a celebration of childrens books
When Eliana heard that a woman was running for vice-president, she immediately asked that we find a book at the library to learn more about Kamala Harris. The catalog didn’t offer many choices, so we selected the first one available: Superheroes Are Everywhere, written by Kamala Harris herself. Due to the pandemic, we had to request it sight unseen, and we were a little surprised that it ended up being not a straight autobiography but […] Read More
If you are looking for a fun beginning chapter book, Eliana has a recommendation for you! The Princess in Black series is one of her absolute favorites, and she has been eager to share it with you. Check out her video review below and see what you think! Current books in The Princess in Black series: #1: The Princess in Black #2: The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party #3: The […] Read More
The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton is the story of little Princess Pinecone, who lives in a community of big, strong warriors. All she wants for her birthday is a big, strong warrior horse, but instead, she gets an adorable roly-poly pony. Hijinks ensue, and Princess Pinecone learns to appreciate her new little friend. Natasha’s Rating: ★★★★ I liked the fact that Princess Pinecone really wanted to be a warrior princess instead of […] Read More
I’ve been watching highlights of the royal wedding all weekend and daydreaming about the gorgeous ceremony and fashion. My inner princess adores all of the pomp and splendor, not to mention the sweet glances Prince Harry gave to Meghan. What I love even more, though, is the departure from tradition that this royal wedding encompassed. From the gospel choir to the cake flavor to the guest list, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a […] Read More
What a lovely book this is! The daughter’s love and admiration for her mother shine through on every page of Ebony Glenn’s beautifully vibrant illustrations. It’s a tender story of how the daughter loves to wear her mommy’s khimar (also known as a hijab, or headscarf) because it makes her feel like a superhero, a queen, and a mother bird– in short, it makes her feel like her beloved mom. What I love most about […] Read More
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in the trenches! I always say that being a mom is NO JOKE. Seriously. I miss my sleep, my snacks, my peace and quiet, my sporty little car, and my library-turned-nursery. Still, I love these little scallywags to pieces. In honor of Mother’s Day, we are reviewing How to Raise a Mom by Jean Reagan. It’s a cute story written from the children’s point of view. […] Read More
You’re never too young to help the Earth! My toddler son knows to throw his garbage in the trash can, and my five-year-old daughter has learned how to sort items for recycling. We also try to reuse items whenever possible, especially for craft projects. (Hello, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and paper scraps! This book list has suggestions for reducing, reusing, recycling, and plain old Earth appreciation. Check out the last few for some fun ways […] Read More
I never liked babywearing with Eliana (too complicated! Not comfortable! Scary– is that baby still breathing in there?!), but it was a matter of practicality once I had two kids. It might have been a mix of desperation and newfound confidence, but I actually enjoyed wearing my son, and he liked being cozy with mama. Even though he is a toddler, I still use my carrier to keep him close in crowded places (like hockey […] Read More
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children Written by Jan Pinborough Illustrated by Debby Atwell I found this book by chance in the Women’s History Month display at our local library, and I’m so glad I did! It’s a sweet, encouraging story of Anne Carroll Moore, the librarian who changed the culture of libraries to be more accepting of children. She established our current practice of separate child-friendly library […] Read More
Well, it finally happened: Eliana got majorly freaked out by a thunderstorm. I’m actually rather shocked that it didn’t happen sooner, but I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t have an extra bed partner tonight. The instant that first flash of lightning streaked across the sky, tears started streaming down her cheeks, accompanied by wild eyes and jagged breaths. I tried reasoning with her (“You never thought it was scary before!”), distracting her, and entertaining […] Read More