Winnie-the-Pooh is a beloved character, but I'm afraid most children these days only know the Disney-fied Pooh Bear. If that's the only Pooh your children know, please, please please! pick up A.A. Milne's original books and read them with your children. Milne first published the original books in 1928, and the fact they are still... Continue Reading →
The Children’s Book of Virtues
The Children's Book of Virtues, edited by William J. Bennett, is a book meant to be shared with children. It's meant for cuddling on the couch together, sharing a poem or a story together and discussing what it means. Michael Hague illustrated the book with beautiful pictures and borders which will fascinate children. It's a... Continue Reading →
Angus and the Ducks
Before Curious George, there was Angus. Angus's curiosity got him into lots of trouble, just like Curious George. The main difference between them, besides the fact George was a monkey and Angus was a dog, is that George has so many books, films, and TV shows. Angus has just three books. But those three books... Continue Reading →
Science Activities
I'll admit, I am not a science mom. I wish I were, because my boys are science whizzes and love it. I, however, struggle to understand their junior-high-level science experiments. (Honestly, I've given up.) However, my children have all - even my non-sciency girls - really enjoyed The Usborne Book of Science Activities, all three... Continue Reading →
Calico Bush
I imagine Calico Bush by Rachel Field is not at the top of many people's reading lists. But it should be! This is the second time I've read through Calico Bush, but it will certainly not be my last. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this story. Marguerite is an orphaned French girl who... Continue Reading →
Misty of Chincoteague
If the children in your life love horses, they will love Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. (By the way, it's pronounced chink-o-teeg) The story follows Paul and Maureen, two children on Chincoteague Island in Virginia who desperately want to buy a wild horse from Assateaugue (ass-a-teeg) Island. They work very hard, finding odd jobs... Continue Reading →
Doctor De Soto
The hero of Doctor De Soto by William Steig, is a dentist. He's not an ordinary dentist - he's a mouse dentist, and a good one at that. All the animals come to see him, and he has various solutions for working on the mouths of animals bigger than he. However, Doctor De Soto does... Continue Reading →
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
If you have never read the original The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting, you are in for a treat. I think the title tells it all: The Story of Doctor Dolittle: Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts. Never Before Printed. John Dolittle, M.D. -... Continue Reading →
The Story About Ping
Ping is a duck who lives with his family on the Yangtze River in China. The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack tells of his adventures - or rather misadventures. One night, in order to avoid a spanking for being the last duck home, he stays on shore rather than board the wise-eyed boat which... Continue Reading →
Usborne Book of World History
The book my seven-year-old is most likely to pick out for read-aloud time (even outside of school time) is The Usborne Book of World History from Usborne Publishers. Obviously, my seven-year-old loves history. He loves it so much that our copy of World History is about to fall apart. Do not be afraid to start... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 