chapter books

Through the years, we have filled our shelves with countless picture books for the kids. Both Aaron and I are huge fans of books in general {from the smell and touch to the story plots and knowledge learned...} Picture books for the kids say a thousand words - they like to look at each page before its turned and examine different things... point out expressions, or what "others" not in the story are doing. This makes reading with the kids the same book over and over again - timeless, which I think, is what makes a good book - wonderful.

dream big - inspirational read

Earlier this year, a publicist contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing a children's book written by Kristi Yamaguchi. To be honest, I thought it was spam, but I couldn't delete that email. It turned out to be true - Yamaguchi was releasing her first children's picture book this Spring. A few weeks later, the book arrived - and I can't even begin to tell you the irony for what this means to me personally, as well as how I hope this will help teach and instill in my kids to - always dream big...

That's what inspired this sign I put up in the kids' bathroom. To read this message every time they wash their hands, and when they brush their teeth morning and night - so that they would start and end their day knowing that there's still so much more... that the impossible is a figure of speech, and that anything that is imaginable, is as real as they are.

Visit our reading corner for a book review of Dream Big Little Pig, a wonderful new book that I've had the fortune to read with my children...

happy birthday dr. seuss

Our local Lakeshore Learning store hosts weekly free crafts - and so this past Saturday, there were craft tables throughout the store - celebrating Theodor Seuss Geisel's (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) birthday... which is today!

Posted on Creative Crafting... and our favorite Dr. Seuss book in our reading corner.

little things

It's the little things ... that Aaron does for us, every day - that I heart his soul.

Aaron took the kids out today, first to the zoo and then the bookstore, so that I could knock out some deadlines for work with uninterrupted time, and returned this evening with a particular book that I have been curious about for many months. Apparently the book will be publicly available tomorrow, but he somehow managed to convince the sales clerk to give him a copy tonight so that we both could unwind with a "good book" - something I've been wanting to do for a long time...

And here, Ava snaps this photo of me in my office, completely enthralled with Aaron's thoughtfulness and the anticipation of curling up with Handmade Home by one of my favorite mama bloggers out there, Amanda Blake Soule.



Soule's first book, The Creative Family, was a huge hit with mothers around the world, with her ideas and artistic photos for crafting a more creative way of life - together. Handmade Home is an extension of her inspiration, focusing more on the goodness filling our homes with things that are handmade can bring. I've started going through the book, and I love how she echoes how so many of us already live - appreciating the day-to-day little things we experience - that enrich our lives and how the beauty of creating with your hands for your home bring us full circle as a family.

As you've heard me say many times before, I cherish handmade... The process is priceless -your time, thoughts, conversations, and loved ones around you, creating with you - give its value.

And so... it really is the little things in life... and what we do at home, that Aaron gives me daily and spontaneously - like picking up this book for me... that I will cherish even more so. In fact, I'm pretty sure the moon out tonight is even a bit jealous...

bye-bye flu... and don't come back!

Sneezing, coughing, congested and achy - and at the mercy of over-priced over-the-counter medicine to bring us back to life, the big, bad, bully flu got to us all. After day 3, Aaron and the kids made it back out into civilization, and I spent the next 8 indoors with clorox and lysol sprays in hand, determined to zap all the bacteria bullying me around. Sure, the extra rest can be nice, but seriously, so is consciousness. After day 11 of the siege, I realized this unexpected detour in my health was more of an awakening of much more... I spent a lot of time thinking about stress, and how like viruses, they hibernate in our bodies and multiply without our knowledge...

Which reminds me of this wonderful book, Bye-Bye Big Bad Bully Bug, written by one of our favorite authors, Ed Emberley, where the little bugs grow fearful of the unfamiliar and then build their confidence as they learn more about the big bug and how their strength lies not in their size, but in their character. It's such a silly but wonderful way to teach kids about bullies and how we don't have to sit back and be eaten alive by our "big problems."

Having this flu was more about my mind and body working together - to get stronger - and "stomp" those "bad bugs" or stressors out.

Taking the time to routinely slow down and reflect on where we are in life may be the best way to maintain good health - but then again... your husband making chicken soup and feeding you in bed isn't so bad once in awhile either...[smile].

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Demas Bliss

I can't really say for sure how long - but it feels like I have always loved nesting dolls - or Matryoshka dolls. Beautiful wooden dolls hand-painted and nestled inside each other... gives me the sense of how families are - and how we are each a part of the other. My sister Wagma brought home the very first set I had ever seen while backpacking in Europe more than 10 years ago. Since that time, they have been resting in boxes or shelves as space fillers. When I moved out, they came with me.

Today, the set of 4 are nestled high above Ava's table [I'm still looking for those 2 little ones that got lost under the care of a little girl I know]. I have been meaning to collect these childhood icons, but just haven't come across any to bring home. Until now. And instead of dolls, I found a very beautiful book illustrating a story about journeys in more ways than one.

I picked this book up at Half-Price Books without Ava seeing it. At bedtime, I pulled it out from under the covers and surprised her with it. After reading her the title, she interrupted and said, "A-va has oye-ssh-ca over there" - she looks up and points to the girls. I squeezed her.

The story begins with the Russian artist who carves, paints and ships them to the US to be sold. The biggest, Anna, promises to take care of all her "sisters" - until fate knocked Nina, the smallest doll, off the store's display table, and out the door into the winter's snow. And what happens next teaches us a beautiful lesson on faith and courage and the power of promises.

And journeys? This story also reminds me of how so many families immigrate to other countries one by one - seeking new life for the good of the whole family. For some countries, it's winning the Lotto. For others, it's a due process of money, law or time. That journey is sometimes long, complicated, and empty. And it isn't until they are all reconnected, in their new place, can they be a family again. It's just. Heart-wrenching.

Recommended for 4+ but I paraphrased the details and let the whimsical paintings on the page tell the rest of the story. Ava loved it - especially the ending!

Keep the story going by visiting their online site for facts & games with the little ones!
ps: did you know the first Matryoshka dolls were actually made in China in the early 1800s? [sigh. they make everything don't they?] It didn't become part of the Russian folk tradition until the late 1890s.

What's your Matryoshka story?

for the love of books....

As a child, my library card was my passport. I could go anywhere I wanted outside of Queens - and I often did. One of my most favorite childhood pastimes was going to the library with Wagma on Sundays. We had the same routine every week; stop at the corner store for bazooka gum, cross under the subway and pass streets lined with stores selling electronics, shoes, furniture and pizza. 20 blocks later, we'd reach the corner phonebooth, call home and hang up after just one ring to let Mom know we were ok- but mainly because that was bazooka money we could each be chewing on our way home.

In elementary school, my librarian, Nina Rubin, was my favorite soul in the entire school. It was because of her that Baboushka and the Three Kings came into my life. I read this story like a fireside chat but in front of 300 elementary students on center stage at Thursday's assembly. It was one of the best and worst moments of my entire 4th grade. I choked and forgot my lines. It felt like eternity and when the ground wouldn't open up to let me in, I managed to find a page in my head to start again. Luckily, it was a climactic page - and my voice soared like a wave to the back of the auditorium - making it look like it was part of my production. I won P.S. 91's storytelling contest that year - but looking back - I actually won so much more...

One of the very first encounters I had with Aaron was actually in my 6th grade English class. Our assignment was to write, illustrate and publish our own books. I'm a stick-figure kind of artist myself, so when my story called for a little girl getting upset for losing her nickel - I turned around and asked Aaron to help me draw her head. He graciously did and we became instant friends. I later discovered that Aaron has a natural talent for writing himself - poetry with tasteful unexpected humor ... like mashed potatoes falling from the sky. I married him as fast as I could....

Books are the foundations to so much in life - and for me personally - a platform for infinite dreams and adventures. After having Ava - I have found myself back in love with children's books more than ever - reading, collecting and making trips to the library weekly... As a mom, one of the most joyful experiences for me is when I read to Ava and Noah and watch their faces change with my voice. Trips to the bookstore or library always supersede trips to the toy store - and I can only hope this preference grows with age.

In the meantime, I want to share with you our collection of books we've either borrowed or bought for our library - with periodic reviews so that you will hopefully find yourself reading it with a loved one. Please take a moment and share your favorite childhood book with us using this post or sending me an email...

Quick notes:
Create a reading corner in comfortable places throughout your home. Ava and Noah both have reading corners in their own rooms. Ava has her own bookshelf that is as tall as she is so that she can get to them even when I'm not around. These are filled with her Maisy books - her favorite storybook character - and board books. She also has another bookshelf in her closet, where we shelved classics we've collected for her for the coming years. Noah has a basket on the floor with cloth and board books he can flip through. I also keep a basket of books in the formal and family rooms for enjoying as a group after dinner...

Designate a basket or crate just for your library books and make it a habit to store and separate them here. This will avoid last-minute searches for your books that were due yesterday. And more recently, we've tried narrowing down our check-out limit to only 5 books so that it is easier for us to identify whether a library book got shelved or buried under the sofa.

I highly recommend setting up a book wish-list through Barnes & Nobles or Amazon - it's a perfect and ideal way to grow your library - and get the books you want and will enjoy reading to your kids. Plus, it solves the dilemma of friends & family not knowing what to get your child.

Half-Price Books carries many of the classic books all children should have - at half the price. I suggest looking for oldies here before hitting any of the big-chain stores. It also helps if you keep a running list in your planner so you know what to look for when you go.

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes

I'm not sure what I love more about this book - the beautiful illustrations done in watercolors or the short... simple... and sweet story. This book demonstrates how we look at events in our lives and turn them into positive experiences. It's cleverly written and illustrated using examples of predicaments 4 little animals find themselves in. I checked this out at the library because the jacket had all of my favorite colors and I remember thinking this was one I'd add to a wish list for the kids - "but then" - I found it at Half Price Books for $8. And now it sits beautifully atop Ava's bookshelf - reminding her daily - that it's always A Good Day!

some books we love

Black?White!Day?Night! by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
What an artisticly creative book! The pages and their respective cutouts demonstrate how perspectives change with the turn of a page. You'll be reading this one over and over - as well as Lemons Are Not Red - another fun book to read. A beautiful visual way of learning, children can read these books all by themselves!

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo? Why didn't you know? It's the best rhyming story about a tiny little mouse who sets out to look for food and uses his clever imagination to help him walk through the forest without being eaten himself. Not only is this a great book, but I've since discovered that it's become a hit production as well - and can be seen in play theatres worldwide. This is a classic for all!

Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
The first book in a series, Strega Nona is one grandmother you instantly fall in love with. I don't know if I love this book because of the wonderful illustrations or the fact that its so fun to read in an Italian accent more. DePaola is a must have for any child's library...

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. Age 2+
We love how funny the idea of cows typing is - and even more so, making sounds together. I start off, "click, clack.." and Ava finishes with the "moo" right on cue. It's got a lot of expression and humor and a great lesson about compromises.




Corduroy by Don Freeman Age 2+
A little teddy bear on a hunt to find his missing button in a department store, until Lisa comes to the rescue. I love to read this story with a different accent each time. It's such a classic series that will last through all generations. The book we have was actually one we purchased for my little sister 19 yrs. ago.

The Earth and I Age 1+
The photos in this book and simple sentences of appreciating the earth will have your little one asking questions. Ava interrupted with, "Fish is upset, Mommy" which opened up the doorway to discuss the effects of litter, our environment and role in helping it grow. Truly a book to treasure.

A Pocket for Corduroy Age 2+ The adventure continues for the bear who now longs for a pocket on his overalls. He falls into mischief in search at a laundromat. Reminds me so much of my childhood and how we looked for adventure in the laundromat, or what we called, "the dungeon" of the old apt. building we lived in. Such good times. I'll have to do a load there just so the kids can experience the same.

Olivia by Ian Falconer Age 2+ It wasn't until another mom at a bookstore told me how much her son loved this pig and how he got into art because of her that I bought one for Ava to read. Now, it's her favorite to read before bedtime. Ava adores her. And saying "oh-liv-e-ya." She wants me to point out all the ways Olivia exhausts her parents in the black, white and red colored pages. Olivia is laying down - Ava will say, "she's pooped" - and we laugh. It's a wonderfully simple book about how fun a day can be - visiting the museum, going to the beach, playing dress up, dreaming about becoming a ballerina...and of course family. It's a wonderful story - and I look forward to growing her collection with the series.