Winter has its own appeal - the chance of snow, the hibernation - but I don't know a single soul (save for my ski-crazy nephews) that longs for it to stick around after a few months. Once we get a hint of spring, people are all in. I bought primroses that then got covered in a few inches of snow, I'm eyeing my daffodil shoots daily, and I'm even getting an itch to start planning my garden...all signs that spring is near!We have a few wonderful picture books we like to mark … [Read more...]
Top 10 Parenting Books for Raising Boys
I have a confession to make. Since discovering the absolute genius that is audiobooks (see here for a primer on how to get started if you've never read with your ears before), I'm rapidly reverting back to the bookworm I was a child.It's glorious.I've even had a mini book club with my mom friends about the book Little Girls Can Be Mean. Having started exploring the topic of parenting girls, I now want delve into the subject of sons (appropriate since I have two of them).So, of … [Read more...]
Read Across America Day in Honor of Dr. Seuss
*photo via love Taza.No one believed in this message more than the magical Dr. Seuss.In his honor, the National Education Association is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Read Across America Day, a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. Visit the NEA website for details and resources.And for more great ideas on how to celebrate, check out the following sites:The official Dr. Seuss website.A round up of … [Read more...]
14 Books to Read to Your Kids Before Winter is Over
I know we might all be a little over winter by now, but hang with me here. My friend and former teacher, Teresa, is back with her favorite winter reads and it's SUCH a good list. Other than Christmas books, children's books about the seasons are my favorite. It's such a great way to explore concepts and changes that occur with our children. While we may have just seen our few fleeting days of snow here in the Seattle area come and go, it's still fun to read about it! A few favorites … [Read more...]
7 Books for Making Real Change This Year
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...]