Showing posts with label children's book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's book. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Last Minute Gifts for Kids




The countdown is on so I’m sharing my last Gift Guide installment for your last minute shopping ideas. If the kids in your life are anything like mine, they all have way too many toys. I buy for a lot of kids at the holidays and one theme I always stick to is books. No matter what, they all get at least one book.

I’m such a big advocate for promoting reading – especially in the fast paced, technology driven world that we all live in. There’s just nothing like curling up on the couch with an actual, printed book in your hands.

Here are some great children’s series that you should share with the kids in your life.


I recently discovered this company and I LOVE their books. You can find a book for every age child. The best part is that all of their books are so unique and interactive. And, they cost the same as you would spend at one of those big chain stores. I bought a ton of books this year from them for kids aged 6 months to 11 years!




I feel like this series goes without saying for those kids 7 and older (or so). I read this series as an adult and loved it. It’s so well written and transports you to the most fun, imaginative world. If no one has read this series – start them on it now!




This was one of my favorite series growing up and was so happy to see that you could still find these books in stores. They tell the story of 4 orphaned children who make a home in an abandoned boxcar. They eventually turn into amateur sleuths and solve crazy mysteries. The best part is that there are over 137 books in the series so, as long as you keep track of which ones you’ve bought, you’ll never go wrong!




If you haven’t ever heard of this series, please go look it up right now. Amelia Bedilia is such a fun, lighthearted children’s series that while dates back to the 60’s, still remains a classic today. The series follows the hilarious day to day activities of Amelia, a maid who is always taking things her employer says literally and ends up in comical situations because of it.





This series is a newer one that my niece recently introduced me to. There are 10 books that follow the life of a meek middle schooler who struggles to fit in. The books are filled with fun drawings and hand written notes that make it look like a child’s diary. Perfect for any kid on the brink of (or in) middle school.



HAPPY SHOPPING!!!



Thursday, October 29, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Where the Sidewalk Ends






Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Publisher - Harper Collins
Publish Date - 1974
Genre - Children's Book
Age Range - 8-12 years
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads










I mentioned one of my Aunts in my last Throwback Thursday post, and I’m going to lead with her again. Her name was Kathleen but we called her “Aunt Kack” or “Aunt Kackallack”. She was an elementary school teacher and so much fun – we loved when she came to visit. Unfortunately, we lost her way too young but I still think of her often, especially when I’m reading.

She had this tradition to always give each of us books for our Birthday or Christmas. As much as I loved reading as a child, this tradition really was something that I didn’t truly appreciate until I was older. I love it so much, that I’ve continued on her tradition with my own nieces. I make sure that I get them at least one book for their Birthday and Christmas. My hope is that it helps develop a strong love of reading for them that it did for me.

One of my favorite books to read when I was younger was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Even John loved this book growing up too (which is saying a lot because he hates reading). So, this past Christmas we gave a copy of it to our niece. The poems are kind of silly and full of nonsensical language so I think some of it was lost on her right now. Hopefully though, she’ll come to love the fun poems as much as we did growing up!

Where the Sidewalk Ends isn’t just a collection of great children’s poems but the illustrations that accompany them are fantastic. They are full of imagination and perfectly bring to life the fanciful poems. I mean, you can’t really go wrong with Llamas, Crocodiles, monsters and silly little kids who don’t listen to their parents.

Here’s my favorite poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends:



It’s Dark In Here



I am writing these poems
From inside a lion,
And it’s rather dark in here.
So please excuse the handwriting
Which may not be too clear.
But this afternoon by the lion’s cage
I’m afraid I got too near.
And I’m writing these lines
From inside a lion,
And it’s rather dark in here.


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Misty of Chincoteague






Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Publisher - Aladdin
Publish Date - 1947
Genre - Children's Book
Age Range - 8-12 years
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads














I read A LOT as a child; it was one of my favorite things to do and has obviously carried through into my adult life. Some of my best memories of my childhood involve books. I would hide under my covers with a flashlight late into the evenings reading until my Mom caught me. One of my Aunts also helped instill a love reading in me. She would give me books for every holiday and some of those turned in to my favorite childhood stories.

It’s only fitting that I kick off my new “Throwback Thursday” segment in her memory with my favorite childhood book that she gave to me – Misty of Chincoteague.