Lovely Little Reads

It's been a while since I've mentioned my children's book blog and instagram on this site, so wanted to fill you in about this project I've been working on. 

As a former 1st and 2nd grade teacher, currently on sabbatical for a few years while I stay home with my young kids, one thing I miss most from my teaching days is the reading and sharing of children's books.  Hence, I created my own page to share my favorites, brief synopses, and links so you can check out these books on your own.  I hope you'll follow along!

instagram @lovely.little.reads

facebook @lovely.little.reads

blog www.lovely-little-reads.com

Lovely Little Reads: Rosie Revere, Engineer

What can I say, I love Andrea Beaty's rhythmic rhyming text! I genuinely enjoy reading Rosie Revere, Engineer aloud on repeat at bedtime (much more than some of my daughter's other favorites like the cloying Pinkalicious, do not get me started!). Beaty's text makes the reader's voice rise and fall with such vivacious intonation and momentum, it is truly a joyful read aloud experience. 

Not to mention the message! Failure is okay? Normal? You mean, everyone makes mistakes? Everyone?! And then gets up and keeps going? Amen! 

I can only hope that Andrea Beaty will go on to create books for all of the colorful characters in Miss Lila Greer's class (as she has done with Iggy Peck, Architect and Ada Twist, Scientist) and deliver to us more whimsical, upbeat stories about the kid superpowers of curiosity, creativity, and discovery. 

P.S. Go check out my other recommendations on my instagram page!

image/amazon

Lovely Little Reads: Not Quite Narwhal

Books are my love language.  Have I told you that?  I love a good book; whether that be a high-school-English classic or a children's picture book or a smutty chic-lit read, there is something about engaging and getting sucked into a good book.

I've been a bit behind posting our latest favorites in children's literature to the blog, but I'm quite active over on instagram if you'd like to follow along.

Not Quite Narwhal caught my eye because my kids are obsessed with narwhals.  Fun fact, my husband - the engineer, mind you - wasn't sure narwhals were real things.  He thought they were up there with unicorns and hippogriffs.  Yep, honey.  They're real whales.  

Anyway, Young Kelp was born in the sea, but as a helmet-clad unicorn, grew up believing he was just an unusual narwhal.  He recognized that was he was different growing up; tastes in food, speed of swimming, you know, the basics, but never really understood why.  Until one day, he catches a glimpse of a unicorn's silhouette on the horizon at dusk and is enchanted.  Could it be?  Another creature just like Kelp?  His first experience on land, he must teach himself to walk, and discovers that there is a much bigger world than what he's known in the sea.  A sweet story about finding your footing, learning you you really are and where you want to be.

For more of our favorite reads, follow along on instagram!

Lovely Little Reads: The Bear and the Piano

I'm a bit behind on my children's literature postings, but have been much more active on instagram, so if you're interested in following along with our latest library finds, please follow along!

This book was given to us as a gift, but I'm so delighted to have found it!  The Bear and the Piano boasts beautiful illustrations, from dewy forests illuminated by morning light to the dazzling sparkle of the big city.  This book feels like the perfect balance in a children's read; enough character development and depth to be meaningful, but short enough to keep the interest of a 3-year old.  Cha Ching!  Plus the Bear sporting a day-old tuxedo with undone bow tie is just too darling to miss.

Check out this one, it's worth a snuggle and a read aloud together.

image/myphotos

Lovely Little Reads

Hello and welcome to a new segment on the blog, Lovely Little Reads.  One of my goals as a parent is to try and instill a lifelong love of learning in my children.  Call it the teacher in me.  Call it the happy satisfaction I get from checking out, reading, and returning library books.  Bottom line, I have a deep fondness for children's books, and have decided to share my favorite literary gems here in this space, with you.  I intend to post books worth reading, oldies, newbies, and everything in between with some snippets as to why they might be worth your while.

Take this book, Twenty Yawns, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley (as if that wasn't enough to convince you).  The story is sweet, endearing, and will truly have you yawning twenty times if not more by the time you finish.  A perfect way to cap off a bedtime routine with your little one.

Join me on this literary journey over at instagram at lovely.little.reads and happy reading.