Hi everybody! You may know that I absolutely love to read, and I've been trying to pass that joy onto Little Bear and Pufferfish. We're always going to the library, visiting bookstores. and participating in reading programs. So I thought I'd share with you some of our favorite books... complete with Amazon links! If you're looking for some cool books for gifts, and you want to order them on Amazon, I'd love it if you'd order off of this page!
LITTLE BEAR'S PICKS
Little Bear fell in love with this book when we checked it out from the library, almost a year ago! She memorized it, and kept trying to hide it on her book shelf so we couldn't return it. I surprised her by ordering it from Amazon and having it addressed to her. She was so happy to get her own package, and inside was her very own copy of Who Are You. Baby Kangaroo? Its a repetitive book, kind of like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You Sww." The narrator goes up to different animals, asking them if they know the baby kangaroo. Each animal says he doesn't know, and refers the narrator to another animal! FInally someone suggests asking the baby kangaroo's mother, who tells the narrator the baby kangaroo's name. Which, of course, is Joey!
This goofy alphabet book had Little Bear cracking up! The kitty used to be a good kitty, until her owners forgot to buy her the food she liked! Then she started to methodically and hilariously do bad things, in alphabetical order. When her owners arrive with all of her favorite bizarre groceries (in alphabetical order,) the kitty sets about reversing all the bad things she did (in alphabetical order!) At the end, her owners are so happy with her, they decide to surprise her with a puppy! Which brings us to...
This is the book about the puppy, who really wants to play with the kitty from Bad Kitty! He has dreams (in alphabetical order, of course) about all of the wonderful things he'll do with the kitty!
PUFFERFISH'S PICKS
I started reading this book to Pufferfish at Target one day, and she immediately demanded that I read it again and again... so I bought it! Now its one of the books we read several times a day. She loves to walk up to people with it in her hands, and yell, "No No Book!" Its all about things you should or shouldn't do. For instance, dumping your food on your head is a no-no, but eating your food is a yes-yes! And coloring on the wall is a no-no, but coloring on paper is a yes-yes! Pufferfish can actually read this book to herself, or read aloud along with an adult. I mean, she can't actually read. She's 19 months old! But she tries to say the words, which she's memorized. Its so sweet!
This is by the same author as Pufferfish's "No-No Book," and is about the same baby. This time, it talks about things that are yummy and yucky! For instance, blueberries are yummy, but blue crayons are yucky! Pufferfish can "read" along with this one, too!
We discovered this one when Pufferfish was still just a baby. Every page goes, "Peekaboo, I see..." and when you open the flaps, a fuzzy animal is waiting for a kiss! Pufferfish loves to kiss the pages! And so will you!
Another Peekaboo book that toddlers will love to memorize! This one is a play on the phrase, "Peekaboo." Every page starts with "Peek-a..." and when you turn the page there's a surprise picture and noise! Such as a train and the word "Choo," or a cow and the word "Moo," or a ghost and the word, "Boo!" This is best read if everyone shouts the "oo" word together when you turn the page!
NICKI'S PICKS
For the kids...
I've never actually read this one to the kids, because i can't find it. I'm thinking of ordering it from Amazon. This was one of my favorites when I was a little kid! It begins with, "Once upon a time, deep in the woods, there lived a lively family of animals." The animals get irritated with each other and decide to move out and go their own ways. Its a very sweet book! You need it!
For grown-ups...
This isn't exactly a feel-good story, until the end, but it is a great book! Sarah Laden, a single mother with two adolescent sons, sees her world come crashing down when she finds out that her best friend and the best friend's husband have been running a child pornography ring. The abuse and exploitation included the couple's own son, who is best friend's with Sarah's youngest son. When the woman gets arrested and her husband disappears, Sarah decides to become the boy's foster mother. I like stories about families that put themselves together like patchwork, and so this story appeals to me. As does this one...>br>
This one is by the author of Pay It Forward. Jordy is a homeless teenager who was kicked out of his house after revealing that he was gay, and his life seems to be going pretty badly. Then he meets Chloe, another homeless teen. Chloe is very childlike and seems innocent, but it soon becomes apparent that life has been horrible for her. She's decided she no longer wants to be alive. Jordy takes it upon himself to show Chloe that life is worth living, by taking her on a cross-country trip to search for kindness and beauty in the world.
11-year-old Claire needs a heart transplant, and she's running out of time. Then a heart shows up that is a perfect match for he. The only problem is, the heart is still being used... by the death row inmate who supposedly murdered Claire's father and sister before Claire was born. Now, the whole world will have to search their own hearts figure out how it should be handled. Can, and should, a death row inmate be executed in a special way in order to preserve his heart? For Claire and her mother, is Claire's life worth having to live it with the heart of the man who murdered their family members? Andthe mysterious Shay Bourne really murder the father and sister in the first place? I couldn't put this book down!
I'll add more to this page as time goes on! In fact, we're such avid readers, we may soon each end up with our own page of book suggestions! So, keep coming back!
