Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them.
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As avid bibliophiles, we will always enjoy giving the gift of reading. We love looking for a book that will bring joy or inspiration to the reader, a special bookmark to mark a pause, key chains or jewelry that announces one’s love of books or creating a gift basket of sorts by pairing books with complementary gifts. Any gift that showcases books and reading is a gift worth giving and receiving for it is a gift that will endure. So, share your passion for books with the ones you love this holiday season.
Happy holidays and reading! |
"And so our story ends as it began...with the opening of a book." That ending always makes my heart melt! This is a beautiful story and arguably our favorite picture book extolling the joy and wonder of books and reading. Although this isn't a silly story or very humorous one, it is poignant and touching and every child we have ever shared it with has listened with rapt attention to the story of Morris Lessmore and his life amongst the books.
*Extended activity: after reading the book, watch the short film.
Upon opening this book the reader is met with this wonderful line: "Why, I can go most anywhere by reading a good book." The story centers around a young boy in the middle of his summer vacation. He discovers that the scarecrow in his family's cornfield can talk and loves nothing more than a good book. Although Scarecrow Pete, as the boy learns he is called, is stuck in one place all the time, he is still able to go on amazing adventures thanks to the trunk of old books that sits at his feet. The pair spend the entire summer getting lost in the pages of those books, forging a deep friendship and appreciation of stories. Told through rhyming text that flows in the style of a long poem, this story is best enjoyed aloud and Pete's ending words are sure to stay with you long after you close the book...
meeting anyone you please,
travel anywhere you like,
and do it all with ease.
Just find a place that's comfortable --
a nice, warm, cozy nook --
and lose yourself among the pages
of a favorite book!"
We love this little storybook! We truly, truly do. And the bunny in this book loves his little storybook too. The bunny explains all of the reasons why his storybook is so special, and as things moves along, the fanciful story of the bunny's book comes alive in the illustrations. The reader is brought into the magic forest right along with the bunny, seeing many amazing sights such as unicorns, a frog wearing a crown and mice with wings! Read this one slowly and allow your little bookworm time to really look at the illustrations and find all of the magic hidden there.
Someone is stealing all of the bedtime stories! But who could it be? As all of the little critters in Burrow Down are settling in for a bedtime story, their books are disappearing. A rabbit named Eliza Brown decides to stay up to catch the culprit and discovers it is a Snatchabook. The sad little creature doesn't have anyone to read him a bedtime story. Eliza Brown convinces the Snatchabook to return all of the stories and all of the critters in Burrow Down takes turns reading to the Snatchabook. This rhythmic, rhyming story has elements of mystery and suspense that help keep little ones engaged and it is also a great story for teaching children about empathy without being overly preachy about it. Everyone wants to be read to!
*Look for Docherty's other story The Storybook Knight, which is another story all about the joy and wonder of books!
"You can read in the classroom. You can read in the park. You can read on a mission undercover in the dark." This book celebrates the fact that reading can happen any time, anywhere and with anyone. With well-paced rhymes, the text goes through all of the possible places you can read, including some locations that are not so practical, such as under the sea. Giggles are sure to happen when children take a closer look at the illustrations. Be sure to point out the title of the books being read in the illustrations as they pertain to what is being depicted and add to the humor.
Happy reading!
-Kate @BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 6) for Kate, and two sons (now 4 and 2) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
Anywho…I got the book down for her and she brought it over to her picnic table and we sat back down to munch and read. Our luncheon storytime was going smoothly, eating and reading melding together beautifully, until we got to the part where Mouse wanted to draw a picture and got out some crayons. Once again, my girl was up and running, but chanting “crayons, crayons, crayons,” this time. She went straight over to the bench where the coloring supplies are stored and got out the baggie of crayons. Being a team player, I got a piece of white computer paper for her and we sat back down at the picnic table. Now we had a luncheon of coloring and reading happening, albeit there wasn’t too much eating going on anymore. My budding artist began working on her own masterpiece, while pointing out the colors of crayons that Mouse had and finding the corresponding color in her own bag.
The point of all this babbling…????? Sometimes you just gotta go with it, regardless of what the plan was at the time. Sometimes you need to let those spontaneous moments of play and learning just happen, whenever they happen. Children are naturally curious and creative and they will put those natural abilities to good use when you, as the parent, allow them the time and resources to do so.
Happy playing and reading!
PS: We LOVE Laura Numeroff's If You Give A... series around here, particularly the stories of Mouse. Check them out if you haven't already!
Author
We are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children.
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