabet and counting books fill the shelves of libraries. Some of them are cute and some are beautiful. Then there is I Stink! I Stink! by Kate and Jim McMullan is the perfect alphabet book for boys, and girls who love gross things. I Stink! follows the journey of a garbage truck through the dark... Continue Reading →
Patricia Polacco
I discovered Patricia Polacco when writing a book review on books about the Civil War. Polacco wrote a deeply moving picture book about a friendship between two boys in the Civil War, one from Michigan and one a runaway slave, called Pink and Say. (Pink and Say is not for younger children - I'd wait... Continue Reading →
Madeline and the Cats of Rome
I've already written about how much my girls and I love the Madeline books, but I think the newest Madeline book deserves some attention of its own. You're thinking, "Newest Madeline book? I thought the author, Ludwig Bemelmans, died a long time ago." Yes, he did. Yes, there were only a few Madeline books. But... Continue Reading →
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
I admit it. I love kids books that make me laugh. And Mo Willems writes and illustrates some of the funniest books for the preschool crowd. In Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the reader 'interacts' with the Pigeon, who uses every one of his wiles to convince you to allow him to drive... Continue Reading →
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
When my children were little, I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr and John Archambault so many times I could say the entire book by heart. And honestly, I was OK with that. Many a children's book grows old after reading it for the one-hundred-and-fiftieth time, but not this one. I read... Continue Reading →
What are YOU so Grumpy About?
A few years ago, when my youngest was in kindergarten, author and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld visited my son's school and talked to the students. Since then, he has always looked for and enjoyed Lichtenheld's books. One of his favorite books is What are YOU so Grumpy About?. This book is definitely a book to read... Continue Reading →
I Pledge Allegiance
If the children in your life are anything like mine, they ask a lot of questions. So many questions, that our first year of homeschooling consisted of me writing down my children's questions, going to the library to check out books which would answer those questions, and reading them to my children. I wish I... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 