Reading with the Kids: Favorite New Books

In our family, summer means more time for reading...at bedtime, on hot summer afternoons, at bookstores and libraries.  I never discourage my daughters' literary habits...unless they are reading to stall tooth-brushing or vegetable-eating.  ;-)

My seven-year-old, a strong independent reader, is currently on a mystery binge.  She's already plowed through our vintage Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden collection.  She also loves her American Girl doll, Caroline, and especially the accompanying book series.  She's eager for more American Girl mysteries like this one:

My innately stylish four-year-old was immediately drawn to this Audrey Hepburn picture book, beautifully written by Margaret Cardillo and illustrated by Julie Denos:

And my toddler continues her obsession with Jennifer Adams' BabyLit.  We now own the entire collection, including these new favorites:

We're super excited for the BabyLit releases of Anna Karenina and Sherlock Holmes in September!

What are your kids reading this summer?

(Sharing with Real Family Fun)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Book Club...for Toddlers

Before I was a mother, I participated in a monthly book club.  As educated, professional women, we read serious works of literature which featured strong female protagonists. We intensely debated feminism and our roles as women.  We cultivated deep friendships.  We drank a lot of wine.  

That was pre-mamahood.  Now, between working full-time and rearing three young girls, my schedule doesn't allow for a regular book club commitment.  But I still love reading books.  I still love talking about books.  And most importantly, I want my children to love reading and talking about books.

So I was ecstatic when I read this blog post on book clubs for kids, and when my youngest's playgroup decided to spin off a "Toddler Book Club."  On a Friday morning once a month, our group of 12-15 toddlers and their mothers gathers to play, read, and participate in a hands-on activity related to the book selection.  We rotate houses to share hosting duties. We've been going for almost a year now, and both my toddler and I eagerly anticipate each meeting.

For example, one month we read Chris Raschka's A Ball for Daisy, and the kiddos made "paint ball" art by coating tennis balls with washable paint and throwing them against white paper canvases (outside of course).

In the fall, we read Joe Troiano's The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin and painted mini-pumpkins.

During the winter holidays, we read Ian Falconer's Olivia Helps with Christmas and constructed Christmas ornaments.

In the early spring, we read Kevin Henkes' My Garden and planted marigolds.  

In other months, we've read Blackout, I Want My Hat Back, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.

And when I hosted recently, we read Marjorie Priceman's How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World: 

The kids snacked on apple cheerios and Sprout's apple, cinnamon, and oatmeal pouches.  Each child used fabric markers to decorate her own apron and chef's hat (both purchased in bulk from Amazon), and then, after reading the book, we baked miniature apple pies!

We used this Pillsbury recipe, minus the nuts.  

Given that they were made by two-year-olds, the results weren't Martha-Stewart-pretty...

...but they sure were tasty!

The keys to a successful toddler book club: (1) Keep it simple.  Avoid over-planning or over-complicating the activity. For example, I prepared most of the pie filling in advance so that the children could focus on spooning the filling into their crust and then folding it into their pie shapes.  (2) Be patient with short attention spans, and don't expect much "discussion" of the book.  The point at this age is not to teach the art of literary criticism but instead to explore, in hands-on way, the themes of the book.  (3) Provide healthy snacks. (4) Allow for outdoor playtime whenever possible.  Toddlers have lots of energy to burn.  :)

Our toddler book club reflects its members' shared love of reading, culture, and hands-on learning.  I feel so lucky that my daughter and I can participate!

(Sharing with The Jenny Evolution, Sun Scholars, The Educator's Spin On It, and The Real Thing)

Christmas Reading with the Kids

There is no better time than the holidays to snuggle with a sweet child and a good book.  Our home library is stocked with these Christmas-themed favorites:

What are your Christmas classics?

(Sharing with 5 Minutes for Books)

The Magic of Childhood: Literary Fairylands

My five-year-old is obsessed with fairies.  Ever practical, she especially fixates on tooth fairy logistics and worries about the tooth fairy and her friends getting cold this winter.  She has already politely instructed Santa to build a house in our garden so the fairies will have a comfortable place to hibernate, and she has given me drawings for sophisticated, practical, and surprisingly tasteful fairy house furnishings that I am to locate and/or make.  In the meantime, almost nightly, she reads, and dreams, of fairy-land:

This Usborne school book fair purchase has been a hit for two years now. It is packed with informative "facts" about fairy life.

 This book inspires both a summer trip to Maine (which we are planning for one of the next two summers) and construction of one's own fairy house, using natural materials.

She loves that this book teaches you how to build a beautiful and multi-functional fairy house that can double as an animal sanctuary; I love that it celebrates a child's appreciation and awe of nature.

This beautifully illustrated personalized book from I See Me was a gift five years ago, and has been read scores of times since.  She loves that the fairies spell out her name and welcome her as the fairy princess.  Santa may be bringing personalized copies for each of her sisters this year, too.

I love that she shows such depth of interest in her subjects, even those as fleeting as fairies, and I encourage her exploration of childhood mythology through books.  It's a magical time to be her mom.

As always, I welcome your suggestions for expanding my children's literary horizons.  What are your kids' picks?



{P.S. Are you new to the cul-de-sac?  Welcome, browse away, and feel free to follow! You can review my other book recommendations, for children and adults, by clicking "read" in the navigation bar above.  And don't forget to enter my current giveaway -- an author-signed copy of The Veil, a new young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel by Cory Putman Oakes.  The book would make a fantastic gift for a young reader in your life, or for yourself!}

Giveaway and Book Recommendation: The Veil

This is my good friend,  Cory Putman Oakes:

Cory is amazing.  A former lawyer, she now juggles full-time mommyhood with a flourishing career as a novelist.  She writes, edits, and manages publication deadlines during her toddler's naptime.    She also maintains a gorgeous home, throws creative parties, cooks original recipes, and completes P90X in her spare time.  To top it off, Cory's a genuine friend who, within hours of a major disaster striking you, will show up at your home with homemade baked goods and hugs.  Cory's a bit younger than I am, but I nevertheless aspire to be as cool as she is when I grow up!


Today is extraordinarily special for Cory, because after years of hard work, she is releasing her debut young adult urban fantasy novel, The Veil, published by Octane Press:

The Veil is a paranormal romance set in Marin County, California.  Here's the publisher's blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be -- the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says...

Sounds good, doesn't it?  I had the privilege of reading a manuscript of The Veil, and I liked that while it's accessible and appropriate for young adults, it's also a page-turner for grown-ups.  I read it straight-through, with no breaks, twice!  And as a mom of girls, I also appreciated the strong female protagonist and the clean language.  If you enjoy the fantasy worlds created by Stephanie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, and Madeleine L'Engle, you'll immerse yourself in Cory's world of the Annorasi.  I'm not the only one who thinks so; the reviews so far have been great, like this one by Emelie Saunders on The Pioneer Woman:   "It was rejuvenating to read a fantasy novel without vampires or werewolves....This was the book I have been looking for all this summer."


To celebrate The Veil's release, I am honored to give away an author-signed copy of The Veil to a cul-de-sac reader.  Cory will even personalize her inscription, if you wish to give it as a gift to a young reader (perfect for the holidays!) or keep it for yourself.  


Here are five ways to enter -- you can use any or all of them to increase your chances of winning:


1.  Subscribe to Cory's blog and then leave a comment here telling me you did.


2. Add The Veil to your reading list on Goodreads and leave a comment here telling me you did.


3.  Ask your library to purchase a copy of The Veil and leave a comment here telling me you did.


4.  Become a Google Friend Connect follower of the cul-de-sac and leave a comment here telling me you did.


5.  Blog, tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment here telling me you did. 

Entries close Wednesday, November 9, at 6 pm Central.  If you don't win, don't despair: just purchase your own copy at Amazon, support a wonderful writer who is making her publication dreams come true, and transport yourself to the fascinating world of the Annorasi!


Happy Reading!


(this giveaway is now closed --- winner will be announced soon!)

November Reading List

5 Minutes for Books asks, "What's on Your Nightstand?"

Here's what's loaded on my iPad, ready for November bedtime reading:

I feel late to the party reading The Tiger's Wife, which was just nominated for a 2011 National Book Award. 

I didn't love Eugenides' last novel but understand this has a much different tone.

 I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I enjoy John Grisham novels when I'm in the mood for mindless easy reading.  Not all reading has to be thought-provoking, right?  Besides, I want to see if his depiction of "litigators" in any way resembles my former life or the lives of the many litigators I know and love.  I'm guessing...not.  :)

 

 Of course.

And speaking of books, please come back and visit the cul-de-sac on Tuesday, November 1 for a very special book giveaway announcement!  Happy Reading!

Reading with the Kids: Lovin' BabyLit!

I can't wait until next month's Kids' Picks to share these wonderful children's books, so this is a bonus post.  I recently discovered the fabulous BabyLit series by Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver:

For those of us moms who love classic English literature, these sturdy, beautifully illustrated board books are the perfect counting primers to read with our toddlers.  "1 English Village...2 Rich Gentlemen....10,000 pounds a year!"  What a fantastic way to introduce our children to the characters and (age-appropriate, simplified) plots of the classics.  I can't wait until they release Jane Eyre next year!

Helping My Daughter Fall in Love with Reading

Kindergarten continues to go swimmingly well, and my daughter continues to read, and be read to, enthusiastically each evening.  As fall sets in, here are the books that, with each read, help my five-year-old fall in love with reading:

My 5-year-old daughter is an artist, and this gorgeous book, about the joy of free creative expression, is a gem.  The text is simple, but she can read much of it herself, and she immediately understands the deeper meaning: "See? I can draw whatever makes me happy!"  Exactly.

Her obsession over when she'll lose her first tooth continues. 

My daughter's current favorite subject in kindergarten is science.  Every day, her class engages in simple but fun, and very hands-on, science experiments.  My daughter then comes home and develops her own experiments on household items, following a rudimentary scientific method: "First, make a prediction.  Then think of an experiment to test the prediction.  Then see if your prediction comes true.  And always take good notes."  This book is funny, and when prefaced with the usual parental warnings (these experiments are silly and just for pretend --- don't try them on your own!!!), ideal mind-candy for a budding scientist.

She loooovves Pinkalicious, and she has a packed playdate schedule herself, so this is a perfect "I Can Read" book to help build her literacy confidence.

This is a *beautiful* book with stunning illustrations and a wonderful story.  It's a new addition to our home library, but one I think will be a treasure for many years.

As always, I'd love your suggestions for children's literature.  And if you are new to the cul-de-sac, I welcome you to follow and join me in celebrating, nesting, nurturing, sharing, traveling, and of course, reading.


(sharing with 5 Minutes for Books' Kids' Picks)

October Reading List

My October reading list is a short, as September flew by without me finishing all of these.

Still, I plan to make time for...

a little fiction:

a little work-related non-fiction:

And a lot of eye candy.

What about you?  What's on your nightstand?

(Sharing with 5 Minutes for Books)

Back-to-School Parenting: A Kindergartener's Favorite Reads

Bedtime is earlier this month, but my five-year-old and I still find lots of time to read together.  She still loves these old favorites, as well as these, but now we enjoy a few others in the mix:

The Snail and the Whale was a goodbye gift, two years ago, from my then-toddler daughter's dear English boyfriend who had to move back to London.  We enjoyed it then; we love it now.  A tiny snail dreams of exploring the world, and in doing so, befriends and helps a giant whale.  What better way to teach a young child the joys of travel, unexpected friendship, and exploring beyond your own small world than a beautifully illustrated, beautifully written book? 

The Kissing Hand sure has come in handy, this first month of kindergarten.




One of my very favorite books of all time, I was delighted when my daughter started including The Velveteen Rabbit in her nightly rotation.  The story of how toys become real is especially poignant because of her beloved "Fuff," a well-worn lamb she has loved intensely since she was four months old.  Her three-year-old voice used to quiver when she'd ask if Fuff would eventually leave her; her confident and mature five-year-old self now takes comfort in the idea that when she no longer needs Fuff, he'll be able to run and play with the other animals.  Heartbreakingly sweet.

This is an annual fall favorite.  This mama loves the message that you can travel anywhere through a good book, as well as all of the classic literary references. My daughter just loves that it is about a silly scarecrow who loves to read.

Thanks to some good public school indoctrination, my daughter is currently obsessed with germs.  She likes this book because it reinforces her own rules.  And she loves rules. However, when tidying up the house last week, I did find some irony in where she had left the book --- on the floor, next to a very germy dog bowl:

  We clearly have more work to do on this topic!

For more great reading-with-kids ideas, hop on over to 5 Minutes for Books, where I'm sharing this post.  Also, check out my very favorite blog, The Great Read, where Michele shares inspiring media collections for the whole family, all available at the local library.  

September Reading List

My nightstand bookstack / iBooks library is a little sparse these days, thanks to my complete exhaustion from managing intense work obligations and the kiddos' crazy schedules. Sleep temporarily outranks reading!

But not completely, of course!


Here's my reading agenda for September:

Because after ten years, we still struggle for perspective.

Because I loved Little Children (the book) and Election (the film), 

and I always appreciate dark satire of suburbia.

Because it's being touted as "Gatsby-esque," and I loved Gatsby.

Because NPR told me to read it, and NPR has yet to lead me astray. :)

As always, I welcome your recommendations.

(Sharing with my friends at 5 Minutes for Books)

Summer Parenting: Extra Books at Bedtime

Admittedly, we've been lax in enforcing our five-year-old's bedtime this summer.  That has to change soon, as the kindergarten bus will arrive at 6:45 a.m. in less than two weeks.  But in the meantime, we're enjoying lots of extra reading time.  Last month's favorites are still in play, but she's added a few more to the mix:

A little geography, a lot of silliness.  Perfect.

One of the more informative Fancy Nancy books. Fitting for my budding eco-adventurer.

Love the feminist message.  A refreshing alternative to Disney princesses.

Answers many of the "why" and "how" questions she asks about her body.

And of course, the Gerda Muller seasons series.  Beautifully illustrated board books, with no words, only endless imaginative possibilities.  She loved them as an infant, as a toddler, as a pre-schooler, and now, still, at five.  Her own stories to accompany the illustrations grow in complexity with each read.  These books are treasures:

Reading with my daughters ranks as my favorite parenting experience. There's nothing better than cuddling with a good book and watching their horizons expand and their imaginations grow.

As always, I welcome your recommendations for good reads.

(Sharing with 5 Minutes for Books)