Even More Summer Reading With the Kids

It's been awhile since I did our last "Summer Reading with Kids" post, so I figured I had better do it before we take these books back to the library on Monday.

The Christmas Ship by Dean Morrissey
This is a book my 4 year old picked out, and we just read it the other night. This is such a whimisically illustrated book, that it is half of the fun of the book. Read about a toymaker who is in danger of losing his shop in a tough economy, and about how a kids and Santa himself help the toymaker out with his dilemma.

Ruby Sings the Blues by Niki Daly
This book is perfect for little ones who haven't learned the lesson of "indoor voices". It's about a little girl with a VERY loud voice, and how she was able to use it in a good way. It's fun to read this book as it reads...loud parts and soft parts.

Picnic at Mudsock Meadow by Patricia Polacco
I love reading books like this, that seem to come right out of the author's own life. This book is a good one to read around Halloween. It's about a town Halloween party, and a boy who is at a bit of an awkward stage in life, but has a "hero moment".

Easy as Pie by Cari Best
I am a Food Network addict, so I could totally relate to this book, where a boy watches his favorite chef on TV, and then proceeds to make a peach pie for his parents' anniversary. AND, there's a recipe for Happy Peach Pie on the back cover of the book!

Trouble in the Barker's Class by Tomie DePaola
If your child has ever dealt with being a new kid, or even with bullying, this is the perfect book to read, and then discuss both issues. There's a new girl in the Barker twins' class at school, and rather than being nice and kind, she's mean and has a tendency to bully.
Find out why in the book! I'll bet you can relate to her!

Have fun reading with your kids. It's SO good for them AND for you!
I'd love to hear what books you've been reading to your little ones.

PS...I have not been compensated in any way by the authors, the illustrators, or Amazon.com.
I simply enjoy being able to share with you, a love for the books that we have been reading.

Mama Bear

More Summer Reading With the Kids

Last week, we went to the library again to get some more kids' books, because the kids are ALL three loving the books we've gotten. Each night, after dinner, we try to take a walk, and then come home to a little story time before it's time for the little ones to go to bed.

I love how my teenager runs into the room and plops down
on the couch, so that he can hear the stories too.

Here are some of the books we've read recently.

"It's Quacking Time" by Martin Waddell (don't you just love the last name?)
A cute story about a little duck family who are waiting for
their egg to hatch.

"A Taste of Colored Water" by Matt Faulkner
I totally didn't expect this book. It's a great story to
read to your kids when they want to know about
the time in history where there were separate
water fountains, bathrooms, cafes, hotels, etc.,
based on your skin color. It's sad that there are still people
who value you based on your skin color. This story is a great
teaching tool, with a commentary in the back, from the author.

"The Name Quilt" by Phyllis Root
It's a book about quilts? I'll take it!
This is a fun story about a little girl who
is spending the summer at her grandma's house,
and her grandma tells her stories that come from
the names of family members, sewn into the quilt.
So good to share your stories! What great memories!

Are you reading this summer? I'd love to hear what you're reading!

Mama Bear

Summer Reading

This summer, my plan is to read....a LOT....to all three kids. Since our 17 year old is special needs, he still enjoys me reading to him...even if it is a kid's book.

We have read books aloud since Papa Bear and I got married. We read "Peter and the Starcatchers" out loud, when it was just three of us, and we loved it.

We are now working through "The Ranger's Apprentice" series. We are currently on book four.

Here are some books that we got from the library that have been fun to read with the kids:

"Bess and Bella" is an imagination-filled story about
a little girl who is longing for a friend.

"The Web Files" is a GREAT book written in Dragnet style. My kids and I all LOVED it!
(If you find this for sale somewhere for LESS than about $8, will you let me know???)

We enjoyed "Jamboree Day" because of its colorful illustrations and fun rhyme.

"Little Flower" is the story of a pot-bellied pig who saved the life of her owner and won over some neighbors who didn't think she was as remarkable as other neighbors did. Love it!

"Tacky Goes to Camp" is a cute story, and it made me want to read the other "Tacky" books.

So there you have it. I will be sharing more books as the summer goes by. (I'm so excited because my mom keeps sending me BOXES of books that she's found at thrift stores for really, really LOW prices!!) My mom is the one who instilled in me a love for reading from a VERY early age. Seriously, my parents would read Dr. Seuss books while we were in utero! And I'm fairly certain you won't believe me if I told you the age at which I started reading.
Or the fact that I was reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books when I was in kindergarten.
(This is the honest truth!)




What are you reading with YOUR kids? I'd love to know!!

Mama Bear