A list of books to help moms tackle all aspects of life for home to marriage to work and entertainment.
Read With Me: 4 Books to Read in the Next Month
So, as you know, I am currently 1 week into my month off from grad school. Even when I do go back in mid January, I will only be taking 1 class in the coming semester. The past 4 semesters I have been taking 2 classes. Therefore, hopefully the work load will be less. In the meantime, I have decided to take advantage of this reprieve by reading a few books. These are books that have long been on my must read list, but I just haven't had the time. I have heard wonderful things about them and I can't wait to dig in! Join me on this reading Journey and let's compare notes!
Favorite Toddler Halloween Books
With Halloween coming up, we have decided to intersperse our favorite Halloween story books into the mix of our bedtime stories. We have accumulated several of them over the years and I'm sure we will continue to add to the list. As of today, the following 6 books are our favorites. They include entertaining stories, interactivity, and of course Halloween fun.
Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger!: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Tyler loves Daniel Tiger and we love the positive messages presented in the show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Daniel Tiger actually was a big help in getting Tyler ready for his baby sister. We can talk about that another time. In this book, Daniel and his friends are getting ready for Halloween. The book takes you through each character’s costume and you use clues to guess what they are going to be. The flaps make this a fun book to read with toddlers.
Goodnight Goon: a Petrifying Parody
If you like Goodnight Moon, then you will thoroughly enjoy this Halloween parody. In similar style to the original, this book takes you through the things in the little monster's room at bedtime. The difference is these items include goo, a witch, a werewolf, a black hat, and more. The pictures are cute, not scary, so it's enjoyable for the kids.
Happy Halloween! (Sesame Street Scribbles Elmo)
This story is actually one of my favorites. Probably because I am a BIG Edgar Allen Poe fan. I just love the rhythm of his poetry. This book is written with the same rhythm as Poe's The Raven. This makes it as fun for me to read as it is for Tyler to hear. The story describes the Count waiting as guests arrive for his Halloween party. There is definitely some knocking at Count's castle door. The story features your favorite Sesame Street characters dressed in their Halloween best. In the end, you are invited to the party too!
Peanuts: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
This book is of the classic Charlie Brown story. We all know this story, or at least we should. If you don't know it, do yourself a favor and watch the movie. Let your kids see it too. It's just one of those things that everyone should do. Anyway, the best part of this book is that it comes with reusable stickers. I don't know about you, but my toddler loves stickers. This book has places to put stickers on every page in order to fully illustrate the story. This has been a hit with Tyler night after night.
Curious George Haunted Halloween
This book is an abridged version of the cartoon "Curious George's Boo Fest". Its a cute story where George gets spooked after hearing the story of No Noggin about a monster that steals hats. The best part is that it is an unscary scary story. As in your child will feel like he/she is enjoying the scary story experience without actually being scared. This is really an early reader book, but T liked it a lot. It is a great length book for toddler bedtime, too.
BABY'S FIRST HALLOWEEN
This was Tyler's first Halloween book and we are keeping it in the mix mainly for Hailey's benefit. However, Tyler does request it himself every once in a while. Like most baby's first books, this book contains photos of various Halloween related things with the name of the item below the picture. I believe that T like that some of the pictures are of kids dressed up in costume. For example, the monster picture is a baby boy dressed up as a monster. It's a cute book for little ones.
For more Halloween fun, check this Halloween Handprint Craft. We will also be posting a new Halloween Craft project later this month so stay tuned.
Cheers,
Emily
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7 Books for Kids Starting School
It's officially August so the countdown to back to school is on. This fall will be Tyler's first day in a school like environment. He will be in an early childhood program a few days a week. Not only is it his first chance to experience classroom life, but also to make new friends. He is always looking for friends to play with, but since he's home with dad and Hailey during the day he doesn't have too many. He sometimes makes friends at the playground, but he doesn't really have too many to invite over for playdates. So we thought it was high time to get him into a classroom.
The following is a collection of books about going to school. They pertain to different situations and different concerns that your child may have. From this list, you are sure to find a book or two to help your little one prepare for school.
1. The Berenstain Bears Go to School: This book by Jan and Stan Berenstain is a classic. I remember reading it when I was going to school. It starts with Brother Bear excited to go back to school and Sister Bear nervous about starting kindergarten. Sister Bear learns about all the fun things to do and learn in school. On the first day Brother Bear is dragging Sister Bear to the bus. By the end of the book Sister Bear loves school and is dragging Brother Bear to the bus. This whole series of books is great for little ones teaching manners and life lessons.
2. Wow! School!: This book is about Izzy's first day of school. There are very few words but a lot of bright, busy pictures. Kids will enjoy staring at the images to find things they recognize. This is perfect for kids entering preschool to get an idea of all the fun things to expect at school. This is not so much for the emotional aspects of starting school, but a fun way to learn about what goes on there.
3. When You Go To Kindergarten: This book of course is an introduction into kindergarten. It contains updated photos of what it is like to go to school. It also answers many of the questions your little one might have about school. From being away from parents, to what you will learn, to classroom etiquette, this book covers it all. The book is critically acclaimed and sure to put your child's mind at ease.
4. First Day Jitters: Unlike the other books, this book is not necessarily for someone just starting school. Instead, this book handles the situation when you are starting a new school. This is great for after a move, or when your child is transitioning between school levels. The book teaches about adapting to new situations. Your kids will surely get a kick out of the surprise ending!
5. The Kissing Hand: This book is mainly focused on the fear of being away from parents. Those children who have been in daycare may be more comfortable knowing that their parents are going to comeback, but if this is the first time your child will be in a classroom environment they may experience separation anxiety. This book helps your child know that you are always with them and that you will always come back to get them. It follows a raccoon who does not want to go to school. His mom tells him about the kissing hand which allows him to carry her love with him in any situation. It's a beautiful story and you too can have a kissing hand when your child goes to school.
6. I Don't Want To Go To School: This book is about a bunny who decides he does not want to start school the next day. He is nervous so he talks to his parents. His parents tell him that he will learn new things and make new friends and have fun. He gives it a try and has a great day at school. At the end of the day when his mom comes to pick him up, he has had such a great day that he doesn't want to go home! Children will relate to this book as will the parents.
7. Sam and Gram and the First Day of School: In this book Gram helps Sam get ready for his first day of school. The books takes you through the school day step by step so children know what to expect. It answers questions like what will the teacher be like? When do we eat? What do we do? At the end of the book is a section for parents on identifying and addressing your child's concerns. This helps you understand what your child is feeling when they may not be able to express it very well.
Some other books to check out include: First Grade Jitters, Little School, Chu's First Day of School, and I Love You All The Time. These all help children deal with different aspects of starting school.
Do you have a favorite book about starting school? Share it in the comments!
Come back Friday when I will talk about a cool and useful toy for babies!
Cheers,
Emily
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