We're on day two of forced homeschooling- it's time for some St. Patricks Day books! With the Irish holiday just around the corner, these ten St. Patrick's Day books are perfect for celebrating all things green and gold. Whether you're looking for an informational book about the holiday, a classic folk tale, or just a fun tale of a tricky leprechaun, one (or more) of these books will fit the bill for your preschool or elementary-age child. There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan by … [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...]
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...]
Thanksgiving Books for the Kids
It's been a while since we've let our children's librarian, Janssen, do her thing. So get your library cards out, here are her picks for the the books that will get your kids super excited for Turkey Day this year. If you're looking for a couple more Thanksgiving recommendations, check out these on her blog.) With kids, it's sometimes easy for Thanksgiving to get lost in the shuffle. Halloween is such a kid-centric holiday and then Christmas is, indisputably, the biggest holiday of them all - … [Read more...]
POYEL: Organizing Children’s Books
Hi friends, I know I promised you a big eBook reveal today but, alas, technical difficulties have arisen. Hopefully all will be well and back on track soon. Until then - here's Annie with a new POYEL project! We know it can be difficult for many people (read: parents) to part with treasured children’s books, even if their kids have long since outgrown them. Children's books are one of the few instances in which I just can't condemn such sentimental attachments to material belongings; I have a … [Read more...]