What We've Been Reading

The kids and I had one of the best library visits we've ever had since I've started taking both kids together. When it was just Will and I, it always went well. I only had one child to keep in order and keep an eye on while pulling books and he generally sat and browsed the board book section contentedly. But when Sophie started coming along from time to time last year, I'd feel like a sweaty, frazzled mess by the time we'd leave because I spent so much time chasing her, quieting her, and just generally entertaining her. I'd frequently wear her on my back with the Ergo just to keep her contained, but that used to make me hot and tired because I was constantly bending and squatting to pull books from the lower children's book section, not to mention the challenge of managing all our coats and hats in the winter time. So I would frequently just take one or the other, and more often Will, just to avoid the stress of it.

But I've been more persistent in bringing both of them the last few months and, especially these last few visits, I'm seeing some improvements... which is sooooo nice! Sophie's getting older and gaining a liiiittle more self control as she matures, and she's much easier to reason with at this age compared to a year ago. Now she will sit down at the activity table nearby if the library has crayons and coloring pages set out or find a couple books to look at for awhile. Both kids have been more social with other kids at the library lately too and will often strike up an imaginary game with the puppet bins alongside their temporary playmates. And the little computer area with headphones and read-aloud books is a big hit for both of them too.

So I'm gaining confidence in our weekly visits and that makes me happy (and relieved)... and also proud of my kids. They love to put all the returned books into the designated slot in the wall, add a couple of found favorites to our bag as I'm pulling and help me scan all of our new titles at checkout. They really look forward to these trips to the library. :)

In the past two weeks, these are the books we've been reading:

I thought we'd already read everything by Denise Fleming! But I recently discovered this simple, little story called Lunch about all the colorful foods the little mouse eats. It's a super easy read, but one that both kids requested often. And I'm always in favor of books that showcase fresh, whole foods. Also, Sophie picked out this little board book about foods and carried it all around the house for days.

Jo MacDonald (Old MacDonald's daughter - haha!) takes a visit to a pond in this cute version of the popular children's song. Any book that can be read in a sing-song manner is always a hit with kids, i.e. this Five Little Ducks book. They're just sort of awe-struck.

A couple of books that Will picked and browsed on his own at will. I didn't read these to him at all. The Mickey book is actually a comic book.

Imogene wakes up one day with a huge set of antlers attached to her head and has to figure out how to do life with this new bodily extention. Unusual but funny and well-received.

A horse teaches an ornery boy a lesson.

A silly story about a mother sending her child off on some errands to pick up groceries. Mother lists several things to bring home and "don't forget the bacon!" So the child wanders along and keeps confusing the things mother had requested. Both kids laughed at this book quite a bit.

One of Will's favorites, of course. This book was so interesting! Lots of facts about the extreme animals of the world (biggest, smallest, fastest, strongest, etc.) I still can't get over how flipping big a blue whale really is!

I'm sure there's a name for this type of book but I just call them add-on stories... where the text keeps building off the previous page and each page ends with "the jacket I wear in the snow".

Ehh. Just okay.

Bedtime

Reading to stuffed animals.

Last week's stack:

A couple of REALLY GREAT books about our amazing body and what it can do, and the five senses and how they serve us. Loved these!

A good life lesson and a good math lesson.

More Jonathan Allen books with our adorable Owl character.

I love Mo Willems. Every book by this author is a good one. They're always just so clever, appealing and funny. Can't go wrong with Mo. ;)

Two very contented pigs receive some sympathy from the other animals around the farm for their "dirty", "unpleasant" life style. The other animals work very hard to make some big changes to improve the pigs' living conditions/habits, but the pigs were never really unhappy and the other animals learn a lesson from that.

Doreen Cronin - another author you can't go wrong with. These were not my favorite by this author, but I still liked them.

Sophie and Will giggled at all the silly things the forest animals think a book is used for: a hat, a bed, a table. But when a boy comes along and sits down to read the mysterious book, everyone gathers around and listens in awe of what a book really CAN be!