Timeless Summer Children's Books

 When I was a kid, there was no summer bucket list. 

If I was in Finland, I knew I'd be picking berries, visiting a cabin in the woods, and running back and forth between the sauna and the ocean. 

If I was in Virginia, I knew I'd be at the pool six days a week, riding my bike to my best friend's house, and devouring a million Otter Pops on my cousin's front porch.

Every summer also included a curl-up with a book in a backyard hammock.

All these summer joys are timeless, don't you think? Do you read in a hammock?

Try these classics to soak up one more month of summer:

 

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, illustrated by Barbara Cooney, is my favorite. McLerran and Cooney capture the magic of imagination that turns a field of broken glass and stones into a lifelong memory of a beautiful society of neighborhood friends.

 

Amos and Boris by William Steig was just published in 2009, but the enduring tale of friendship and simply sweet illustrations will make it a classic. 

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahames was written as a lovely escape from Grahame's difficult life, and it is now a gift of fantasy to everyone who reads each adventurous chapter.

 P.S. last year's summer book picks

first two photos: my childhood

third photo: source

Utah's Pioneer Day: Festival and Books

Today was Pioneer Day, the Utah state holiday.

Baby A and I hooked up the bike trailer and met some friends at a pioneer monument park turned festival. 

Baby A and I sat in a 1917 fire truck. The owner lent me his antique firefighter cap! Classic cars and fire trucks don't have much to do with Utah's history in particular, but Utah sneaks classic cars in to any summer festival. 

Utah's festivals aren't complete without some farm animals, either. The calf brayed (it hadn't mastered the moo) so loudly it frightened the young children.

The most relevant photo to Utah's history is of Baby A in a teepee. 

Not pictured: 12 craft stations, food stands, live bands on stage, pioneer museum, and a mass of face-painted children ushered through lines by their parents and grandparents. Oh, and posters with fun facts, like that Utah's state fish is the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.

And here are a couple of fun books that celebrate Utah:

Dinosaur Mountain: Digging Into the Jurassic Age by Deborah Kogan Ray digs into the history of the "Bone Wars", and the monumental discovery of an enthusiastic paleontologist, Earl Douglass, in Utah's rocky northeast.

Good Night Our World series by Adam Gamble, illustrated by Anne Rosen is a great introduction to the highlights of the states. 

I think I'll get it as a keepsake for Baby A--she's been to all the places featured in the book!

Does your state or region have a holiday?

Summer Solstice Books + Activity Ideas

Summer Solstice feels magical, don't you think? As a child, I spent nearly every other summer in Finland, and on Juhannus [Midsummer's Eve] the sun really never set. At midnight, everything looks dusky, but not dark. Everyone stays up all night, celebrating with friends and family by visiting their summer cabin, grilling at a fire pit, going between the sauna and a swim in a river, drinking, dancing to a live band, and watching a huge bonfire float on the river. (Everyone does some of those things, at least!)

In Utah, we haven't done much to acknowledge Midsummer's Day, but this year, I'd like to do something fun. Do you celebrate the longest day of the year?

I checked out a couple of non-fiction picture books from the library for celebration inspiration.

The Summer Solstice by Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis.

The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Linda Bleck.

Each book explains the science of Summer Solstice, and the history and celebration of it around the world. The Summer Solstice is longer, with more challenging vocabulary, best for ages 7 and up. The Longest Day has 3-6 sentences per page, and seems best for ages 4 and up. Each book has several activity ideas in the back, all fun, educational, and inexpensive. 

In case you can't get the books in time for Midsummer's (Friday and Saturday!), I found some similar activities around the web:

flower crown wreath
sidewalk sundial
hot rock art

summer solstice snake image (fascinating link!)

trees image

7 Books to Give a Two-Year-Old

Since Baby A is two, I thought this list would be easy for me to put together--but it was tough! A lot of her current favorites (Peter Rabbit, Jamberry) are books I've mentioned recently, so I skipped my recent recommendations and pulled out a variety that cater in distinct ways to some of the curiosities and development milestones of typical two-year-olds. These seven picture and board books are both toddler-approved and grown-up-approved: chock full of humor, learning, and interest-led education.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems. Sharing out of friendliness or fairness may not develop until well into a child's fourth year, but it certainly doesn't hurt to build sharing habits much earlier. And who better to broach the topic than witty Mo Willems?

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, pictures by Lillian Hoban. After bread and jam only for six meals straight, Frances might change her resolve and try something new. This classic reminds parents to go ahead and indulge some of the stubborn streaks that don't hurt anything in the long-term. It also sets up young children to come to their own conclusion about breaking a stubborn streak.

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods by Sandra Boynton. The very first trait of two-year-olds that pops into my mind is moodiness! They often feel so intensely and freely. Grown-ups can help toddlers by validating those feelings, and by giving them communication and coping tools, including introducing labels for feelings.

Oh, if only validating were so simple when I react to Baby A's high-pitched scream spurred by her frustration that the shoes (that I asked her to keep on) are difficult for her to take off.

Whose Eyes Are These? (also in this series: Whose Ears/Tail/Feet [...]) by Claire Belmont. Two-year-olds pick up on patterns, like that people and tigers and owls and rabbits all have eyes. This lift-the-flap book features ever-popular animals with clues for guessing which peepers belong to which creepers.

Let's Learn to Count! illustrated by Gill Guile (pictured in Finnish--like the one we have). Each page shows the number filled with a farm animal (one dog, two horses, three cows...), with a sidebar of numbers 1-10, the featured number hi-lighted. The text is one line of fun information about the animal. After number 10, there are two two-page spreads with scenes and questions for loads of exploration and learning. It is designed to grow with a child, and the overall feeling is fun, fun, fun.

Baby A loves to practice counting, and she finds numbers everywhere while we're out and about. She most often points out number 7--I wonder why?

How Loud is a Lion? by Clare Beaton, contributor: Stella Blackstone. The books in this series are made with felt, and they are charming, portable, and pleasant. The text is appealing to toddlers, because it asks repetitively How loud is a lion?, and gives rhyming retorts with bits of information about several jungle animals. Repetition, rhyme, quirkiness, and instruction: all in one book!

My Busy Day: 15 Tiny Books by Pat Hegarty, illustrated by Amanda Gulliver. Toddlers are particularly drawn to tiny things and collections. Tiny stuff makes them feel big, and it tucks away into pockets, bags, drawers...or wherever they are stashing. These miniature books cover common situations with cute, simple illustrations.

Baby A is really into stashing. I find things in the most curious places. Unfortunately, she doesn't stash her toys and books as often as she stashes my jewelry, the remotes, and kitchen utensils.

I've noticed that attention span ebbs and flows at this stage--sometimes, a two-year-old will focus on one book, reading it over and over, for half an hour. Other times, a two-year-old only gets through the first three lines of a six-line book before another activity calls. 

What are your favorite typical or non-typical two-year-old traits? Have you noticed a link between quirks and favorite books?

Ladybug On the Move: Extension Activities

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at Bringing the Sunshine about an art project you can play with inspired by Good Dog, Carl, and I’m excited to welcome Kris from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers to wise owl baby:

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a good book with a child. That enjoyment can be made even more special with extension activities that help the story come to life for him or her.

One of my kids’ all-time favorite books (and mine, too!) is Ladybug on the Move, by Richard Fowler. We discovered this gem during our local library’s story time when my oldest (now almost 17) was a preschooler.

Part of the fun of this visually-appealing book is the die-cut ladybug that is included. She comes out of her little clear pocket on the front cover so that she can take the journey in and through – literally – the pages of the book with the reader.

Ladybugs – and insects, in general – are such a high-interest topic with kids that it’s easy to come up with lots of fun related activities to move the story off the pages of the book. First, explore facts about real-life ladybugs with your child using a book such as Are You a Ladybug, by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries (the whole Backyard Books series is incredibly well-done).

Enjoy some fun and tasty ladybug snacks together, such as:

·         Ladybug cupcakes

·         Ladybugs on a stick

·         Apple ladybug snacks

Enjoy making ladybug-themed crafts:

·         Variety of ladybug craft ideas

·         Adorable ladybug rock (be sure to scroll down to look at the ladybug salad idea)

·         Ladybug paper plate puppet

·         Ladybug (or insect) sensory box (this links includes lots of other great ladybug-themed ideas)

You can even order live ladybugs to observe for a little while or catch your own and observe them in a ladybug habitat.

Have you done any fun ladybug crafts or enjoyed any unique ladybug snacks lately? Do you have any great resources for more ladybug extension activities?

Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!

7 Books to Give a One-Year-Old

What do you give a one-year-old on her or his birthday? A book, of course!
These seven books are bound to become favorites for any tiny tot. They're just right for short attention spans and budding senses of humor, and they have room to grow with the lucky little sophomore.

We're Going On A Bear Hunt written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This book can be read or sung; Oxenbury's timeless charm illustrating the delightful lyrics are a shot of sunshine.

Belly Button Book! by Sandra Boynton. One-year-olds often get excited about identifying a few body parts, and what's cuter than a toddler's belly button? Boynton is (always) hilarious, and the words transition well into play.

Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli. As one-year-old diets (hopefully) expand, and mouthing (if you're lucky) begins to be the less-frequent form of object study, this book is a fun way to identify what's good to eat, and what to keep out of that curious mouth.

Is Your Mama a Llama? written by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. This classic book explores animal mamas. One-year-olds are often just starting to look beyond their nucleus at the world, and this book reinforces categorization skills in a heartwarming, animal-focused form.

 

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. Doesn't it seem that going to the zoo is a rite of passage for the under-twos? There are zillions of zoo books, but this is an award-winning lift-the-flap book that will be reached for over and over again.

In the Town by Roger Priddy. Lift-the-flap books are exciting to one-year-olds practicing their fine motor skills. One-year-olds are busy building associations all day (and night), but this bright, real-world shadow book (or any of the others in the series) won't feel like work to anyone.

Sergio Makes a Splash! by Edel Rodriguez. All the exploration in the big, wide world can start to give famously bold one-year-olds a few fears. Sergio, an Argentinian penguin, is an endearing example of how to overcome fears and enjoy life, in cheerful, popping illustrations.

In case you missed it:
7+ books to give at a baby shower (or anytime!)

For All Babies and the People Who Love Them

I have a mild obsession with hearing birth and adoption stories. I read stories on blogs, I ask my friends for the long version and how they felt, and I reminisce about the ups and downs, the terror and gratitude and peace I felt when my own daughter joined my family. My two favorite picture book stories of family growth are:

I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose Lewis, illustrated by Jane Dyer. Lewis says it best (on her website), "I received so many heartfelt letters from all kinds of families who understood '...Crazy Cakes' was not just a story about adoption, but about falling in love with a child no matter how he or she comes to be part of your family."

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman. The illustrations are fascinating, and the poem celebrates the entrance of a soul into a world with a grace that makes anyone tear up.

When I read or hear family growth stories, I imagine that visceral and spiritual moment when a mother or father feels, 

I will love you always. I will protect you, and teach you, and delight you, and I will send you out into world with all my love and worry pinned to you.

Not every family's story is happy, and no family says it is easy. Sometimes, a baby comes to the world with challenges, or leaves the world far too soon. A baby needs parents who will love always, but a baby also needs people who pass in and out to give a moment of health, or happiness, or comfort.

In honor of your baby, your mother, your father, and the people who have lifted your burdens, lift the burdens of babies born sick, or too soon, by donating to March of Dimes. I am a volunteer for March of Dimes: March for Babies because the research and work they fund makes a real and tangible difference to the half million babies born prematurely each year, and allows for all babies to have the best chance to go home healthy.

Happy Mother's Day! Thank you.

Earth Day Art Map and Arbor Day Book

How will you be celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, and Arbor Day on April 27th?

Since I'm moving on Earth Day, I decided to celebrate a little early. I collaged this map, and wrote a couple of my favorite author's sentiments about Earth onto it.

Here's a simple how-to:

1)  Tear scrap paper into a variety of strips. 

2) Brush a thin, even layer of mod podge onto the cardboard rectangle, in sections, and quickly form continents and oceans with blank strips.

While I did that, Baby A 'painted" (brushed water onto her own scrap paper).

3) Write the quote(s) on the map.

I wrote my quotes across like a banner, but it would also be fun to write the words onto strips and paste them on for a patched look. I wish I had written them larger, in a more interesting color.

4) Gloss the entire map with the mod podge. 

 
The quotes I used:
"All things of the universe are miracles, each as profound as any."
-Walt Whitman

"Earth laughs in flowers."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Arbor Day, I recommend reading Grandpa Green by Lane Smith. Grandpa Green artistically carves out his life legacy. This might be my favorite Lane Smith book, though as a child I pouted and cried in the car until my parents went back into the book fair and purchased The Stinky Cheese Man for me. (I still feel guilty; it was totally uncharacteristic for me to whine like that, and for my parents to give in like that.) I won't throw a fit for Grandpa Green, but I will add it to my pretty-pretty-please-it's-almost-my-birthday list.

Don't you think that planting, saving, or appreciating a tree is one of the best ways we can build a legacy for our future generations?

P.S. more springtime and Earth Day books

P.P.S. Does your library read for the Earth?

Visiting Little Treetops

Thank You, I am also smart.

 Friends of mine have co-founded a delightful online shop: Little Treetops. Vintage-inspired and forward thinking words and images are hand-screened onto cotton onesies. I'll bet you can't pick just one. 

I'm excited to be a guest over there today, so hop on over to read my secret to building baby's first book collection, and have a look around the shop.

Baby Shower: Books for Babies and Parents

If you know someone who is having a baby this summer (two of my sisters-in-law are having girls!), here are seven (okay, twelve) books sure to be treasured by baby and parents.

Duck and Goose by Tad Hills. There are lots of Duck and Goose books, but in this original, Duck and Goose have rivaling ideas of what is best to do with the egg they find together. In the end a surprise leaves them both happy. It is a subtle reminder not to sweat the small stuff and to stay on the same team in parenting, although the book is about the silly adventures of two friends. 

Seven Hungry Babies written by Candace Fleming, pictures by Eugene Yelchin. This tale of a nearly indefatigable mama bird feeding her chicks one by one is lyrical, funny, and relatable. This book would be especially appreciated by a mom of multiples or subsequent children, though I appreciated it when my mom gave it to me while I was pregnant with my first (and only).

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Clement Hurd. I almost didn't include this because it's on every list out there, but I couldn't help myself, because it was the first book I bought Baby A while I was expecting her. The soft rhymes are soothing to newborns, and really, to anyone. It's nearly impossible to read it without lowering your voice, slowing down, and feeling calm. Buy it from a bookstore nearby, with the receipt taped inside, so that if they get a duplicate you can exchange it for another book on their list (or this list).

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. Another obvious choice, I know! This makes a great first interactive book, because there aren't parts that tear off, and it has a little mirror. If you'd like to spice it up, go for Pat the Cat or Pat the Puppy by Edith Kunhardt. My copy did not hold up very well (the pages tear away from the binding and the ribbon comes right off the bunny). Although it is a board book, it is a thinner cardboard than other board books, so it will not withstand any mouthing. But because it is so beloved, it is always in stock--so, easily replaced. Another fun texture book: Tails by Matthew Van Fleet.

My Animals by Xavier Deneux. The simple white-on-black illustrations are visually stimulating, particularly for newborns, but have details for older babies. Also: the Elmer books by David McKee are like a visual festival for newborns. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This book truly grows with the young reader, and is educational for newborns and first graders alike. Baby A and I enjoy this book in the oversized board book version. If the parents already have this Eric Carle book, go for the less popular, but also beautiful Mister Seahorse or The Tiny Seed.

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, illustrated by E.H. Shepard. There is a reason this book first published eighty-six years ago is enduring--it is as touching and relatable now as it was then. It is a chapter book, but it is never too soon to collect classics for a nursery.

What would you add to this list? Do the soon-to-be-parents you know register for books?

Easter Basket Books

If you're playing Easter Bunny this year, stock your baskets with some sweetness that can be enjoyed over and over again.

For the one in perpetual motion:

 

Peepsqueak! by Leslie Ann Clark

For the detail-oriented and/or the artist:

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett. You can also make a mural with the illustrations.

For anyone past the phase of ripping pop-up books:

Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt. It's a gorgeous interactive pop-up adventure based on Beatrix Potter's original illustrations.

For everyone remembering the true new life of Easter:

If the Savior Stood Beside Me by Greg Olsen. This is a compilation of Olsen's  paintings, mostly of Jesus with children, with text inspired by (but not really quoting) the song by Sally DeFord. I'd like to make it a tradition to put a book in Baby A's Easter basket each year, and this year I chose this book. I prefer portrayals of Jesus to be realistic (as opposed to cartoonish) and I especially like to see portrayals of Jesus with children of diverse physical attributes and cultural backgrounds, because an overwhelming majority of portrayals that I've seen showcase only white, sandy-haired children. Any suggestions?

What are your Easter basket favorites? Have you been reading any Easter books this week?

P.S. A tip: Baby A is still playing with the plastic eggs my mom gave her last year. Opening and closing the eggs is great for fine motor skill development. Sometimes, when we're going somewhere she needs to stay seated, we put a tiny surprise in a plastic egg and pull it out when she gets antsy.