As a former librarian, when I'm looking at my goals for the year and making changes to my life, a book is the first place I go.It's so helpful to have an in-depth look at the topic I'm focusing on and a spot to refer back to when you're having trouble sticking to your goals or when you need some expert advice about how to make those changes.These seven books are some of my very favorites, whether you're trying to establish new habits, save money, lose weight, or be a better … [Read more...]
New Favorite Books for Valentine’s Day
I'm so excited to have one of my real life besties here today! Teresa is a former teacher, an amazing mama, and puts out the best posts on instagram on what she's currently reading with her three boys. So much so that I finally broke down and begged her to put together a list for all of us.Here she is with what her and her boys are reading this Valentine season... Admittedly, Valentine's Day isn't the biggest deal around our house. Maybe it has something to do with having three boys, but we … [Read more...]
6 Steps to Starting a Kick-Ass Book Club
My word for this year is "reading". More reading for me, for my kids... I may even drag my husband along for the ride. First, though, me.I decided a few weeks before Christmas that my first step would be to join a book club.The source of numerous benefits for all sorts of people, book clubs can be especially rewarding to moms who struggle with making time for their own pursuits. A scheduled time to socialize that also compels us to pick up a book and force a little "me time" once in a … [Read more...]
7 Best Chapter Books for Boys
Before I became a school librarian, my reading life was definitely girl-centric.But once I was working with an equal amount of boys and girls on a daily basis, ranging from tiny kindergarteners to too-cool fifth graders, I learned a few things about boys and the books they love.I quickly became proficient in all sorts of authors and titles I'd never heard of before, and I discovered which ones I could always count on to be a big hit.There is nothing quite as thrilling as the kid who … [Read more...]
How to Find the Perfect Christmas Book for Your Kid
I love to pick up one new Christmas book for our collection each year... or to put lots of holiday books on hold at the library for December. But I often have trouble settling on exactly which book to select.Sometimes, you're looking for a specific kind of Christmas book, but it's hard to find one because the bookstore or library has them all just categorized as "Christmas." Whether you're looking for a Santa story, a Christmas version of your child's favorite book, or a sweet story to read … [Read more...]
#MyBestLife: How to Find Time to Read as a Busy Mom
As parents, we spend a lot of time rushing around making sure that all of our kids' needs are met. But what about us? What do you do to make sure that you're fulfilled?Today we're working with Doctor's Best to explore what it means to be living #MyBestLife in the midst of kids and chaos.When I asked our contributor Janssen to name one thing she prioritizes for herself in order to live her best life, she instantly responded, "Reading!".This wasn't a big surprise being that she's a … [Read more...]
Back-to-School Must-Read: The “Me, Me, Me” Epidemic
You guys know I've been a long time fan of positive parenting expert Amy McCready.My family has used her positive parenting eCourse for years and we've collaborated several times to offer free webinars on positive parenting topics like getting kids to listen without nagging or yelling (look for our next free webinar coming next month).Last year Amy released a brand new book: The Me, Me, Me Epidemic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an Over-Entitled World I was … [Read more...]
Audiobooks for Calming Hyper Preschoolers (and Where to Find Them)
We've got yet another resource for you to use with our free B.O.R.E.D. printable today.Our children's librarian, Janssen, has rounded up the best audiobooks for calming active (aka hyper) kids. And it's just the thing for keeping the preschool set occupied for the rest of the summer and in the fall if, like in our house, they're missing older siblings who have ventured off to school.Read on for Janssen's picture book, easy reader and early chapter book recommendations! I've long been a … [Read more...]
Free Printable for Growing Bookworms: Kids’ Reading Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts and reading make the perfect pair. Discovering new stories, interesting characters, or a great series builds your child's love for literature as well as her motivation to become an independent reader.As parents we want to grow our children's interest in reading but sometimes feel like we've run out of ideas on how to do just that.To help, we've created a fun and simple way to challenge your child to read and discover outside of their comfort zone.It's a free printable … [Read more...]