Waiting Out the Storm

I have to admit that my favorite thing in the world is a really good lightning and thunder storm!  When I first got married I made my husband hop in the car and drive with me to a better location to watch a lightning storm at ten o'clock at night.  I think he seriously questioned who he had married after that night.

This book makes storms seem so harmless and magical that is perfect for little ones who may be scared of storms or just not like them all that much.  The pictures are INCREDIBLE!  They make me feel like I'm actually splashing around in the storm myself.  Susan Gaber did an incredible job creating just the right feel with her art.

JoAnn Early Macken did an excellent job with the rhyme and the feel of this book.  I saw it at Barnes and Noble and skimmed through it briefly.  It wasn't until I got home that I truely got to enjoy the words and the flow of the book.

Reading this book is the perfect way to wait out the storm!

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

Since Easter is coming up I think it is only fair for us to acknowledge ALL types of bunnies!  That is why my newest recommendation is for the Rhyming Dust Bunnies.  These silly little dirt balls are so cute and so funny you'll actually want MORE dust bunnies when you are finished reading this!

My kids fight over who gets this book for story time.  Last night, despite the fact that we have a pile of books from the library that we read every day, they all wanted this one.  You see, we have a bedtime ritual where they get to pick a book and sit on my lap while I read it before they climb into their little beds and go to sleep for the night.  So last night I got to read this colorful little book three times IN  A  ROW.  I'm not complaining though....Jan Thomas did such a great job with this book and it's short enough that it was still enjoyable on the third time IN  A  ROW through.

Also, if you are trying to help your kids improve their rhyming skills, grab a copy of this book.  It is wonderful and my daughter who is doing much better with rhyming as of late, loves showing off her rhyming prowess as we read this book.  The only drawback to reading this is it may bring on some guilt at the fact that you still have not vacuumed up your OWN dust bunny colony. 

Speaking of which, I gotta run...

SPRING BREAK BABY!

IT'S SPRING BREAK!  WOO-HOO!

Do you know what that means?  (No I will absolutely NOT be wearing a bikini!)

It means that I am in a really good mood so I'm going to pour out recommendations upon you this week!

Every day I will tell you about a book that I LOVE!  Which means you will too, right?

Also, since I am going to be traveling and enjoying visiting with family and friends, I thought I would share some of the love by hosting a little contest.

I have been feeling for some time now that I would really like to have atleast 30 followers on my blog.  Yes, I know that means double the number I have now, but I feel deep down that this is attainable.  So if by April 15th, that dreaded tax day, I have 30 followers, I will be tossing everyone's names in an empty Easter Basket and drawing a winner who will receive a bunch of overbought Easter candy that I won't be able to even look at anymore and one of the books that I have recommended this month.  Plus, for all of my already loyal followers, I will toss in your name twice, no make that three times, since I'm sure you'll be the ones responsible for me getting to 30 followers.

To Recap:

30 Followers

Deadline:

April 15th, 2010

Prize:

Fairly fresh Easter candy & a brand spankin' new book that you're guaranteed to love

Happy Spring Break and a Merry Easter to all!

So Many Days

"So many doors in all your days,

so much to wonder about.

Who will you be and where will you go?"

Well there are SO MANY books that I am dying to tell y'all about right now.  I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you about So Many Days so it got bumped to the top of my list!  I can't think of a better book to read with your kids.  Reading this to my kids helps me express to them how amazing I think they really are! 

Any of you who know me personally know that I am not much of a crier.  This book however, made me experience a funny sensation...there was this stinging feeling in my eyes and nose and my throat started to feel really thick...if I didn't know better I would say I was about to cry!  This is such a warm fuzzy book it will become a permanent fixture in your house.  It is applicable for ages 2-100 (after 100 I would recommend you just write a book of your own on how you managed to live so long!).

I have been throwing an extended Pity Party for myself lately and as I read this I marvelled at how much this sounded like a pep talk I received recently from my mom.  Then as I read this a second, third, and fourth time I realized that it said all the things I wished I said to my kids on a daily basis.  Each time I read this book I fall more in love with it.  Not that I had any doubts that I would like it to begin with. 

Alison McGhee and Taeeun Yoo have put together another fabulous book.  They make a wonderful team when it comes to children's books!  There is a depth that adults can identify with and enjoy and a fun carefree feel that the little kids go crazy for.  I had the book sitting next to me while I was writing this.  My two year old actually put down his "shooter" (nerf gun) when he saw what I had and tried to climb into my lap with the book(this was a bit of a challenge since my laptop was already in my lap).  So I had to take a quick break to read it to him and then my three year old announced it was his turn.  So I apologize if this post didn't flow very well, I had an interruption or two :)!

"Who will you be and where will you go?

And how will you know?"

CHICK

I'm egg-static about recommending this egg-celent book!

Ed Vere has done a great job with this WAY TOO CUTE little pop-up book.  Some pop-up books are fun but this was even fun enough that I read it twice in a row!  It is great for Easter baskets for your little ones.  It is small and compact with lots of adorable little egg-popping pages to look through! 

It is simple and sweet just like the cover!  Hurry to your nearest book store to chick out Check...um...I mean check out Chick!

Sheep in a Jeep

There are certain animals that are synonymous with Easter. Rabbits, Sheep, and Chicks! So in preparation for this Easter I thought I would introduce you to the wild world of Nancy Shaw's Sheep.

Thank you Nancy Shaw for writing a book that is quick, fun, and addictive!  I read this book atleast three times in a row to my two year old before he is ready to move on to the next book and about twice to my three and five year old who just about have it memorized.

Here is the best part though.  Some might feel a twinge of sadness as they get to the end of Sheep in a Jeep for the umpteenth time, and think what will I do now?  Never fear, there are SEVEN sheep books including the most recent one, SHEEP BLAST OFF!  Also on Nancy's website you will find games and all sorts of fun sheepy stuff.

It's off to count sheep for me!

Race You To Bed

Oh!  Look at that adorable bunny face!  How could you possibly say NO to that?  Even if Easter wasn't right around the corner this would still be THE PERFECT bedtime story for your little ones.

Here are SOME of the reasons I think this is the PERFECT book:

1.  The words rhyme (I mean honestly, what is more fun than Dr. Suess-ish rhymes? "Bring a Bring-Brang-Brung to bed")

2.  The pictures are colorful and busy and everything little kids crave in their art.

3.  There is that loveable little bunny on every page.  (My three year old son, Ryan, said, "Mom hold the book still I want to poke the bunny's eye."  And this is why we don't have real live pets currently!)

4.  You have a bunny challenging your kiddos to beat him to sleep.  This solves the threatening and the ranting and the swift kicks to the fannies when they are trying to race this cute little puff ball to sleep.

I could go on like this forever but wouldn't it be more fun to read Race you to Bed by Bob Shea for yourself?  Yes, I think so.  If you choose to race off to find this book then you should also look for Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea as well.  (My husband and I survived a painful month where we had to read that story about two times per bedtime/naptime to my youngest son.  It was painful because the human voice can only ROAR so many times before it starts getting dry and hoarse.)

And now since it is almost 10pm I'm off to the races as well :)!

Every Cowgirl Needs A Horse

Just looking at the cover makes you want to read this book!  I lu-lu-love Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse!  Partly because I get to practice my "Cowgirl" accent and partly because it is so much fun to read.

One of my favorite artists, Lynne Avril, has done another wonderful job.  Lots of pretty pink colors for your own little girls and plenty of fun for everyone else.

Rebecca Janni did a fantastic job with the words and story line.  What little girl doesn't want a pony for her birthday at some point or another?  (I actually knew a little girl that got that wish...her parents got the trampled yard full of pony poop at the end of the birthday party too.  Fun stuff!) 

You will love the exciting fast pace of this book!  It is perfect for bedtime or anytime!

Periwinkle Smith and theTwirly, Whirly Tutu

It is so fun to whirl and twirl and pirouette with Periwinkle Smith!   Have you ever had a tiny iny spot that got on your clothes?  You know the stray drop of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a white shirt, the permanent dot of a pen on the leg of a pair of khaki pants, or that spot of paint on your pretty white tutu?  It can be so frustrating that it throws everything out of balance.  This doesn't stop little Periwinkle Smith...for long!

My kids all love this book and usually spend a significant amount of time after reading it twirling and whirling (flopping and jumping) around the room.  I love that it is short enough that we can read it and still have time for them to whirl and twirl before bedtime.  I also enjoy the story and the illustrations so much that I haven't minded reading it over and over and over.

John & Wendy did an excellent job with this book!  Whirl and twirl to your nearest bookstore for you own copy!