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...]
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...]
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...]
Give the Gift of Reading: How to make a ‘Series Starter’ Kit for Kids
Got a little reader on your gift list this year? Our resident children's librarian, Janssen, here today with one of our favorite gift ideas ever - the series starter. Here are all the details... Whether you're looking for a book to give to a voracious reader or a struggling and reluctant reader, series are always a good idea. For an avid reader, a series gives them not just one book to devour, but a whole set. While for the reluctant reader, entering a series means they can continue reading … [Read more...]
8 Chapter Books for Kids About Strong Families
Since we've already done a round-up of her favorite Thanksgiving books, I thought a collection of books centering on strong families from our resident children's librarian, Janssen, would be perfect for this time of year. We went with chapter books so big kids can read them on their own or families can read a chapter together each night. Enjoy! With the holiday season just around the corner, family is on everyone's mind, whether it's making gift lists for siblings or visiting relatives … [Read more...]
{Book Nook} 10 Books Kids Will Love if They Loved Frozen
I know by now you are likely pretty sick of all things Ana, Elsa and Olaf. But here's a parenting trick I learned a while back - you can use whatever your child is currently obsessing about to help foster a love of reading. It's all about pointing out the similarities between the story they already love and some new stories worth exploring. The key, of course, is to know where to look. So today our resident children's librarian, Janssen, is sharing 10 books every Frozen fan is sure to … [Read more...]
Recreational Summer Reading List for Moms
The last time our in-house librarian, Janssen, put together a recreational reading list it was a huge hit so I asked her to give us another one for the summer. I'm uploading all of her picks to my mobile kindle reader so I can fit in a little summer reading while the kids play at the park. (Don't worry - I'll take lots of breaks to push them on the swings too.) Summer is here, and for me that means checking out giant stacks of books to read over the summer. If you're looking for something to … [Read more...]
Book Nook: If You Liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Try . . . .
How will anything ever be as good again? What book could possibly follow-up? For millions of kids, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are that way - books that, sometimes for the first time, give them that "I love to read!" feeling. These books follow Greg, who is starting middle school and trying to make sense of the new rules of popularity and fitting in, with both hilarious and honest results. They're written in diary form, with Greg's thoughts about his life combined with funny sketches … [Read more...]
8 Delightful Children’s Books for Easter
I love Easter. One of the reasons I love it so much is that it heralds the arrival of spring. And after this winter, I think most of us could use a little spring. (I won't lie - I love the chocolate too). Plus, my little girls love all things related to rabbits and baby chicks. These eight titles are perfect additions to your Easter collection,whether you buy them or check them out from the local library: … [Read more...]