Pink by Nan Gregory

The funny thing about this book is that we came to own it because my son spilled juice on it. He had to work to pay it off - to this day he and the other kids claim that's how he got to be such a hard worker.

I was mad because I thought it was kind of an ugly book, it is a funny pink color. It wasn't until one day when I finally read it that it became a part of me.  You know how some books work their way into shaping who you are?

The story goes along the lines of a girl who wants something really bad, and in the end she doesn't get what she wants.  The next to the last page of the book has a line that I often find myself repeating when I want something I can't have.  The father says to his daughter "Wanting makes good music...and good dancing too." It caught be off-guard when I first read it - such a deep message.

Reading novels to your family

It is so good for you and your kids to spend time sharing the same story. Studies have been done that show that reading aloud to your kids improves reading and writing skills, all the while creating family bonds.  It may be difficult at first, but reading to them from a novel just 10-15 minutes a day, just before bed, or while their eating breakfast is so wonderful.  When my kids were really little I let them work on puzzles or some other quiet activity while I read.  More often than not, they would ask for another chapter.  Here are a few ideas:

Seven Chinese Brothers

I love this book, and luckily so have my boys. Clever, powerful, and exciting - it's a perfect book for boys, but girls like it too.  Already, my 2 yr old is taking an interest in the book - maybe it's the crazy look of the emporerer :)

Little Critter by Mercer Mayer

I love Little Critter - so much like a kid, so loveable, but still learning.  These are a couple of my favorites.  They show feeling so well and I think it's so good for little ones to see feelings and sort of "talk" about them with you as you read.

Favorite Easter Books

My absolute favorite Easter book is the Country Bunny - I remember it from my childhood in the 70's.



I like to have some books about the REAL Easter Story...

Pelle's New Suit

I truly love this book - it's Swedish, my favorite ancestry heritage, and it teaches the value of work.  And it's simply beautiful!  A wonderful addition to a children's library.

Berenstein Bears - the best of...

I am not one to get an entire collection of books - I can't afford and don't want to store them all.  The Berenstein Bears books are great, but there are so many, my favorite are the rhyming ones...